The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-05-16


country for several reasons, the principal
one of which is economy. Our cottage.
with six acres of ground, costs us only
fifty dollars year, and we have the whole
&c the land worked on shares by neigh
bor, thus more than clearing our rent
Then we have plenty Of fru, and milk for
health into the bargain"
ssBut don't Mrs. Merwyn find it very
lonesome out herel'' enquired.
"Oh, no. We have two children, and
they, with very clever young woman
who lives with us more as d friend than
a domestic. although we pay her wages.
give Fiorine plenty of society through The
day, and come in by nigh,-fall, and
sometimes earlier, to make the evenings
all she could wish. At least have Flo
rine's own declaration for this" The last
sentence was uttered with a smile.
AS we walked along, the means of my
meeting with Mrs. Merwyn, turned my
thoughts back 10 other times. A beautiful
girl was hetore me, languidly reclining
upon a sofa, overcome by ihe extract of
some sweet herbs, the perfume Of which
had fallen unharmo moniously upon the sense.
hot-house plant, how was it possible
that she could bear The cold. bracng al
mosphere of such life as that she was
now living. When last saw her. she
WIS but tender summer flower, on whom
the warm sun shone daily, and into whose
bosom the night dews came softly with
refreshing GOODNESS.
Silently | walked along with my mind
full of such thoughts, when an opening
i'll the woods through which we were
passing gave me glimpse of woman's
figure, stan ding on the second rail Of
fence. and apparently on the look out for
some one.
The intervening trees quickly hid her
again from my view. In minute or SO
afterwards we inrnerged from the trees
but short d stanoe fr,m the woman |
had sem, who was 10 ng IN another
direct on from tha, IN wh ,ciI we were
coming. We were C ose upon her b. fore
she observed us ! hen The voice of
Merwvn. who called "Fioriner" startled
her and she turned upon US her beautiful
young face. glowing. with health. surprise
and pleasure. paused in as constituent.
Was that the Ind1rnt lanyuid city belle
who could scarcely sit erect even with
the aid of cush ons, now Standing firm
and straight on a fence rail. and ok
ing more lovely and graceful than she
had cvrly seemed in my eyes'
She recognised me in mon.nt, and,
spr.neing frrH the rail Game bounding to-
ward me, full 20 ovrrfpwIng of life and
spirits. GrasiTing my hand. she express
sed the warueSt pleasure at seeing an old
face. and ask d me dozen of Guestions
before coul answ' one. z-
found them occupying a neat little
birds nest Of cottage. IN which were
Two as sweet little children as [ have ever
seen. While. | SAT and talked with Mer-
wyn. no ding one ch Id upon my knee
and ne the other. Florine busted herself
in getting the su2pe. Her only domestic
was away. Ever and anon caught a
glimpse of her as she passed IN and oui
of the adjoining room where she had
srrpad the tahl-. A very long time did
not elapsed before sat down with my
old friends TO meal tina, I enjoyed as
well as any | have ever eaten. The
warm white biscuits wer b., ked By Florins.
sweet butter she had herself churned, so
she sa d and the cake and preserves were
her own. as s-i.- a15 --=r r..
Il ann surpr ised at all this" said |.
after tea 'How Is IT possible for you 10
be cheerful and happy under such a
chang? How was II possible for you to
come so efficiently into mode Of bfr, the
very antipodes OF the one to which you
We're rn, aud in which you were edu
catrdP'
'Misfortune." replied Merwyn, brings
out whateverIs efficient in our characters.
This has been pa 'arly the Case with
US. We had both led art ifical lives, and
had false views Of almost everything, a !
blow, the golden palace in which we
had lived was dashed topieces. We were
then thrown GU. into the world but nothing
to depend upon but our indiv duai5reso, r
ces, which were. at first. you NAV well
believe. exceedingly small. The sudden
ness with which our fashiona Bile friends
turned from US. and the entire exclusion
from fashionable society that followed
op. ned our eyes to the utter worthless
ness of much that we bad looked up,n
as OF primary consideration. The necrs-
silly OF cur circumstances turned our
Thoughts at the same time, TO things oi
real moment, the true lmpoi tance of ~ icl'
grew daily more a parent. Thus W.
were rrepa ared for arr steps that had
not been taken. d vich. / am glad /,
say we are able 10 taAe cbeerfuly, We
now lead true and useful life, and ] an