Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-10-29

he 'HS'iiHS IoIIdgc OF Tue grove TIC iIP
pie OF the waters, the cleaning Of dIs'sn
lights, the faint gushes of song and mir,h
and laughter, the perfume of fowers-al
these were left far in the distance; for lhei
path lay beneath the shadow Of huge cliff
past the chapel with its silent spire, dowr
the rugged steps hewn in the living rock
rough, ioilsome way, and Mee,a's delicate
feet were torn and bleeding when they
reached the smooth, hard bench. They
stood there alone, with bu. the heavy sha
dow of the cliffs, the light step Of the faith
full Leon, and the deep solemn roar of 'h'
waves breaking at their feet, The cool sal
breeze came freshly to the burning forehead
Of The maiden. 1t was this deep calmness
this solemn voice Of the sea, this cole
kiss Of its waves that her feveIed heart hat
need Of.
"Loos, Meeta, far out upon the wide ex
panse. Wave after wave rising, falling
stretching out TO the horizon, bounded only
by what we have called Heaven. 1t is thu:
with our lives. Sanding upon a narrow
beach, we look out TO an eternity bonndIes;
as the sea would seem to thee. Ever its
waves are rising. falling. Ever we hear the
deep warning voice Of lis waters. Look
child; do not chje thee.
"Look in thine own heart. Mee,s. Thou
hast been sorely tempted. How was it thai
thy heart never lhrobbed reheIliously before:
Ever since thine orphanhood ,hnn hast eat
EN- the bread Of cheerful labor. |, is no ne "
Thing to thee ! Probe more deeply STILL
There was a day when an evil shadow fell
I, -, ,Io ~ lro,
began. Sitting hour by hour beside the
sill waters of the lake, LAYING thy white
feet, thrihding the tresses that fell around
thee, enamored Of thine own beauty so
pride came, and by pride the angels of
Heaven ave dtbased. P'ide ,ha, would not
let Thee kneel TO ask purely, ':ihis day thy
daily bread - and so the needful petition
which follows il was no longer uttered
Am ] not right, Meeta 20
The listener gave no response, but still
stood dropping and downcss,, as the ioun-
tain of penl'ence and con,rlion welled forth
in her soul a, these gentle words.
"Fhese rocks are cold and bare. The
sea has hoarse murmur, the wind is shril,
but it is more like our life than The scenes
thou hast left behind lis lessons are often
times cold and harsh, its paths rugged but
no poisonous breath comes in such an air
as this, strength only 10 nerve the frame,
and lish'ness TO raise the dropping spirit
have brought thee here to show thee paths
Of ha?pine~S-not such as Norma wooed
thee 10 with her wild eloquence. The world
lures Thee with all that Can delight the eye
or charm the sense. lis batteries are sweet.
lis pleasures low in the distance. Blu, The
soft words are hidden wounds, that burn
and ranke its pleasures leave a wild IN
rest, more fearful for their passing oblivion
Of care and sorrow. Then the brow is
"reathed with flowers bu, TO cool the ,hrob-
bling pain, and behind the false smiles tears
are prisoned. Ask Norma if she is happy.
save 10 the forgefulneSs Of mad reselry.-
Do grieve thee, Mee,a -
sob no! no! thou art too knd!" she muir
INJURED.
80 The hcar'-lhis vi lid, restless, nuiter-
ing heart hath other teachers, and our Father
sends us the message. Toll is igh,ened
when we take The task as from his hand ;
and affection is but passing cloud, whose
showers bring blossoms from the EARTH
To some given lowly ways to tread,
though Frightened by cheerful spirt, and
made rough only with lIiorns of our own
fostering. Beauty is his gift, Mee,a, and
shall we make his gift minister 10 unholi-
ness, offering it upon the altar of sinful pas
sions? Oh, Meela, The angels are beauli-
fu!, but they are likewise pure!
"And be thou, too, pure in heart for this
is far greater loveliness than symmetry of
form or the wealth of flowing ,resses -
Guard it tenderly from every evil thought !;
let no vain Imagination, no selfish longing
dwell there. For more bu. The pure in heart
are pure in word and life aud without pu-
rity there is naught of peace"
Oh, il was gentle pressure, far more kind
Iy than the thrilling clasp Of Norma. and the
voice had a touching cadence more musical
than the wild melody the jewellers sang
So they turned and with The sea before
her, an emblem of the eternity in which
the sands of life are merged, and The chapel
cross far onward pointing to the serene
heavens, the humble, struggling prayer for
peniience cast out PRIDE, and The maiden's
heart welcomed gladly its CUES. Of old
CONTENT.