Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-04-26

/ There are destinies which fate appears tC
delight to gild on whose guarded precincts
for awhile at least, trial is forbidden to tres
pass, and for which ezpe.ierco has no offering
cut its sweetest and tarest flowers. Few anC
brief are such enchanted lives, but very bean
tiful while they last and Gertrude's young
career was full Of promise that even such o
would be hers. All that accomplishment and
refinement could impar, had combined to aid
md elevate the sunny loyeliness of her person
and character; and well may tie gay enthusi-
asst question the reality Of cares she had noYe.
felt, Of woes whose ye.y echo had never reach
ed her pathway, and from whose faiu,est
knowledge she had been carefully shielded
How different had been the conviction Of her
TO whom that letter was addressed
Hester Dalton was a widows only child
the eldest and last Of many. One by one the
younger blossoms had dropped and faded be-
side the household hearth, until only solitary
tie fingered, where several had been wont to
bind The sweet mirth of chilGhood's pres
encc had ceased to shed its joys and music,
and the widow had grieved over that stiffness,
ill her heart, ike her home, had grown silent
.ly sorrowful Mrs. Dalon's circumstances,
though not opulent were INDEPENDENT but she
had survived he :a-tc rcr eccie,y, and avoid
cd the general intercourse, ,hat, for her, had
lost its charm. Her pleasures we're all serene
and tranquil, and she lived apart from social
gayctics, in a calm and quiet world haunted
by mothers memories. Yet there was moth
ing OF gloom in her nature or conduct and she
constantly urged Testers participation in the
amuscmcnts congcnial TO her age but for her
self, the power Of illusion was over, and en-
oymcnt had ceased to attra or deceive
Hester had little taste for the common pleas
ures around her. and in the thoughtfulncss Of
placid and intellectual retirement, she had
acquired phllosophic serenity OF feeling, and
frmncss of character, unusual in her years
and sex Gifted, bolh mentally and person
ally, there was something in the proud, tran
quill beauty Of lhat pale, reflective face, tn,
spoke of mind secure in It's reliance of a
heart sad, it might be, in its experience, but
strong and answering in its trust. Perhaps
! The carly demand upon her sympathcs, the
/ premature and continual exercise OF al tiat
tenderness and gcntlencss could bring to com
fort and cheer the beloved, and that deep con-
seriousness Of bereavement, which Heaven be
thanked, is not often sent the young, had shed
over her intellect more than its own sweetness,
had implarte 4 seIccontrol ard sclfforget-
tulncss which nothing can impart but 'roubcs
that have sought and found divine consola-
tor. A soft smile was on her lip as she read
Gcrirudc's letter it ma, be the warm adcc-
ton it so candidly confessed, brought near
tho present memory Of her own ties, and
pcrchance the confding love her cousin
painted had already gained an entrance into
her own bosom. All beautiful with the
starry holiness Of better word, is the de-
votion of spirit, tried and cAastcnod and
perfected, like hers and though the happy
unthinkng enthusiasm of being Ike Ger
tTude may summon 4 smiling sympathy, We
look with greater and deeper Kindness on
the tested feelings of one, whose emo
lions, from their very pcrmanence, awaken
our thoughtful reverence.
/ CRATER IT,
1 A few weeks afterwards, the cousins ere
! seated together in Gcruude's room. Rich
gay dresses and the various paraphcnaIia o
/ lady's wardrobe, were streHn around .ht
! apartment, and in loose white morning rohc
| her light, sunny curls put carefully away from
| her unclouded forehead, tho heircss was busi
/ " reading closely written note. Ihc writ
! ing was that of gentleman, and there needed
/ but one moments glance at the sweet, blush
ing face that bent over i, TO reveal the nature
of the communication. Her companion wal
seated opposite TO her, aud as Hester gazeC
J silently on the reader, her check was very
! pale, and something of pity was in her earn
es, look.
" He will be here tomorrow, Hester" saic
! Gertrude, without Withdrawing her eyes from
:, the precious epistlc, a" two days sooner than
ventured to hope all what happiness ~
II We'll was it for Hester iha, she had long
! ago learned TO conceal aud subdue tie strong
rush other emotions, OF even Gertrude, will
! all her gay unconsciousncss, would have in
tcrproted truly the sudden expression oi unu'
terablc grief that passed swiftly over thos
van, still features. ltlingered but for an in
slant. then, as the ripple dies or the surface
Of the calm water, leaving it placid as before
even so the outward sign faded, OF a firm
! proud spirits trial There arc natures tha
need trouble To perfect them, souls that iror
4 their innate superiority, would be too arogar
o. and naughty, if some conflict with Time
) .icrnct teachings did not bring them the in
{ proving, thcngh humbhng conviction of theI
I own icchlcncss 10 withstand temptation. Hes
icr's was one Of these, and depressing cnoug
was tic knowledge that taught her TO tread
resigncdIy and patiently, the pilgrim path G
. a life along which the thOns were scaltefc