The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-06-05
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The Belle of the Isan Room,

'Oniy this once said Edward Allston,
fixing pair of loving eyes on the bcauti-
iul girl beside him only this once, sister
mine; nay, will even kneel TO you and
he bent, half playfully. half seriously, be-
fore her. Your dress will be my gift. and
will not therefore. diminish your charity
fund; and beside, il the influences of which
you have spoken do indeed, haun, go allur-
'ng'y about ball-roon, should you not
seek to guard me from their power, You
will go, will you not .! for me-for ne!'
The Saviour, too, whispered to the mai
den Decie for me, thou redeemed one
for me- But her spirit did NOT recognize
the tones, for of late it had been bewilder.
ed with earthly music.
She P""sel' i.."-.e-, ~-..Iaher brother
pressed kiss upon her thoughtful brow,
and waited her reply in silence.
Beware sweet Helen Allston, beware I.
The sin is not lessened that the tempter is
so near to thee. Like the sparkle of the
red wine to the inebria,e are the seductive
influences of ballroom. Thy foot will
fall upon roses, but they will be the roses
of thus world, not those that bloom for etcr
nifty. The holy calm Of thy closet will
become irksomc To thee, and thy power of
resistance will be diminished many fold,
lor this is the first great temptation.-
But Helen will not beware. While the
warm kiss is on her cheek, she forgets her
Saviour. The melody Of tha, rich voice
is dearcr to her than the pleading OF gospel
| memories.
Two years previous to the scene de-
scribed, Helen Allston hoped she had pass.
ed from death unto life. For some time
she was exact IN the discharge of social
duties, regular in her closet exercises, ar
dent, yet equal in her love- Conscious of
her weakness, sho diligently used all those
| aids so iitted TO sustain and cheer Ter
Day by day she kindled her torch a, the
holy fire which comes streaming onward to
US from tho lnmnaries OF the past-from
Baxter, Taylor and FEvc, and many a
| compccr whose name will live in the
| hearts, and linger OH the lips, OF the gene
rat'ons which are yet to come. She was
alive to the present also Upon her table,
with beautiful commentary upon the vet
unful6led prophcses, lay the record of
missionary labor and success.
The sewing circle busted her active fin
gers, and the Sabbath School kept her
| affections warm, and rendered her knowl-
edge practicable and thorough But al,
length, the things Of the world began in
scnsIbly to win upon her regard. She was
the child Of wealth, and fashion spoke of
her taste and elegance. She was very
lovely, and the voice Of ilattery mingled
with the accents OF honest praisc.-Sbc
was agreeable ~ manner. sprgh,ly in con
versation, and she was cour,cd and caress-
ed, She heard with complaccncy reports
from The gay circles she had once frcquen-
ted, and noted with more interest the ever.
| shifting pagcntry OF folly. Then she les
sencd her cilarIiics, furnished her ward
| robe more lavlshly, and became less scru-
4
| pulous in the disposal OF her time. She
formed acquantanccs among The light and
| trvlIous, and to fit herself for intercourse
with Item, sought the hooks they read,
until others became insipid
Edward Allston was proud of his sister,
and loved her, too, almost to idoatry.
They had scarcely been separated from
childhood and it was severe blow to him
when she Stunned the amusement 'hev
had so long shared together. He admired,
indeed, tho excellence of her second life.
the beauty of her aspirations, tho loitiness
Of her aims, but he felt deeply the want OF
that unity in hope and purpose which Ind
existtd d between them. He felt. at times.
indignant, as il something had been taken
from himself. Therefore he strove, by
many device, to lure her in the path he
was treaGing. He was very selfish in this,
but unconscious of it. He would have