Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-08-19
A(tstcIioucolls.
Elsie's S5ar-AngeI.

through the open latlce, and aar oil IN the
wood could be heard the tinkliag sound of u
guitar, and the wild sweet voice of some mid
night serenader was borne to her ears upon the
evening wind. Why was the maiden sorfowful
when her companions all loved her, when wealth
and elegance surrounded her, and the alteration
of idolizng parents was laid upon the shrine of
her youth and beauty? Alas E,a was not
contented
"Eya!' whispered soft voice beside her, and
a hand clasped hers caressingIy.
She turned away her head to hide the foolish
tears which glittercd upon her dark Iashe0, but
spoke not.
The mother knet bes d. the arm.chlr W here
Eva was sitting, and draw her daughters heat
down upon her shoulder.
Eva, you are unhappy-you are neither Il
nor wearlod, but, you are di5coutented. My
darling child chase these ell spirits from your
heart, that they may not whisper of unhappi-
ness and dlscontcnt All, if yoa did but know
1t, Contentmcnt is far better than crown ! and
now, listen to mo but for few moments, and
will relate simple, yet profitable story, which
teaches what little things serve to make the
good contented aud happy.
And there beside the vine shadowed window,
with no light save that Of the silver moon; no
listener save Him who hearcth all, the mother
taughr her child.
Far away, in the Southern part Of Germany,
dweh poor child, called Elsie, aud her old
god-mo,her Happiness smiled not When Elsie
was born, but folded her rainbow-wings silently
over herrudc cradle. Her godmother was harsh
and stern; aud no smile of love, no soft ant
gentle voice, ever soothcd her sorrowtul child
hood Eise's only refuge from the harsh voice
and angry eye Of her stern relative, was he
chamber, little, low garret room, with but on'
window, which opened out upon small patch
Of ground, and an old oak tree, that just shaded
the window with green leaves, Here, after tollln!
hard all day with her godmother, to procure
scanty meal, would Elsie repair to lie upon he
straw he'd, and hum little songs very softly tina
she had learnt from the peasant chlllren
or to think over her sorrows and weep bite
tears. Once when her godmother had punished
her severely for some slight off nee, the poo
child flew to her garrct room. and closing the
door, threw herself upon her straw bed in a
agony of tears.
1t was evening, and all seemed dark in he
room, when, sudd,nly, a little stream Of silye
light stole across the bare floor, like the smi
of a good spirit dispeliing the darkness. Elsi
looked up through the open window, and obse
we'd, for the first time, n beautiful lone star twink
lin at her through the green leaves. Instantly
her tears were dried, and she even laughed t
see how funny it wlnked at her with its arg
briclt eye. She wondered il God had not sent i
there to watch aud comfort her in her youn
sorrows; she was sure He had, and she woul
confde in the beautiful star. Elsie knet dow
> beside the window and watched the twinklin
light.
"Oh. thou beautiful one!" she murmurc
'wIt thou love and cherish me when all other
are stern and harsh?'
And the star trembled in the velvet leaves, an
e seemed to whisper yes"
d The child clasped her small hands and ber
c her head in the CLEAN of its chlrtned light, an
" prayed fervently; then sho cropt n1iseless
e back to her bed to dream of happiness.
. From that night Elsie seemed changed
$ She toiled unmurmurlngly; was ever kind an
l gentle, patient and meek truth, she was nnc
r happier and contcnted with her lowy lot, no
that she had some object to sympalhlze in ht
gefi; and even the godmoher seemed please
with her constant attention to all her wants.
Every night did Elsie hasten to her chambt
d to talk 10 the star which gazed so kindly at he
g through the tree And in the light of her ST,
d she saw many beautiful things, spirits of fair
# brightness chlld.angels that danced and froce
g amid the roses of happiness and soft, gent
l. faces whose tender eyes seemed to glance S
re kindly and pityingly upon her
is Oac day the old godmother was taken i'll an
died and Elsie was left alone in the cottae
n with no companion but the star But she lie
le an innocent, secluded life, and the star,angt
n kept her from harm So Elsie set all day at h,
I'd spinning wheel, singing gally and at night scI
on her straw bed, with the star winking an
I'd watched her.
Now, since the stern godmother was I
le onger there, the peasant children were not alrai
but came often to the cottage to visit Elsie a
listen to her sweet songs. And, as she gre
older, she formed little school, and studio
a. herself, that she might instruct the poor chidrC
, in reading aud writing, When their tasks we
le all finished, she would sit upon the wood,
es bench, near the door, with her favorte littl
RS pupil, Nannetto, beside her, and repeat to thet
ot again and again tho story of her sorrowful chill