The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1849-01-16
From the Southern Literary Gazette.
THE LIsTENER.
THE sToRYoF HELEN CONWAY.

=
Once, in my character Of Listener,
found myself in large boarding school,
Around me were more than hundred young
g'rls;many of them Of my own age, iofl
had been placed there for other purposes
than listeningj the happy crealures were
therefore my companions-somc OF them
dear fienas whom love To this day-though
many years have elapsed since parted frou
them, and some of ME best aud dearest O
them are separated from me by painless seas
| was very young when placed in ihel'
midsSand was hundreds Of miles llom the
home Of my childhood; it was not strange
then, that was lonely and sick.hoartcd
for tasks were set me which frightened
aud discouraged me. thought that in all thai
assembly no "kindly beamng eye" fell OIL
The lillle stranger 10 cheer and inspire hel
with hope OF happiness in the future. All
around me we're busily intent on arrange
menis for themselves for The opening term.
or greetings we're being exchanged between
old scholals, separated during the long voca-
tdns, and merry voices gave ullemnce to
merry hcarls--lhe very teachers seemed TO
speak TO others more wiuningly than to
me.
AT length my tasks were apportioned me,
and | was permitted 10 withdraw. The up
per piazzl Of the seminary overlooked a
lively little stream, which cleaned before
us a moment in the sunshine, and,thcn went
singing lis sweet song though ilie shady
woods which skirtcd the villages. lis be-
arty arrested my gaze, but not my thoughts,
lhey we're loo sad to he won by an appeal
to the eye only, and soon The tears came
lricklng down my check, and sob told my
wreichedness. Al this moment a gentle
step aroused me, and an arm passed over
my shoulder, while soft voice said TO me
Little friend, why do you weep9 There is
an old Arabic p:overb which says: Running
waters make the heart glad,' and you look
upon that merry brooklel and give way 10
sadueSs?" and then, drawing me towards her,
while She passed her hand over my forehead
she continued:
"Whut grief should thy years know? Tty
brow and cheek are clear as water are when
no breath troubles them"
A beautiful face, as well as a.swcet voice
had this fair speaker. Oh! how afterwards
Ired that face, MAlaHs bright complexion,
white forehead, dim with the shadow Of rich
brown trtsses, with IFS full ruby lips, and
more than all, the large dark, earnest eyes,
from Which II drank in soul" llolcn Con
way was then "just seventeen she was
above the usual hcght-some called her
too tall but her head was so superbly
moulded, her bearing so tquecnly, every
movement so graceful, ,andilhis dignity was
tempered with so rare spirit of most deli
cate mrtli, that few save the cnvious found
her heighl at all dctraciing from hcI peIlec-
ton. -.,.
She was the only daughter of an Eng
lsl gentleman of great wealth, and she had
but one brother, every way worthy ol Helen.
They had been mo,hcrlcss for many years,
but their father had added the Tenderness OF
The lost parent, to the pride they were so
well calculated 10 inspire in his bosom, and
certainly they were singular happy
family. rs ,..s.
Tie summer term passed quickly away,
and we were busy in our preparations ior
the autumn examination, when Helen was
summoned To- attend The dcathbed Of her
father. We heard froui'hcr through her let
ters 10 one of the teachers. Her talher's
Illness bad been partly the result OF anxiety
on learning tbo loss OF all his landed proper
ty, and, on his dccease, his whole estate was
ascoltaincd TO be nsolyenl Helen was
therefore unable to return 10 school, she was
resolved h,nceiorh 10 sustain herself, and
to that purpose must go out amoLg slran-
gers!
When another Term brought us together
again, learned that Helen Conway, though
much against her brothers wishes, had Ell
tered al Low eli factofy, as ain operative, To
supply herself with the means Of finishing
her educa lion. 10 her brothers eXpostu-
aions she replied:
"It is no disgracelul thing which would
do, Philip, but one most honorable. would
not make snch employment a matter OF
choice, nor would j perhaps seek such cqn-
t3aBiQpship as may surround me, but1at the
worst, the e,r,,:oynent will not degrade me,
nor the associates coRtaminate, and shall
The soones, gain what lreqsire, and shall
hive The. satsfacionof knowing'hll / ] have
not ftltered you, my dear Philip, in The
course you have adopted; for impedca you
would be by tie maintenance oil an indo--
lent, helpless girl" s 9s g :.
Wrh what establishment was this intelll-
gence recewed by lIelen's former school
mates. Her mild dignly had gained for
her the respect of all-her rare intellectual
requirements had. commanded it, and her
amiabe disposition mad won even the most
but when;ail these had failed,