The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-09-14
Tbe Ganfaster Ga3etts.
TRIAL AND TRIUMPH.
BY META v. FULLER.

The bright, cheerful parlor had but one
occupant. The ire sparkled and glowed
in the shining CRATE, and the lamp upon the
centre-t table burnt softly and rlch To and
fro, to and lro, swayed the fairy form of a
bright sweet child of ten. Her head was
dropped musingly upon one chubby, dim
Piled handi and the dark glossy hair fell in a
wild profusion Of curls around her beauti-
ful, dreamy face, and over her lovely shoul-
ders. Every time the chair came forward
in its swayng motion, the tiny pink slipper
OF one pretty foot went down into the heart
OF crimson rose that glowed like life in
the tufted carpet. The large, sweet, spirit
ed eyes of the child were fixed steadily upon
the fire burning in the polished CRATE Dart
ing and quveriug, and changing ever. the
fantastic flames rose and fell, and frightened
and darkened before her gaze. By and BY
she became SO absorbed in the shifting play
ofthe beautiful element, that the arm chair
ceased to sway to and fro and by the dream
ing expression Of her eloquent young face
one might read the wonderful fancies that
we're fitting through her brain.
81 will try and make the music sound the
way the FIRE looks" she exclaimed at length,
staring from the seat, and bounding across
the apart nent.
The piano was open, and the youthful per-
former ran her small fingers over the keys
with touch SO rapid, so delicate, SO spirit.
like. and ETHEREAL, that the lovely little be-
ing must have been inspired. Thinking "a
far off. like little fairy bells-meting down
into wavy melody, the notes stole out from
beneath those tiny fingers, embodying her
radiant fancles in bewlldering beauty and
grace and melody.
With her soul floating off on the music,
she played on, needless that the door was
softly opend 10 admit listener. The intru.
der was boy of fourteen, dirty and il.at-
tired. For awhile he stood by the door list.
ening to the performance OF his youthful
mistress; but as she played on with wilder
eloquence, he crept cautiously close to the
instrument, and crouched down on the floor
where he could look into her beautiful face
and watch The motion OF her flying hand.
Despite his poverty and servitude, there
was something very interesting in the boy
as he sat with flashing eyes aud quivering
lips, intensIy absorbed in the music, and al
together forgetful that that splendid parlor
with its luxurious adornings and beautiful
occupant. was entirely beyond his station
Like a spell, the sweet music made by the
gifted young musician stole over the spirit
oflhe servant boy;-brealhlessly he listened
intensely his eyes were fixed upon bel
iace-tears swelled into those eyes and
hung on their dark ashes.
A low, mournful scotland the little girl
ceased playing, and looked wonderfully al
the boy, whose emotions had at length burs
forth in uncomfortable power. The beauti.
full face Immediately grew sad with sympA
thy, and laying her little hand with child
ish tenderness upon his dropping head, she
said softly.
"Why Will what ails you, what make,
you cryP
"The music--the sweet music. Alice
you cannot tell how it makes me love you
when you play so beautifully. 1t makes
me think of palaces and flowers, and angels
il makes me love you for AL am pool
servant boy, darling AlIce!"
"Then you are Just like me, if musi,
makes you cry was the srtless response
81 didn't think you minded it, or cared a
bout it. You may come into the paror eg
let me play for you "
"Dear Alice, you are so kind" said the
boy, wiping away the tears from his pale
thin cheek, while CLEAN Of happnes,
frightened, for a moment, his large melan
choly eyes.
I'll wish had piano aud could play 81
sweetly," he continued, gazing wishlully a
the ivory keys, whose tairy-ke intercourse
with musical spirit was so strange; and be
wildering and enthrallng to his soul--tht
soul of the servant boy.
The little maiden glanced down at hi,
dirty stained fingers, and her tiny lip curleC
scornfuly as she said in surprise: "YOu
why you scour the knives, Will" and then
laid her own white dimped hand upon the
keys.
1t was her education, not her heart tha
spoke then--the sentiments installed by {
naughty mother, whose aristocratic eyel
saw no beauty, no gentleness, no fine sus
capabilities in the hearts of the lowly o
the earth.
A painful color glowed through the thu
cheek of the sensitive boy, and starting Il
his feet he said proudly:
~ shall not always scour knives, Alice!
know what you think of mel know yol
dsplse mel know you are beautiful anC
rich and beloved, while am a poor, lionel,
orphan boy whom no one cares far--l will
not stay here in this splendid house ant
look upon what my heart longs for, and bt
despised even by you, Alice. But you have
been very kind to me sometimes, and sha
not forget you--never. never! Good bye
Alice, good bye forever!"
The proud boy turned away, and hurried
across the apartment without another word
but just ae lie passed out of the door
Alice laid her hand upon his arm, and ht
paused. -
care you really going away, Will, anc
in the dark too! did not mean to griev'
you, indeed did not"
"Iknow it Alice--I know what am, an,
what you think ofme, and cannot stay her
if l starve--good bye"
He took her small hand and pressed i
tightly in both his-turned away-paused-
hesitated-and looked peadngly at tn
dark curlS flooding her snowy shoulders, ,sal
earnestly:
"Just one sweet curl, Alice, 10 look a
when l think of you'
"Don't tell mama, then" and taking
little gold knife from her pocket, she sever
ed tress of hair from the rest, and pIacn
it and her knife in his hand, said, "kee
them both, Will; for Alice's sake, won
yOul" .-
The hot tea:S fell fast from the eye ofth