The Arkansas banner., 1847-02-17

ot her bus0m.
 Henry Smith, at ihe expisssi0u ol week. K set out for home, where, in few days. hel atrised- Mary Smith was DOW no lonrerl questioned coneerning the staie of her health. I and all alluslon to Capert0n was carefully avoided, Gradually ehsnge was wrought m her, her eye ceased so IaRguish and her form io fade. l.istfassthas her coun,eaanceI did mt regain that expression oe vcathfuIl animation which 1t formerly woss; yes in its 1 stead there was a sweos and serene u.clau. { choly, that heickanch ChrhEisn-like rssie- nation 10 the will of Providence.
 She now made il her province 10 seareh out the poor and needy of the town and re- lieye their necessities; tn vitit tlle chamber of sickness and tend upon and console is eHfeebled inmates in their afikclioss. Henry Smith. glad toiind that gIoeav despnudency which had weighed down hdr spirits. reno. we'd, failed not to sapply issr with sae lneasss of performing tsie=e charitable offices, whicbl now appeared 10 engfoss her whole tisongiss.
 Five years had elapsed since they had seen Peter Caperton miserable irunkard in the streets ot BainmoFe; and Henry Smith had become one uf riye weairhfest citizens of tue town in which he ye.ided.
 It was a bright and glorious summer's evening, and Mary Smith was seated at oue of the front windows ofa beautifal building. thr property of herbrotlcr The slant rays of the setting sun, poured in ai the window a flood of golden light, partially relieved the air of deep solitude that reiguea thyoughou, the room, of which she was ai the time the sole occupant. A golden miniature which she fondly clasped to her hand, and which was confined round her neck bs black IT. band, appeared to engage her whole aiten- ton. At one time her eyes would be eaeer- ty bent on il; then swimming in tears they would be directed Iieavenward, as if offer ing up some prayer al the tlltone of Grace: and again they would return and be rivettesI on its polished face. So wrapt up WAS she III Ter meditation, that she did not observe the presence of a plain yet very neatly dres- sed man, who had entered the room. l. was Peter CapeFton. He stood rapiurously ga gin, for some lime, on ihe gentle and inno- cent being before him, as tear after tear sli.' down her pale cheek, md his own name was passionatelv blended with her pfayer. At length, unable longer to restrain the vehe- menee of his feelings, he cast himself at her feet and said---
 Mary, aa all-mercilul Being has turned a willing car to your prayer; and now say, will you yet stand to yonr promise, and consent 10 become the wife of one who had been a speudthrilt and a drunkard, but who trust
 in God has reformed never to relapse into his former errors!'
 Mary Smith paused but moment to satis- ly herself that what was passing before her was reality, and no, the result of distem- pered lmagination--ihe throwing hegself in lis arms. sobbed aloud on his bosom.
 It Is needless to say that Henry Smith and his mother did not withhold their assent from union by which Mary's future happiness could alone be secured.
 Why, Peter,' said the now spTifhtly Mary Caperton (as we shall still continue to call her as she playfolly pa,,ed her husbands $ cheek. aboat week after their marriage, when they had all gathered, a social and hap py circle, around Henry Smith's fireside, ''how come 1t that yon have not vet told us, by what means you were transformed from the sottish brute we bel.eld you five years ago, to rational beings'
 Indeed l can't say,' replied Caper,on, swiihont1 have been waiting for your lips to repeat the question which your cean.enance has asked 8 dozen times at least within the last three tlays'
 Well, since my looks have betrayed my curiosi,y.' said Mary Caperton. 'the sooner you graiify il the better So You had as well commence at once'
 T will tell you now then. Mary said Ca- perion, as plainly see that l aln to he teas- ed out of my life until do. |, is useless for me 10 relate how ] ran through my property and was reduced to ihatabiect sia;e of misery in which you saw me; for it was precisely AS you had loretold. Henry will, there fore, commence at the time when refosma- ton was first wrought in me. When ac- costed you in the street had not the remo- test idea-ef whom tt was; yes- may. there fore, judge of my feelings on recognizing you. The thoughts of your advice, whleh l had rejected, my own degradation, and my own cruel treatment of Mary here. all rush. ed upon my mind, and completely sobered me. In fact from that moment. was an al- tered man. No sooner had you left me in the street. than bent my steps towards Mr. Herbert, wealthy merchant who had fos- merly been an intimate friend and school mate of my father. To him plainly and honestly stated my situation, and at length prevailed upon hi.n 10 take me as clerk oa trial.
 Being totally unskiIled in basiDess-habits, l had now many very perplexing difficulties to encounter but by dini of great perseveI- ance and close attention was eaabled fislal- ly to overcome them. Finding that stood so closely to my business. and continued sp- Flgh, and steadIast in my habits, my,employ- CT. at the expiration of six mouths, raised my salary 10 $500 continued gradually to acquire more experience apd al length rose to be ihe head clerk of the es,sblishmsns - Perceiviag his affairs prosper so well under