The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-15

Tennyson.
Frederic Preston was the eldest son Of re-
spectacle merchant, in one Of the most important
seaport towns of New England He was young
man of fine personal appearance, warm and
honorable heart, and spirit singularly brave and
adventurous From his boyhood his inclinations
had led him to sea-faring life, and at the age OF
| twenty ak when he is presented TO the reader,
he had already made several voyages to the East
Indies, as supercargo in the employ of the house
| in which his father was partner. He was now
| at home for year, awaiting the completion OF q
vessel which was to trade with Canton, and which
he was to command.
Preston had, for all his love Of change and adj
venture, q taste for literature-always taking q
well-selected library with him on his long voya'
ges-was even, for one Of his pursuits, remarka-
Bile for scholarly attainmeuts; yet, he sometimes
wearied of books and study, and as he had little
taste for general society often found the time drsg
heavily in his shore-life. Thus it was that he
one day cheerfully accepted the invitation Of his
mother to accompany her to a school examination,
in which his sister was to take part.
Our young gentleman was shown seat in
front. near the platform on which were arranged
the "patient pupils beauties, every shade Of
brown and fair.o
He gazed about rather listlessly for while, but
at length his attention became fixed on q young
lazy VINO bCOOu ~ INC UihCk-UUaTuI pTOVluK WIN
great elegance and precision q difficult PROPOSE
ton in Euclid He was observing the admirable
taste Of her Dress the delicacy and willowy grace
Of her figure, when suddenly, while raising her
arm in drawing diagram, q small comb Of she'll
dropped from her head, and q rich mass Of hair
fell over her shoulders.
And such hair! it was wondrously luxuriant,
not precisely curly, but ripping all through
with small glossy waves, just ready to roll them
selves into ringlets, and of that particular, in
describable color between q brown and bright
auburn.
Preston, who felt that the possessor Of such
magnificent hair must be beautiful, waited impa-
tiently for sight at the face Of the fair geome-
trician but, without turning her head, she step
ped quietly back, took up the comb, quickly re-
arranged her hair, and went on with her prob
lem. IL was not till this was finished and she
took her seat among the other pupils, that Pres
ton had full view of her face He was more
keenly disappointed than he would have scknowl-
edged, when he saw only plainness, in place of
the beauty he so confidently expected. Yet Dora
Allen was by no means disagreeably plain; her
features were regular and her complexion ex-
tremey fair. She was only thin, wan, and some
what spiritless in appearance Her face was
asickied Ger with the pale cast Of thought D.
with thought her young eye seemed Swallowed,
her brow burdened But there was a sweet and
lovable spirit looking out from the depth Of those
dreamy eyes, and lowering about those quiet and
almost colorless lips, which told the observer
that her rare intellectual attachments had not
stood in the way of her simple affections, to him
der their generous development.
Frederic Preston liked Dora Aliens face
somewhat better ~ he regarded It more closely,
and when, at the close OF the exercises, this young
lady was called forward TO receive the highest
A. e. -. aLn al ~cAG
timidly, and bowed modestly, to be crowned With
a wreath of rose-buds and lilies OF the valley,
while sudden flush kindled In her cheek, flowed
into her aavering lips, and illuminated her whole
countenance, she grew absolutely beautiful In his
eyes.
Our hero was not sorry to learn that Miss AL
len was the most intimate friend Of his sister
Anna. from whom he soon sscertained that she
was an orphan, within few years past, adopted
by an uncle, clergyman Of the place-that she
was about eightsen--of an amiable, frank, and
noble disposition, yet chiefly distinguished for
her fine, intellectual endowments and studious
habits
will not dwell on what my shrewd reader
already antcipates--tbe love and marriage Of
Frederic Preston end Dora Alien. ! will not
dwell on the sad parting scenes, when, within six
months from "the happiest day Of his life" Cap
tain Preston set sail for Canton, his brave spirit
strangely cast down, the once gay light Of his
eyes quenched in tears, and with long tress Of
rich auburn hair lying close against bis heart.
On account Of some business arrangements
which be was to make at Canton, he must be
absent somewhat more than two years. lie de-
sired greatly to take his young wife with him,
but feared, from knowing her delicate orgAnizs-
ton. that she could not endure the voyage. lie
left her in pretty cottage-home, which be him
self had fitted up for her, in sight Of the harbor
Dora had living with her widowed elder sis
ter, whose society and assistance we're much COM
fort to her. In her otherwise most lonely lot.
Among the many letters which Captain Preston
received from his loving and constant wife during
his Absence, there was one which he read with
peculiar joy = with tears OF grateful emotion
For this was not alone from the bride Of his bo-
com, hut from the mother Of his child Thus
wrote Dora;
aOar boy Is four weeks old to-day, and my