The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-11

: pen and ink, the passages which more particnIar
y gratihed his ear or affected his heart HI
Testament was thus marked through from ON,
end to the other with a variety of STYLES an,
designations, so he could in a moment seize upor
nis'iaVorite passages, without the labor of smell
ing out what lay between them and while il Law
there before him, every passage breathing of soms
oiu nome scene, and recalling some past enjoy.
ment, his Testament seemed to him ali of this life
mat remained, as well as the promise of future
| one.
Among the passengers on the boat was young
gentleman of fortune and family, resident in New
orleans, who bore the name Of ST Glare He
had with him daughter between five and sir
years OF age, together with lady, who seemed
70 claim relationship to both and to have the lit
tie one specially under her charge
Tom had often caught glimpses Of this little
giri, Tor she was one Of those busy tripping orea
lures than can no more be contained in one niooo
IMAM sunbeam or q summer breeze, nor was abe
one that once seen could be easily forgotten.
Iier FORM was the perfection OF childish beauty
""nout lts usual chubbineSs and squareuess of
outline There was about il an unduIatipe and
aeriai grace, such as Que might dream OF for some
myihlc ana alegorical being Her face was re.
uarXaoie iess for its perfect beauty of feature
man lot singular and dreamy earnestness of
expression which made the ideal start when they
literal were impressed without exactly knowing |
why. The shape of her head and the turn of her |
neck and bust was peculiarly noble, and the Ions.
goiden-or0wn hair that hoated like cloud arouna
II the deep spiritual gravity of her violet blue
eyes, shaded by heavy fringes of golden brown
all marked her out from other children. and made
every one turn and look after her as she 0lided
nither and thither on the boat. Nevertheless
ne little one was not what you would have called
'itner grave child or a sad ONE On the con-
.rary an airy and innocent plsyfulness seemed
- nlc.er IKE the shadow OF summer leaves over !
Ter childish face and around her bouvant fOnre ,
She was always in motion, always with a half ,
raiie on her rosy mouth, flying hithersand thin.
r, with an uudulating and oloudlike tread sing. 8
~ 10 herseif rs she mOveu in happy dream.
Ter lather and female guardian were necessarily Il
usy In pursuit OF her, but when caught she melt n
Il from them again like sumner cloud. and "a o
word OF Gliding or reproof ever fell on her D
" TOT whatever she chose to do she pursued her G.
Tn way all over the boat. Always dressed in
mite, she seemed TO move like shadow through n,
sorts OF places, without contracting spot or q,
ain, and there was not corner or nook above ~
. oeloW where those fairy footsteps had not
lded, aud that visionary, golden head. with i,s
ep oiue eyes Elected along The fireman, as he W,
'Ned up rom his sweaty toll sometimes found an
ose eyes looking wonderingly into the raging oy
pms OF the furnace, and fearfully and pitying
at him, as If she thought him in some dreadful on
ngsr. Anon the steersmsn at the wheel paused all
smiled as the picture-like head cleaned GU
rough the window Of the round house and in GU
moment was gone again A thousand times a no
rough voices blessed her, and smiles of up. ior
nted softness stole over hard faces as she pass yo
ana when she tripped fesrlessly over danger. on
places, rough, sooty hands were stretched
oiuntarily out to save her and smooth her pa,
- a0f