Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-11-05
Counsel-The Evil and the Good.
BY ALICE b. NEAL.


margin of the pool that sounded so clearl
above the whir of her spinning wheels
clearly, that the maiden paused in he
busy task, and looked upward and aroun
in the glimmering twilight. But the tas
was long, and the day closed swiftly; ther
was no time to seek for the intruder.
"Meeta beautiful Meeta ~
Close at her very side, as if it had crep
along the green sward, trembling through
the ground ivy and the blue-eyed sparrow
grass, murmuring over the light ripples a
musical as they, came again that soft, ,cleal
whisper.
"Yes," said the maiden's heart, " I an
beautiful. The waves tell me SO as
gather crosses every morning; and tho
roses prove it, for their hearts are moi
clearer or richer in coloring than my cheek
The lily tells me so for am not as fair t:
and the floating swan, swinging silently on
the margin of the lake with its gracious
repose, and the shining threads of flax that
| spin, arc not softer or more silken than
my tresses ; the violcts, my eyes are the
same hue as theirs. Yes, l am beautiful l"
"And all things beautiful are loeed,"
said the voice.
But the maiden did not heed it. The
long shining threads passed more slowly
through her fingers, her head dropped for
ward as one whose mind is filled by vex-
ing thoughts. Nay, in her moodiness, the
psalter from which she had chanted her
morning hymn, with heart full Of praise
and innocent alteration, slipped to the
ground, and lay, with all the treasures of
the life to come, unheedcd at her feet.
And there slept her faithful Leon, his long
curling ears o'erlapping those rhitc and
dimpled feet, half buried in the rich moss
of the river bank and the sleeves fell
back from her rounded arms as she clasped
her hands bitterly, and they CLEANED forth
like ivory to the soft light of the crescent
moon Just floating upward. Her heart had
not deceived hcr-Meeta was very beauti-
ful.
"Fie on thee for dreamer said the
voice again, but more gayly and still nearer,
while woman, young and also strangely
lovely, sprung from her concealment be-
hind the brake of Towering shrubs, whose
thick stems and tall uplifted spires of
blossoms had hidden her.
Mceta started to her feet, and the sill
ken tresses broke from their fastening, fall
ling over throat and waist, and adding ten
fold to her delicate beauty.
Thou child ~ said the gay intruder,
clasping her waist half caressingly, half in
playful anger. $50 l have found thee at
last, dreaming over thine own beauty. and
weary of the daily toll it can not tighten.
Pretty Mccta, no wonder that this graceful
form shrinks from such coarse garments,
and these delicate limbs find no rest on the
straw of thine humble pallet And these
hands, SO chiseled, SO daintily colored,
blushing to the finger tips of their own
pcrfection-ah, there arc cruel marks of
toll upon them. Look at my hair, Meeta,
wreathcd and flowing. What would not /
give for lresses like thine. yet never before
has even the moonlight looked upon its
heavy waves unfolded Thy feet should
be daintily sandaled. See! !' and she trod
a light and springing step, as one that
bounds through an airy measure.
"Thou here" said the young girl,
slightly shuddcring.
"Nay, nay, girl! is this thy greeting
to an old friend, who has left soft lights,
and gallant cavaliers, and the merry dance,
to come in search of thee ? See, there they
are, the gay revelcrs! The prince him
self does not disdain to mingle with them;
these very roses in my bosom we're placed
there by his hand And he has heard of
thee! So, blu shing! We'll, mayhap it
was little bird told me the tale, how a
fair maiden spun in the sunshine, and sang
so merrily, that the very thrushes came to
listen, and the brook danced to the music
But another than the thrushes came, and
thought the singer wondrous fair, and
sought her side to tell her so. And the
maiden blushed, but would not smile. Her
blue eyes we're veiled and downcast; bat q
new light burned therein, kindled by those
kindly glances. Ah, thou seest I know
the tale; and now he waits for thee, to
make thee his own, amid all atsplcndor;
and come, thine old friend, willing en-
bassador, to bid thee join our gallant COM
pany."
| eHush, Norma. WHY have YOU come 10