The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-08-21
POPULAR TALES,
From Scott's Philadelphia Weekly Paper
THE CID RACNEEGh'S STORY
BY MRS. G.. III, S,

My father had one friend, minister, whom
he seemed to love dear brother NV first
| remembrance of him is middle aged man, with
| countenance Of pleasant dignity, whose man
ners were ever kind and gentle. When nv
brothers and sisters, with myself, were children.
he treated us as sensible, rational beings, and
was ever re ady to impart instruction both use
| tul and agreeable to our youthful minds
We became men and women, but there SEEM
ed little change in our elderly friend, although
his hair was now gray, and we could remember
when it was rich dark brown In most COM
pany he was silent and reserved, and / once
heard 4 fashionable lady call him a owoman- ha-
ter which expression | repeated to my mother
| can fancy see the sad smile with which she
answered,
''Mr. Melton loves virtue and goodness, whcr
ever he finds them, much as he dctcsts vice
| and folly. have never. seen who holds a
| really excellent woman in higher respect than
MIR. Melton; but he appears to dislike vain
one
My dear and honorcd father died when I was
about twenty, and this seemed to add shade of
deep sadness to the countenance of his friend,
| In performing the funeral services, his utterancc
was often checked by strong emotion After
wards, when with US, he spent much time in the
graveyard where my father was buried, and |
sometimes walked with him there
One day he said, "Hcnry, | wish to be buri.
cd here; it is the plcasantcst place on earth to
| me, and would rejoice to know that should
one day sleep here.
l assured him that his wish should be compli
ed with. After few minutes, he spoke sud
denly:
"My Henry, do not let Ambition decoy YOU
into dangerous places. Ambition leads not to
happiness Then pausng for minute, he ad-
ped' "Whcn,I am gone, all my books and pa
pers are yours. You may learn from them how
my ambition has been rewarded | thank God
that lie saw fit to!pluck me 'as brand from the
burning.''
But few months passed away ere was called
to fulfil my promise to Mr.. Melton; and among
his numerous papers | found the following sad
| story of his earlier life
l well remember when was about six wears
of age, that my mother took me to our neioh
bor's, MIR. Lessing's, to see the little babe, and
that wished to take it in my arms, but did not
dare so. | thought twas the prettiest thing I
ever saw, and O, how earnestly wished for it
to grow large enough to play. had neither
brothers nor sisters; my only near living rela-
tive, was my dear mother, and we lived alone.
| in pretty cottage near the mansion of Mr. Les
sing.
| They named the little babe Alice; and when
she grew old enough to sit on the CARPET, | Iwould
sit by her for hours, and get her playthings, be-
sldes lnVentlng and making many new things
for her amusement. When she could walk. 7
was often allowed to take her out with me. and
was delighted to gather flowers for her, and to
carry her to see the lambs and chickens. O.
how she would hold up her tiny hands, and shout
at seeing them! And when she was sent to
school, it was my charge to take care her. She
was sweet little creature, with blue ewes. and
light, curling hair.
| At fifteen was sent away to school, and this
was the first time l was ever separated for dav
from my sweet playmate. The morning of nv
departure, ran in to see Alice and her parents
both of whom dearly loved. When I entered
the sitting-room, there was none within bnt Mrs
Lessing, her elbow resting on her work-t table.
and her forehead supported by her hand. On
hearing my step, she raised her head, and for
the first time | noticed that she looked pale and
sick. She smiled sweetly, though sadly, and
said, s... --.s
"Then you are going to leave us, Arthur
We shall miss you sadly a~
These words were spoken with such apparent
emotion that had to press my hand across nv
eyes to keep back the tears. She then spoke
kindly and encouragingly OF the advantages and
dlsad vantages OF forming new associations, and
OF the change in my situation, which must ma
terally affect my feelings and character. Said
she, -
81 feel my health failing, Arthur and I NAV
not live to see you return but shall hone and
pray that you may retain, through life, the pure