New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-14

A bumble domestic ometimcs comes up % taxi
+ lessons in reading, which Misc Wight is kin
enough 10 give her, and Laura is as glad to NEE
her. ard as ready and happy to aid her as thougl
she were the richest lady in the land
She retires to bed at nine o'clock as q matter 0
habit and Of duty, but never from sense OF droW
siness, ior she never seems sleepy. She is wid'
awake, bright and cheerful, to the last.
Sunday brings some change. Her work IS lai'
aside and her regular lessons are omitted Bat the
day brings no gloom or austerity She regards it Al
pleasant dsy-a day Of relaxation from ordinary
iab0r--a day devoted more than others 20 thought
iUl seltcommunOn; 10 q consideration and ENJOY
ment OF the blessings and pleasures OF liei 20 so
cia relations, and duties, and Joys She would no
more think OF Guppressing hearty laugh, or re-
pressing any outbreak Of mirhfuness, on Sunday
than on any other day it is traly day OF thanks
giving, and surely the most acceptable worship
that che or any one can pay IS mat OF Slad ana
grateful heart
This reminds me TINT upon one Of the visits OF
Governor Briggs iast after he had issued Procia
nation for the annual Fast Day." Laura asked
/ him earnestly why he did not rather make proc
ianation for two Thanksgiving Days IN the y ear.
rather than for r Thanksgiving in the Autumn, and
a Fast IN the Spring.
On Sunday she writes letters to her relatives and
friends. she takes great interest IN her brothers,
particularly in the youngest, who is still boy at
school She writes him long letters, filed with kind
and good advice, touching his health and his i'm
provement in bis studies, and his conduct general.
~. Such is the daily course Of her life, which is
seldom interrupted
LAURAs RELIGIOUS CHARACTER
II will be seen that che uses language which
seems TO imply considerable religious instruction,
bat it would not be fair to suffer such inference to
be drawn because she has not received what is
usually considered religious instruction that is, she
he's not been indOctrnated into any particular creed
or form of religious belief. Faith she has in God
ay and love, too,-that love which easteth out
fear. Her veneration, which showed itself spon
taneOusy, has been so directed upward TO tho Gre.
ator and Governor of all things, that she lives IN
consciousness Of his protecting presence and low
ing care. His laws are his angelic messengers,
ever lowering over us,-lot armed with whips and
scorpions, to avenge themselves, but charged to
win upward by love and persuasion. Laura
begins to understand and revere those laws, and
thus her religious nature is developed without the
aid of catechism. More than once it has been seen
that the thought Of Gods presence and love, oc-
curing in moments OF irritation and discomfort, has
soothed her into placid peace and content. She
often says, with joyful and loving look tour
Father gives US all these things"
In childhood, while her mind was beginning to
grow up toward the light acknowledge, and to pat
forth its imd tendrils to Irvine around some points
of belief, which should be its support through its
after growth, then | wished that those tendrils
should cling only to what was firm and durable. i
tried TO keep out of her reach all pestent catch
words and sectarian shibboleths. | tried TO train
her up according to what seemed to N the will Of
her Creator, whether written in book or manifest
ed in nature; but did not care that she should
know too early the name which men give their no
tions Of his attributes whether IL be JOve Jehovah
or God Having full faith in the religious nature OF
man, could 10 more doubt that, with the growth
Of her mind, the religious capacities and DISPOSE
tons would show themselves, than could doubt
that an acorn had planted would grow 70 be an
oak than an hemock. | was not anxious to pull
up to look at its roots, or TO twist aud bend us
tvSgs thatit might grow in any particular FORM |
wished TO encourage in her the growth OF those vir-
tues which seem tobe the elements out OF whichthe
religious character is alterward ed,-venera.
ton trust, and love conscientousness, i1eslity, |
hope, aud the like AS tor the particular form OF
belief which she should adopt, had less care
Isupposed that when, by the action Of her per
ceptive faculties her acquaintance withscts should
become sufficiently extensive, then her mind would
begin to pat forth its higher powers and generaze
the knowledge that had been furnished to it,
wished 20 avoid the common error of giving creed
first, and the elements out Of which faith ought 10
be formed afterward, when the form OF belief was
! fixed trusted that the free elements of thought
would CRY stalZe around certain natural points Of
belief, and did not care 10 hasten the process by
introducing any artificial nucleus to give special
form TO the future faith. Nor my trust dissp.
pointed. 1t was a source OF the highest satisfac
ton and pleasure 10 find, that cause atty began to
work, these differences were formed naturally -
Women make bread, and clothes, and the ike
men make tables, and chairs, aud desks and houses
but no woman nor man makes the sun TO shine, the
rain to fall, the grass to grow therefore there must
be a superhUman power | do not mean to say
that ct any particular time, and in any concrete
form, she stated this inference; but do say, that
to the best of my knowledge and belief, her mind
passed through this process, and underwent these
changes that no one directly aided its PROGRESS or
shaped the form of her belief but that alone and un
guided she sought God and found him in the Gre
ator.
1t was a touching and beautiful sight TO see this
young soul that had lain so long in utter darkness
aEd stiffness, as soon as the obstacles were cleared
from its path, begin 70 move forward and upward,
to seek and to own its Creator, God 1t was as if
the lost Plead brought back again to her native
sphere and under her native Influences should |
begin to move onward with graceful sweep, and,
Joining her sister stars, renew her circling homage
around the central throne of light Her intellect
lad done part Of its work it had brought God to
her mind.
LAURAs VIEW OF WEALTH
She knows the cost OF rich shawls and fine lace, |
OF precious stones, iewelry and furniture but no
display of them ever seems to affect her apprecia-
ton of the owners worth. AS yet, she has es- |
capped the disturbing influence which wealth and |
other hollow and Fictitious distinctions among per
sons, have upon the opinion and esteem in which |
they are held. She is no respecter of things artif-
cihl or superficial. The absence or presence OF |
"the guinea stamp alters not in her mind, the |
value OF the metal that is in the man. No display |
Of wealth or luxury can dazzle her, though it may
be perceived by her. Even beauty OF person or
sweetness OF voice fails 70 affect her. The seduc
tions OF the smile and Of the eye charm not her
Judgment into sleep. The speaker must drop, be-
fore her, the masquerade Of soft smiles aud sweet
tones, which impose upon others, and his words
have weight only according to their real worth
They must be signs of feelings and deeds and if
they tally not in every particular with the things
they represent they are thrown aside as counter
felt and worthless coin.
She meets the Governor Of the State as quietly
as she does the most ordinary person; and she |
would meet the Queen of England Just as quietly |
though she might perhaps raise a curious hand to |