Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-05-16

an enyiable light. $50
oil Ferris Harvard was Lieutenant in the
Navy, and depended entirely on his pay
as an officer tossupport widowed mother
> and q young sister, to both OF whom be
was devotediy attached. His father was
i a selEmademan-had once been a success.
ful merchant, who sailed and freighted
some of the heaviest~tonned vessels that
left the port of Boston, but misfortune and
sickness overlook him, and he sunk in the
grave, leaving his only son to protect his
mother and sister from the wants and ills
oflife. Ferris had enjoyed liberal educa-
ton, and having entered the Navy as a
Midshipman, had raised to Lieutenancy,
by reason of his superior conduct. His
profession had led him to all parts of the
world, and he had carefully improved his
advantages-though, constrained by limi-
Ted means, to the practice of the most rigid
economy.
He had met with the only daughter OF
Harris Howell, one of the wealthy citizens
Of Boston, at fete given on board the
ship to which he belonged, and had imme-
diately become enamorcd Of her, but he
we'll knew in his own heart the difference
in their fortunes formed barrier to his
wishes He had been causual visitor for
several months subsequent to the ime our
story commences, at the house of the How
ell family. -.
81 must think of her no more, said Fer
ris to himself. "Il sneered at by her friends
for offering her common civilities, with
what contempt would her austere parents
recevea proposition for her hand, from
one so poor and unknown?''
Harris Howell was indeed a stern old
man, and yet he was said to be kind to the
poor, giving freely Of his bounty for the re-
lief ofthe needy. Still he was strange
man; he seldom spoke to those around him,
yet he eyinced the warmest love for his on.
ly child, and Anne, too, loved her father
with an ardent affection. His delight was
to pour over his library, living, as it were,
in the fellowship of the old philosophers
On several occasions, when Ferris was at
his house, and engaged in conversation
with Anne, he had observed the old man S
eyes beBs sternly upon him. and he would
sink within him, as he would awake TO the
reality Of his situation.
L
at tie house of Mr.. Howell, where, in
spite of the cold reception he received
from those, he still enjoyed himself in She
belief that Anne was not Indifferent to his
regard. lie had been relating TO her, al
her request his experience with different
national characters, with whom he had
met, speaking Of their peculiarjties, anc
describing the various scene effects Of differ
ent countries. Anne sat near sweet ge-
ranium whose leaves she was industriolsly
engaged in destroying. Ferris bending
close to her ear said:
I ''Anne, will you pluck me that rose, as
token OF affection?-you must know how
ardent mine is for you-or stop, dearest
= behind it blows the condituft You know
the mystic language of both, will you choose
] and give me one?"
- - .'Hush, hush, Ferris,'' said the blushng
and trembling girl, pluckins and handing
: him the ROSE.
. This passed when the attention of the
= company present was drawn to some en-
gaging object. Never before had Ferri
: received any evidence of Anne's love save
y from her tell-tale eyes. The flower wa
: placed nextto his heart, and he left the a
. partment. He had proceeded but few
steps from the house when he was accostet
:, by poor mendicant, clothed in rags VIII
was exposed at that late hour Of the nigh
to the inclemency ofthe season.
70 'Pray sir,' said the beggar to Ferri
= "can you give me trife? | am nearl
i starved and chilled through by this nigt
rt air.
= Ferris after few moments convers;
le ton with the beggar, for he had not tn
a heart to turn away from the suffeings Of
;c fellow creature, and handing him q purs
II containing some five or six dollars, urge
a him to seek immediate shelter and food
The beggar blessed him and passed on.
to A few nights subsequent to this occu
1 renee he was again at her fathers hous'
Id Mrs. Howell, Anne's mother, received hin
ct as she did most of her visitors, with a some
as what constrained and distant welcome. b.
IS ing woman of no great conversation:
lie power, she always retired early, conduc
d ing her intercourse with society in tt
n most formal manner. Ferris was muc
d surprised that Mr.. Howell had taken I
" particular notice of his intimacy in h
Ie house. for he seldom saw him, and when
ID could, the old mans eyes bent sternly upe
Ii him, in any thing but a friendly and invi
ds ing spirit. In this dilemma, he was at
ng loss what course to pursue, since Anne
~ acknowledgement of her affection for hlf
Or and now he had succeeded in this, he WI
n, equally distan. from the goal of his hapI
he ness, for his better Judgment told hi
ali that the consent of her parents could nev
ne. be obtained. On this occasion he had t
no ken his leave as usual, when he was m
a by the beggar Of the former night, who
he gain solicited aims, declaring that he cou
ed find no one else to assist him. and that t
money he had before bestowed upon hi
,ur had been expended for food and rent of
his miserable cellar where he had lodged
Again Ferris put purse into the pc
tn. mans hand, at the same time telling h
,as that he was himself poor, and constrain
to the practice of rigid economy in the S,
lu. port of those dependant upon him. He |