Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-02-21
give why to sadnesss' And then drawing
me towards her, while shelpassed her hand
over nv forehead, she continued: .'--.-f

give way to sadnesssp And then drawin
me towards her.. while she passed her han
over my forehead, she continued: . e.
awhas grief should thy years know.2 s.
Thy brow and cheek are smooth as waters be,
When no breath troubles them" -
A beautiful face, as well as sweet voice
had this fair speaker. Oh! how | afiel
J forwards loved that sweet face, with ii
bright complexion, white forehead, dim wit
the shadow of rich brown tresses, with 1T
4 full ruby lips, and more than all, the large
OZARK, sarnastleyesfs fsena which drank Il
1 s5ui. Helen Conway was then just sew
enteen'-she was above, the usual heigh
some called her, too tall--but her hea
was-so superbly moulded, her bearing s.
queenly, every movement so graceful, an
! her dignity was tempered with so rare !
spirit of delicate mirth, that few, save tn,
envious, found her height at all detractin,
from her perfection. ~..
She was the only daughter of an En-
glish gentleman of great wealth, and sh'
had but one brother, every way worthy o
Helen. They had been motherless 70
many years, but the father had added tn,
tenderness of the lost parent, to the pride
they were calculated to inspire in his bo
som, and certainly they were q singularly
happy family.
The summer term passed quickly away
and we were busy in our preparations foI
the annual examination, when Helen wa.
summoned to the death-bed of her father
We hear from her through her letters tc
one of the teachers. Her fathers illness
had been partly the result Of anxiety or
learning the loss of all of his landed prop.
erty, and on his decease the whole estate
was ascertained to be insolvent. Helen
was therefore unable to return to school
she was resolved henceforth to sustain her.
self, and for that purpose must go out a
rnong strangers!
When another term brought US togeth.
er again, ! learned that Helen Conway
though much against her brothers. wish
es, had entered Lowell factory, as an op
erative,to supply herself with the means Of
finishing her education. To her brothers
expostulations she replied:
''It is no disgraceful thing that would
do, Philip, but one most honorable.
would not make such employment mat
ter of choice, nor would | perhaps seek
such companions rs may surround me, but
at the worst, the employment will not de-
grade me, nor the associates contaminate,
and shall the soonest gain what require,
and | shall have the satisfaction of knowing
that have not fettered you, my dear Phil
ip, in the course you have adopted, for i'm
peding you would be the maintenance OF
an indolent, helpless girl.'
With what astor ishment was this intel
ligence received by Helen's former school.
mates. Her mild dignity had gained for
her the respect of all-her rare intellectu.
al requirements had commanded it, and
her amiable disposition had won even the
most lhoughtless, but when all these had
failed, the aristocratic name she bore, and
the knowledge of her fathers wealth had
been sufficient to gain an acknowledge
ment Of her superiority. What was she
pow! "a factory girr-'one of the Low.
ell crowd'-a class always placed by the
would be little nristocrats Of our number,
far below the daughters of the retail gro
Ger or humble artizan. In spite of the cir.
cumstances which had given me my sta
ton in the upper circle Of our miniature
world, this state of things had made me
most indignant. did combat bravely for
natures true aristocracy-and | uphold il
still more warmly now, since knowledge
of the real world has taught me that fine
apparelling may clothe the most unmiti
gated vulgarity, full purse only aid in
Isupercillious Importance and ridiculous
pre- tensions. The right to be aristocratic
and hold there is such rights one
which comes as free gift of Nature, anc
this distinction | reverence next to the
rare genius with which she sometimes en-
dows her children. Vulgarity in palace
displaying itself in affections of the taste
and refinement so shallow that that any
clear eye may discern their..absurdity ,show
ing itself also in naughty insolence to
wards interiors in station or worldly nd
vantages, and servlity towards those ele
waited by the. worlds acclaim, or by great
er wealth, above themselves, is utterly
more despicable and revolving than the un
constrained vulgarity of the lower classes
| Very few who have the power of getting
great wealth know how to use it-thei
energies are too often directed only in one
channel, and when they have tightly draw
their purse strings over the last acquires
dollar, they have resolutely drawn close
the heart strings. Sitting all noble i'm
pulses, their head, too. grows heavy will
their boards, and the highest aspirations o
their souls are checked and tainted atmos
phere. D'Israeli defines good breeding
which is necessary to aristocracy-as =
genial regard for the feelings of others
which springs from an absence of selfish
ness and how can those whose hearts arr
as hard as their treasures, hope to acquire
But mean not to digress thus, and
will hasten 10 tell you how my friend Jared
The whole year was spent in toll, and 1t
effect was ennobling, for she was stimulat
ed and melted by the highes. motives whicl
can influence our conduct, and may not b.
the most menial labor be rendered a proud
yea, holy service, when We toll for tn
comfort and happiness ofthose we love, 70
their OF our own advancement in the beau
tiful lore the soul Graves?
i Helen's leisure hours were we'll impro,
led: the boarding house piano was ever he