The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-10-16
WESTERLY, R. l., OCTOBER l6, 1851 I.

Mrs. Manfred replied, with slight hesi-
fancy in her manner but perhaps he would
have done so had he been able. When he
gave it to me had been away for the doc
tor, and before he could speak fully with
regard to the cross, the death-angel came !;
but whatever may have been the memories
that it bore to your father, it bears the
most sacred of memories to you. IT'S
your fathers last gift"
Again Laura raised the relic to her lips,
and while yet she gazed tenderly upon it,
the distant rumbling of coach wheels struck
upon her ear. In few minutes more she
had seen her little store of clothing placed
upon the conveyance, and receiving par
ting blessing from her affectionate guardian
she turned away from the cot that had so
long been her home, and entered the coach.
Her heart was heavy and sad, and she dar-
ed not trust herself to look back upon the
scene she had left, but leaning back upon
her seat, she hid her face, and uttered a
silent prayer to Him who is alone the Or
phan's Father.
The family of Mr.. Thomas Morgan con-
sisted of himself, his wife, son and three
daughters. Winfield, his eldest child, had
just graduated at the Medical College, and
though but twenty-one years of age, had
entered upon the opening duties of his pro-
fession, while the three daughters, Mary,
Ellen and Lucy, were still at home, enjoy
ing the luxuries of their Papa's wealth.
Mr.. Morgan himself was an old jeweller,
and though by the strictcst attention to
business he had amassed large fortune,
yet he still superintended his extensive es-
tablishment, feeling, that an idle life would
find him no satisfaction or pleasure.
A month had passed away since Laurs
Ackerman entered upon the duties of {
serving-girl in the family, and during tina
time she had learned how much the pos
session of wealth in fashionable circles may
alter the human impulses. In Mrs. Nor.
gan she had found the change towards
which widow Manfred had limited, and
though in all respects she was treated with
Kind of condescending iberality, yet she
found none of that friendship for which
her soul yearned. The poor orphan girl
was alone, even in the great city, and in
the family of the rich jeweller she was a
mere isolated unit, forming no part of the
social circle. Once or twice she had re-
ceived kind smile from Mrs. Morgan, and
Winfield had even taken kindly notice of
her, and though these circumstances were
as shooting beams of starlight in her path,
yet they relieved not the gloom of loneli
ness that hung o'er her spirit. One source
of pleasure, and only one, was open to her.
Books were plenty in her new home, and
to these she flew for companionship during
her leisure hours. One source of pleasure
said L Yes, there was one other the
LEADEN CROSS and often did she seek the
holy memories which it's sight called up.
One evening, about five weeks after
Laura had entered Mrs. Morgan's dwelling,
the family were collected in one of the
parlors. Mary, the eldest daughter, sat
upon the music-stool near the piano; her
sisters stood near her, where they had been
watching her fingers as they mad glided
over the keys of the instrument. Mr.. and
Mrs. Morgan sat upon one Of the sofas,
while upon another, near an allowed win
dow, sat Winfield, whose attention at the
present moment was directed to young
lady by his side. Louisa Fenning was the
daughter of an aristocratic merchant,
whose true amount of wealth was doubtful
as was his amount of Christian benevolence
but who, nevertheless, carried his head
high in society, and passed for a man.
1t would not have taken close obser-
yer to have seen that on the PRESENT occa-
sion, Miss Fenning was earnestly endea-
voring to render herself agreeable in the
eyes of Winfield Morgan, and as she pos
sessed a good share of personal beauty,
the young doctor, was well pleased with
the attention, as the occasional soft glances
from his eyes fully affirmed.
"Wifc," said Mr.. Morgan, shortly after
Mary had ceased playing, as he glanced
his eyes around the room, )" "where is Miss
Ackcrman :"