Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-01-21
her education. To her brothers expostu-
lstions, she had replied:
AT. :. -. J:s.-aoof,,1 th;n0 Vhich

II
at is no disgraceful thing which
would do, Philip, but one most honorable
would not make such employment mat
ter of choice, nor would l, perhaps, seel
such companions as may surround me, bu
at the worst, the employment will not de
|grade me, nor the associates contaminate
and l shall have the satisfaction Of know
ling that 1 have not fettered you, my deal
Philip, in the course you have adopted
for impeded you would be by the maints
nance Of an iudolent and helpless girl"
With what astonishment was this intel.
ligence received by Helen's former school
mates! Her mild dignity had gained fol
her the respect of all, her rare intellectual
qualities had commanded it, and her amia-
BILE disposition had won even the most
thouy htless; and when these had failed,
the knowledge of her fathers wealth had
been sufficient to gain an acknowledgment
Of her superiority. What was she now !
A factory girl-one Of the Lowell crowd
"A class always placed BY the would-be
little aristocrats of our number, far below
the daughter of the retail grocer or hum
BILE artisan. In spite Of the circumstances
which had given me my station in the
"upper circles" Of our miniature world,
this state of things had made me most
indignant. did combat bravely for
Natures true aristocracy; and uphold
it still more warmly low, since knowl
edge of the real world has taught that fine
appareling may clothe the most unmitigated
vulgarity, and full purse only hide its
supercilious Importance and ridiculous
pretentious. The right to be aristocratic
aud l hold there is NO such rights
one that gold can not purchase; but it
comes as free gift If Nature, and this
distinction I reverence next to the rare
genius with which she sometimes endows
her children.
vulgarity in palace-displaying itself
in affectations Of taste and refinement SO
shallow that any eye may discern their
absurdity, showing itself, also, in naughty
insolencs towards interiors in station OF
worldly advantages, and servility toward
those elevated by the worlds acclaim OF
by yet greater wealth above themselves
is utterly more despicable and revolving
than the unconstrained vulgarity Of the
lower classes. Very few who have the
power of gaining great wealth, know how
to use it; their energies are too often
directed in one channel, and when they
have tightly drawn their purse strings over
the last acquired dollar, they have resolute
ly drawn closer their heart strings. Sitting
all noble impulses, their heads, too, grow
heavy with their boards, and the highest
aspirations of their souls are checked, and
perish in the tainted atmosphere. Dlsraeli
defines "good breediug'-which is neces-
aary to aristocracy-as ga genial regard
for the feelings Of others, which springs
from an absence of selfshness," and how
can those whose hearts are as hard as their
treasures, hope to acquire it!
But l meant not to digress thus, and
will hasten to tell you how my friend Jared.
Her time was spent in toll, and its effect
was ennobling, for she was stimulated and
melted by the highest motives which can
influence our conduct, and may not the
most menial labor be rendered proud,
yea a holy service, when We toll for the
comfort and happiness Of those We love,
for their or our own advancement in the
beautiful love the soul Graves?
Helen's leisure hours were we'll improved
the boarding house piano was always heI
chosen recreation, for she had fine voice
and a we'll cultivated ear for music. A
large library, for the use Of the operatives
in the mills, supplied her with the books
her own little store lacked; and besides
this, she learned many, and, to her, mos
strange lessons Of human nature, among
her associates, until her heart and sou
expanded most literally, during her yea
at Lowell
At the end of the year she returned t.
school, more beautiful far than she eve
had been, for she had learned to be full.
conscious of her own peculiar dignity, a
a woman capable Of self-con'rol and sell
support. She was more loveable tha
ever, also, for her heart had warme
welcome for those whose affection va
tried and faithful.
"The sun Of my fathers !ove has set,
said she to me, referring, in her ow
: peculiar manner, to the greetings she b"
. received, "bus the beautiful stars hav
begun TO come out, and 10! they are a
8 suns, too, giving light and joy to osh'
q planets. He was nearer to me, SO l live
!. in his beams; but now his light, thoug
, not his influence, has been removed, ~