Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-03-30
--T

Asilelgh hal SAD, ana even Whiie shc toiu
hcrs,lf that he was unjust and presun'ing his
words wore silently and impercopnbly, work.
iax N important revolution In her character
For,un.tcly, in aid Of this moral change, an
eatirs alteration took place in the conduct of
Mrs. Ellis towards her. While the painful i'm
preston remained fresh upon Ashleighs mind,
after the angry discussion which he had wit
nsss ID he sought his aunt, and held with her
n serious conversation relative To Sophy.-
Mrs. E!is's affection for Ashleigh gave him
great influence with her, and though obliged
10 soothe, palate, aud reason, by turns, h.
succeeded in persuading her TO change her
molo OF discipline with Sophy. With mini
not sufi ,ieatly enlarged, however, 10 compre-
h.nd the full scope OF his advice, and unable TO
pursue any middle course, Mrs. Ellis fell into
ths opposite extreme and, instead Of intertcr-
ing with Sophy every hour Of the day, she
now left her entirely TO her own control
This would have proved, with most children,
4 ruinous course, but with Sophy 1t produced
happy effects. No longer teascd, tormented,
and scoldcd, she applied herself to her appoint
"a tasks with chcerfulness and regularity, and
oven the hateful needle received a share Of a.
tcntion.
Too proud TO let thi: change be seen, and
unwilling that Asheigh should suppose his
rcn1rks had possessed any influence, these
events bred In Sophy degree of reserve to all
around her, and she experienced that feeling,
~ common with the young and sensitive, Of
b,ing singled ont, of standing alone in her fam
iv. Much Of this, ii is true. was purely i'm
agin1ry, but, in soms respects, it was not
without foundation. .Mr. Ellis was an indif
Erent, selfish man, and a negligent parent
All the affection he had to bestow, was given
10 his od's, daughter, and Of whose beauty
and sprightliness he was proud, Sophy chiefly
presenting hsrs,f to his mind as sef-willcd
chilli, who was a source OF great annoyance Ia
him, through the inccssant complaints made Of
h,r by his wife. Mr.. Ellis did no, like to have
tha s:ronty OF his mind RULED, even for the
wsfare Of his children.
Bi;wcen Sophy and her sister, there exist.
ei 40 sympathy. Emily scarcely noticed her,
unics, to find fault, or assist Mrs. Ellis IN her
lectures. Now, even the questionable interest
which Mrs. Ellis had taken in her ceased, and
ia the utter indifference Of all connected with
h,r, il is not astonishing that her morbid sem
siiivehess should have increased.
Ashleigh was the only one who detected
this trait Of mind and he strove, from ,inc TO
time, by little acts Of kindness, and delicatcly
marked approval, to break down the barrier of
reserve between thom. This interest in her,
though 1t failed to produce any increase Of cor
dalty, or evon TO elicit a consci usness of ils
existence, on the part Of the sensitive girl, was
not urielt by her. Amid opposing feelings,
the offspring Of treasured resentment and in-
voluntary admiration, and esteem, there sprung
unnoticed, like a wild flower in some neglected
nook, sentiment of deep gratefulness in her
young heart, which shed It's brightness and its
b.lm on all around.
la early youth 10 feel that we are valued, to
rocelvc discriminating praise, possesses an IT.
rsslst1Jle charm 10 US, particularly II surround
oil BY those who are careless and indifferent,
1t was thus with Sophy, and, unconsclously,
the opinions, tastes, and sentiments Of Ash
leigh, became her standards Of right and wrong
il woall have been curous study at this tne
to watch the unfoldings Of mind in this neg
l.cted girl. Heretofore 10 read for the sake Of
improvement never occurred to Sophy. She
read, because she had an intense thirst for
books and though dav by dav the stores.
uhioa she was silently laying up, did their
work in enlarging her understanding, there
was no impulse from without to incte or guide
her in her mental progress. Now, that i'm
pulse was given, Sophy possessed capacity
which, in its yearnings after everything that
VAS good and exalted, led her fully to apTrc-
ciate Ashlegh's superiority and cultivation Of
mind. The books he commended, she private 1
~ read the accomplishments he valued, she .
industrionsly cultivated while the subjects
which, from time to time, occupied his mind
aud conversation, became To her secret objects
Of inquiry and interest. Sophy was, in short, |
one of thos, frequent, though unnoticed exam
amples Of marked character, developed, and
moulded by accidental circumstances.
HlPpi'y for her, her young and plastic mind
received its bent from one whose influence and l
example elevated her unfxed character had
she fallen upon evil counselOrs and grovcling l
minds, how different might have been the re-
cult Il
Too little attention is paid to tn, influence /
which mnd possesses over mind, in earl, 4
youth. Ii the secrets of all hearts were laid !
bare, how many should we find whose prompt
ings, either to good or evil, have been the re-
suit of accidental companlonship We have
sccn that 1t was thus with Sophy. Previous
ly TO the eyentful day when she received Ash 4
lglghs grave rebuke, she had exhibited little II
else than waywardness OF will, and obstnacy II
oi character, but those few simple words of I
rcproof had CLEANED like a flash of lightning
into the inner depths of her mind, and laid il
bare before her. The rock was struck, and
where al before was dry and lifeless, the wa
ters Of truth and selfknowledgc welled forth.
It's true that Sophys Judgment, as it ripencd,
must have corrected her most glaring defects,
but the sudden glimpse, caught OF herself IN
the mirror Of another mind, did the work of
years, and stamped her character for life. |,
But little occurred during the summer TO,
change the aspect of things in Mr. Ellis iami-
ly, save more obvious devotion on the part OF
Ashleigh to ETdily Mr. Ellis having been
elected a member " Congress, aud intending !
to take his wife and oldest daughter with him
TO Washington TO spend the winter it was de-
cidcd that the family should remain at the coun-
try place, until 1t was time to repair to the seat
Of goYernm ant, in order to avoid the trouble TO-
make the necessary arrangements in the town
house. So that, TO Sophy's great delight, the
autumn, that golden season of our climate, was
10 be passed among the scenes she loved So
we'll and never did the woods, gorgeous IN
their drapery of tinted leaves, the clear, blue
skies, shining in mmeasurable distance, II
through the elastic atmosphere, the sparkling I,
waters, and the rejoicing earth, mirror their
beauties in soul more kindred with their own.
Towards sunset one evening, late in No
venbcr, as Asheigh was walking up and down
the piazza, at the back Of the house, he saw
- ,phy wraDpcd in a shawl aDDruacbinp nj @