The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-12-21
Volume XII.
MISCELLANEOUS.
From Graham'S Magazine for December,
THE WIDOW AND TIL E
DEFORMED.
BY MRS. CAROLINE H. BUTLER.
PART |.
ICONCLUDED.

CONCLUDED.
Thus wears rolled on. Although she still
grieved for her darling Louisa and wept in Sc
cret those tears of which none but a mother
may know the bitterness, still she was fondly
attached to the unfortunate little Agatha, while
the affection subsisting between Ruth and the
poor deforned was truly lovely to witness
There could be much greater contrast than
in the looks of these two children, alth'o their
dispositions were i'll perfect harmony. Ruth
possessed rich olive complexion, with cheeks
which might vie with June roses, they were so
bright and glowing; her eyes were black and
| sparkling and her raven hair closely cut to her
beautifully rounded throat, was parted on top
of her finely formed head, and waved over
each temple in one rich, glossy curl. Her fig
ure, tall of her age, was light and graceful.
The complexion of Agatha, on the contrary,
was dazingly fair, save when dashed by the
small, violet veins; her large, deep-hazcl eyes
possessed that peculiar brightness and intensity
which usually deSignates those who suffer from
like causes; long ringlets of light brown hair,
fell around her almost to the ground as if to
hide within their beautiful redundance the mis-
shapen form of their little mistress. But it was
the expression of her innocent face which cal
led forth the pity and kindness of every one;
that look, so gentle, so confding, as if pleading
with every one to love her, though she knew
how hard it would be to take to their hearts
a helpless deformed little object such as she
was
Incapable ofjoining in the sports of other
children, Agatha devoted great portion of her
time to reading, of which she was passionately
fond; and possessing rctcntive memory, she
was better informed, perhaps, at ten years
of qgc than most children at fourteen
She had great ia t for drawing and for mt
sic; these Mrs. Oakly assidiously cultivated,
knowing what a source of comfort and amuse
ment they would afford her, and also contri-
butte to draw her from dwelling too much upon
herself and her misfortunes, which would only
tend to sour and destroy her happiness
From its proximity to the sea, and consequent
advantages of sea-bathing, the village in which
Mrs Oakv resided was, in the summer sea-
son. frequent and favoritc resort for the III
vads.
There was a certain wealthy bachelor of the
name of Sullivan, who, for two successive sea-
sons, had made this his place of residence.
Every one granted his claim to invalidism the
first season, but when with robust frame, and
fresh healthy contenance, he appeared the
second, people shook their heads, and talked Of
hypocondrj0cS BY and bye, it began TO be
whispered about that Mr.. Sullivan was often
seen coming from the little cottage of the Wild
ow Oally: and ut last it was asserted that he
was soon to bear of their good school mistress
as his bride. This was all true, Mr.. Sullivan
was talented, agreeable, good looking, and rich;
one who, in his Youthful DAYS, need not fear
the frown of any damsel, and who now, in the
prime ofmanhood, might still have won the
a., D,,f a., I.o,.t Of tho hanHSo,On bach
etlor seemed invulncrable, for nearly forty
years resisting all the charms of beauty. lie
came to the sea-shore to restore his head, and
lost his heart.
"Whcn / said | should die bachelor,
did not think | should live to be married"
thought he, blushing like schoolgirl at his
ridiculous plight.
The acquaintance between Mr. Sullivan and
Mrs Oakley commenced by means of the chill
lren. lie one day met them on the beach as
they were gathering shells, and being always
interested in children sure sign that his
heart was good-he stopped to speak with
them. The beauty and vivacity of Ruth char
med him. while her unfortunate little compan-
ion filled him with deep sympathy and pity.
BY and bye, he found himself thinking less Of
the children, and more of the mother, until i'll
fact he made the astonishing discovery that he
was in love-
Mrs Oaklv, now in her thirty-eighth year.
had preserved her beauty through all her
troubles and vcissitudes OF her life. There
are some forms and faces we see, upon which
time appears unwilling to lay his whitening
hand-and Mrs. Oakly was one of these. The
rose vet hinge red on her cheek; her eyes were
soft and brilliant; her mouth had not lost its
freshness. nor her teeth their pearly hue, while
the dark hair folded over her fine brow was
rs thick and glossy as in the days of her girl
hood.
You may be sure the bachelor was not for
any long delay in the matter-that "Happy's
the woOing that's not long doing was pre-
cisely hisidea-so he made proposal at once,
and was accepted.
The evening previous to her marriage, Mrs
Oakly addressed letter to MIR. Alfred Oak
informing him of the event, though she entered
into no particulars, not even giving him the
name of her intended husband. All the re-
quest made was, that he would continue to place
the same amount of money which he had pre-
vlously forwarded TO her, in some safe depos-
1t, for the benefit of Agatha; that should she
survive those whose happiness it was now to
do for her, she might not be entirely thrown
"POH INT COlu charity OF lne WOrlu. MOI one
word did she breathe of her yearning for her
own precious Louisa; she felt he would not I'M
derstand her if she did, so she coldly babe him
farewell.
The marriage was solemnized in the Wild
owS own little parlor; after which, amid the
tears and blessing of the villagers, Mrs Sulli-
van departed with her happy husband for his
beautiful residence near the head of Lake
George.
PART ii.
We will now return to Mr.. Alfred Oaklv.
and learn how the world in the interim has
Jared with him. Prosperity at the helm, his
richly freighted vessels careered over the wide
ocean, no devastating fires destroyed his dwell
lings, no whirlwinds uprooted his forests, no
blight or mildew stole over his fields to nip the
golden harvest, and vet, with all this, there was