Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-12-29
From the Drawing-Room Companion.
THE ORPHANS PRAYER,
THE PERJURED WITNESSES.
sY sYLvAsUs COBB, JR.
CHAPTER |.

y CHAPTER |.
Night had drawn her curtain over III
: earth, but still brought no gloom-no dark
ness. Ia The cloudIess, star gemmed heav
ems d~elt the bright full moon, and from
her '.swee. silver" face The great + AN
seemed 10 look forth in smiles upon hi
created world. A soft sephyr, bearing Up
on lis bosom praises from thousand flow
ers, and nude musical BY the notes Of lht
nightingale, played Ger the face of nature
with gentle power, while the pearly dew
glistened in the mellow beams of the nigh
queen, like diamonds in their setting ol
| green Jasper. @ /.
"A snloll village, nestled among the fresh.
crowned hills, had sunk Into quiet repose,
aud, save where, BY the gn,e Of neal
white cottage, stood a youth and maiden,
the gardens and greens had been left alone
by me sleep-seekIng vlllngers.
said youth and maiden stood by
the gate; perhaps il would be better had |
said boy and girl for not over fifteen
summers had smiled upon them. But there
they slood, and they had both been wait.
ing; aud IS The moonbeams struggled thro'
the deep foliage above their heads, the girl
had nestled heraface within he bosom oil
her companion, while the fountain Of her
griei burst forth afresh.
| Come, come, dear Cora, wipe the tears
from your eyes, and let me see you smile
ere 60 from your side. God will return
me to you again, and then we will be hap
lpy.' =
st will smile. Henry. There!-God
bless you r
As The gentle being spoke, she looked
up through her tears and smiled. II was
q heavenly smile Tor one SO young, and 10
the yonthil Sent thrill Of pnrest jov
Il hauk you, dear. Cora, he said. THAT
smile viii make me happier. Now ! mus,
go, Tor cannot stay here another night.
Perhaps we are too young to talk of love,
but still feel that DO love you as truly
as the human heart can be capable of
We have been play mates together for life.
You Will be faithful 10 me, ,Cora!' 3.
Yes, yes, Henry saz
But why need we draw the picture fur
ther. Young Us were those Two hearts,
they bent with strong and earnest deyo-s
sion 10 each other, and they each felt that
tnelr devotion was 10 be as lasting as il
was pure ami hearlfe felt. The first fame
that burns upon the altar of the SOULS at
iecliuD, cir never be entirely ext,nguished.
Years may roll over its smouldering EN-.
bers, and its fires may grow dim and low,
but they can never become utterly cold
The human heart may bear upon its tab,
lets The memory Of a thousand ties Of
friendship and regard, but lis first love
will al% ays hold rs impress there! IS
lieury Williams was et a boy, but he
had lived long enough TO see the last earth
~ remains ot his Iulher and mother laid
beneath the. green sod OF the village church
j yard, and he had been iet with nothing
but bis own; hands and health, with which
10 oyefcome lhe lrials and wants of earth.
In his naive village, he could see no hope
u success, for he was too poor; and more
ihan once had he been turned coldly away
on that account. One tie, and only one,
bound his heart 10 the place Of his birth;
and thai was The love he bore for the en-
tie Cora Clifford. They had been play.
mates together, though the father ofHenry
had been but hired laboter on the farm
OF Deacon Clifford; but though the sire had
sweat and toIled in his service, still he felt
no sympathy for The son, and when by nc.
cident he discovered The warm affection
thai existed between the youth and his
daughler, he turned the Door lad coldly
irom his doors, and forbade his ever enter.
ing them again. That was q severe blow
upon The tender heart of Williams, but he
made no answer in reply, only he hnsen>
ed from the house TO hide the tears that ILL.
treatment had started forth, and from that
moment he was determined that he would
leave The place, trusting that at some fu-
| ture lime he might be enabled 70 take
stand that should entiue him TO the respect
of lbose who now looked down upon him
so scornfully.
Henry pressed the fair Cora once more
10 his young bosom, and imprinted one
more kiss upon her brow then he seized
his bundle and turned quickly away from
the spot. He dared mol look back, for he
heard her feryent "God bless you," and
with comparatively light step be has
tened on. At length he stood upon the
brow Of the hill from whence he could take
the last view of the theatre Of his boy.
hoods scenes. There lay the quiet vil-
lage, with lis church spire pointing up
| towards heaven, while around were gath.
cred the cottages Of those who we're soon
10 be far distant from him.. ss=ze
For q momen. he stood thus, and then,
while holy light irradiaied his counle-
nance, he fell upon his knees, and clasping
hts hands together, he marmured:
My father in heaven; o. give. me
strength TO do my duly truly and faithful.
". Wilt thou be with me under trials and
Affections, and should q better day dawn
upon me, will thou then keep me in re-
membrance of thy goodness: Through all
my journeyings in life, wilt thou be my
guioe and my support, and lead my feet in
The way. Of our Lord and Saviour Deliv-
er me from all temptation and evil, and to
| Thee will | return my THINKS both night