Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-11-10

wonder that you, SO young and richly endowed by
nature, could prefer man of the years end char
acter of my father. I know not what there is in
him for beautiful young woman to fancy. ''8ss
"Ah, Isabel,' said Mrs. Allston, aI never fan
cied your father. 1t is with worthier, deeper
holier feeling that regard him. '''' Il = '''t
Isabel sat down on the rustic seat by the side of
her step-mother,I who continued in low but fer
vent tone: eyes, Isabel, love your father, dear
ly love him; hes the only man Ihuve ever loved.
s'What.'' exclaimed Isabel, were you not a
widow when you married himl" "Why no dear,
why did you suppose ita'' 81 heard SO, at least
heard you were in mourning" That was for my
mother" replied Mrs. Allston, with quivering
lip, 'yet, until now have not been out of mourn
ing for good many years. have indeed seen
much sorrow, Isabel.' '''s2el'I,s
"My father, who was-a lawyer of S., died
while was young; a school girl away from home,
already pursuing with 'ardor, the study Of music.
He left my mother very little, except the house in
which she lived. My only brother, Alfred, no.
Bile boy, in whom our best hopes had centered,
had entered college only the year before father
died. Then it was that my mother, with the cour-
age of true heroine, and the devotion of mar
tyr, resolved to remove neither of her children
from their studies, but by her own unassisted Ia
Dor to keep me, at my school, and Alfred at Col
lege. She opened a large boarding house in
s., principally for gentlemen of the bar, and
almost from the first was successful. remained
two years longer at school, .whena lucrative stu
alton, was offered me as teacher of music in the
family of a wealthy Southern Senator. I parted
from my mother, from dear Alfred, and went with
the Ashtons to Georgia. There, year after year,
I remained, ever toiling cheerfuly with the bless
ed hope of returning North with the means of re-
storing my beloved mother to her former social
position, and of freeing her from toll and care tor
the remainder of her days.--Ths was the one con-
slant desire of my heart, the one great purpose of
my life. l thought not of pleasure-I cared not
for distinction or admiration, or love; I thought
only of her; my patient, self-sacrifcing, aged
Here Isabel drew nearer, and placed her hand
in that of her step-mother, who pressed it gently
as she continued-"Brothe Alfred, Immediately
on leaving college, commenced the study of the
law. I shall ever fear he confined himself too
closely -stdiued too intensely. His constitution
was delicate like his fathers, and after year of
two his health never vigorous, began to fail
Mother finally wrote to me that she was anxious
about him; though she added, perhaps her affec-
tion for the beloved one made her needlessly fear
full yet was alarmed and hastened home some
months before my engagement had expired. |
had then been absent five years; but / had seen
| tbora lfraJ IN, hat +l,o
had met me on the sea shore. 1t was asutry after
noon in August when reached s. shall
never forget how very long and weary seemed the
last two miles, and how eagerly Isprang down the
carriage steps at last left my baggage at the
hotel, and ran over to my mothers little private
parlor; the room of the household. Iopened the
door very gently, so as to surprise them. At the
| first gance I thought the room was empty; but on
looking again, saw some. one extended on the
familiar ehintz covered sofa. Itwas Alfred asleep
there. Invent softly up and looked down upon his
face. Oh, my God, what change 1t was thin
and white, save small red spot on either cheek.
One hand lay half buried in his dark chestnut
curls, which alone preserved their own beauty;
and that hand, how slender and delicate it had
grown, and how distinct was every blue vein
even the smallest. AS l stood there my heart
wrung with sudden grief, my tears fell SO fast on
his face, that he awoke and half raised himself,
looking up with bewildered expression. Just
then dear mother came in, and we all embraced
each other, and thanked God out of the overflow
ing fullness of our hearts. AsiI looked at Alfred
tthen, his eye was SO bright and his smile 50 glad
$50 like the old smle-I took courage again, but
he suddenly turned away and coughed slightly
But such cough! Il smote upon my heart like
Ia knell. - x sbtE4 1 0'tgt 5ff
= "When descended from my chamber that eve
ming, after laying aside my travelling dress, found
gentleman sitting by Alfred's side, reading to
him in low pleasant voice. That stranger Isa-
bel was your father--Altred's best, most beloved
friend. I..wilfnot pain your heartily dwelling on
our great sorrow, as we watched that precious life
the treasure ofmany hopes and much love, passing
away. With the fading and falling of the leaf
with the dying of the flowers, he died. -,
Here Mrs. Allston paused and covered her face
with her hands, while the tearsslid slowly through
her fingers, and she wept not alone AT length
she continued-sI have since felt with poor Al
fred's last dying kiss, the chill of death entered
into poor mothers heart; for she never was we'll
after that night. Though slra sorrowed bitterly
for that only son, so young aa4 so beautiful, she
said she wished to live for my sake-yetvain was
that meek wish; vain were pay. love and care;
vain the constant, agonized pleadings of my soul
with the Giyer Of life, she failed and dropped
daily, and within year she was laid beside father
and very near to Alfred. She died and left me
alone--alone in the wide world. s0h, ,how often,
dear Isabel, have 1, rhkeyou cried outwith that
exceeding bitter cry of the orpllan Oh, Mother,
Mother.i'E- g hlaifs Cs3 isi1 cri ! 5isS ,alga5f