The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-02-27

hueDanu elbCt-a SlSeN AuNNStH Ae+AN"l W.
lived some leagus off, and whose red face shone
over the garden gate, in company with q huge
nosegay, regularly every Sunday morning IN
mite OF the complying temper Of old oessu, ~
lther respects when Nathalie gave Ice
he seemed obstinately bent on chg bis
,wn son in. law. Parents are oflener correct
thau romancers will allow in their negative
pDipions on this delicate subject, but cannot
,ay as much for them when they undertake to
be affirmative.
soon observed that Nathalie was not SO en-
tirely devoted to the accomplishment OF the OBJ
iect for which she had undertaken her journey
as she had promised; and, above all, that she
smoke no more Of the disinterested sacrifice OF
herself as substitute for Marie. maliciously
alluded to this subject IN one Of our private
and Nathalie, instead Of being
offended frauEly answered that she could not
make big Paul Boneau happy and assiat Claude
in his studies at the same time. 81 have Ow,
she said, ''an occupation for the rest Of my life
namely; to develOpe this genius. Of which
France will one day be proud and l shall de-
vote myself to it unremittingly.
Come, Nathalie" said |, taking her arm in
mine as we crossed the poplar-meadow "have
you no hope Of rewardi'
81 understand" quoth she frankly "aad |
will not play at crOss-purpOses with you. II
this Young man really loves his art, ana hil art
alone, as he pretends, could he do hstter than
reward meas you call it-fOr my assistance 7
The word has cruel Specification, but you did
not mean it unkiudly." looked at hq wan,
sallow countenance, that had begun tol some
days to wear an expression Of painful anxiety.
At that moment saw over hedge--but she
could not-Claude and Marie walking in a
field, and pausing now aid then
to bend their heads very close together inadmir.
alton of some very common flower. "Poor old
maid, " thought l, you will have no reward
save the consciousness Of your own pure inten-
tion."
The minute development Of this drama with.
out dramatic scenes would perhaps be more in =
struCtive than any elaborate analysis Of human
passions in general; but it would require vol.
ume; and | can only here give a mere summa-
ry. Nathalie, in whom alone felt particular.
lg interested soon found that she had deceived
herself as to the nature Of her sentiments for
instead of regarding him with ma
terial solicitude, she loved him with an intensi-
ty that is the peculiar characteristic Of passions
that awakened late in life, when the common
consolation is nadmissible-"after al, f,saay
find better" This was her last, her only chance
OF happiness which she had declared 10 me
she had never dreamed Of, bat which in reality
she had only declined because it did not pre
sent it'elf to her under all the conditions re-
luired by her refined and sensitive mind
Claude, who was an excellent fellow, but inca.
pable Of comprehending her or sacrificing
himself, never swerved from grateful Difference
10 her; but could observe, that as the state Of
her feelings became more apparent, be took
greater care TO mark the character Of his senti-
nents for her, and to insist with some effecta-
ion on the depth Of his iilial affection. Nathal.
es eyes were often red with tears-a fact which
Claude did not choose perhaps to notice, for fear
lt an explanation. Marie, on the contrary, be-
came more blooming every day, while her elo-
luent eyes were still more assiduously bent up.
On the ground. 1t was evident to me that she
aud Claude understood one another perfectly
we'll.
At length the same thing became e5t dent
10 Nathalie. How the revelation wasSyaake Il
her | do not know; but sudden 1t mlst haVt
been, for ! met her one day in the popE gfield
walking hurriedly along with an eXtracR Rsiinary
Of despair in her cOuntenshce.
know net why, but the thought at once Occurred
to me that the Rhine ran rapid and deep moi
far off aud threw myself across her path
She started like guilty thing, but did not re.
sist when | took her hand and led her back
slowly towards the farmhouse We had nearly
reached it in silence when she suddenly stop.
ped, and bursting into tears, turned away int
a bylane where was little bench under an
elm. Here she sat down and sObbed for a Ions
time, while | stood by. At length she raised
her head and asked me: do morality and re-
ligiOn require self sacrifice even to the end
even to making half life desert, even tc
heart. breaking, even unto deaths"
ut scarcely belongs to selfish mortal t.
counsel such virtue" | replied; "but it is be
cause it is exercised here and there, now an(
then. once in a hundred years, that man car
claim some affinity with the divine ngtnre"
A smile of ineifable sweetness played abou
the poor old girls lips. She wiped her eyes
and began talking of the changing aspect Of th
season, and how the trees day by day more rap
idly shed their leaves, and how the Rhine hal
swelled within its ample bed, and of variou
topics apparently unconnected with her fran
OF mind, but all indicating that she felt tn
winter was coming-a long and dreary winte
for her. At this moment Fanfreluche, whic
had missed her, came down the lane barkin
with fierce JOY and she took the poor littl
beast in her arms, and exhaled the last bite
feeling that tormented her in these words =
Thou at least lowest ms-because | have fe
thee !" In her humility she seemed now t
believe that her ouly claim to love was he
charity and that even this claim was not re
cognised except by dog
| was not admitted to the secret of the fami
ly conclave that took p ace, but learned simpl
that Nathalie pleaded with feverish energy th
love that had grown up between Paul BOnea
and her niece. Matters We're arranged b
means OF large sacrifices on the part Of the hero
ic maid. Pauls face ceased TO beam over
garden-gate on a Sunday morning; and
degrees the news got abroad that Marie was be
trothed to the young artist. One day decen
old woman in saboIs, came to the farm house
it was Claudes mother who had walked fror
AK TO see him. 1t was arranged that Claud
should pursue his studies year longer, an
Iheh marry Nhelher any explanation too
place do not know but | observed that th
young man sometimes looked with the sam
expression Of wondering admiration had Oh
served in the diligence at the little Nathalie
more citrOn- hued than ever. At length 81
unlocked the cage of Coco, the parrot. too
Fantreluche under one arm and her blue nm
brella under the other, and went away in com
Pany with the whole family, myself ineludet
every one carrying parcel Or basket 70 Ii
diligence office. What a party that was !
Every one was in tears except Nathalie. 81
bore up manfully, if may be permitted 70 nj
the word; laughed, and actually ioked bl
just as handed Coco in, her fictitioas coasae
yielded, and she burst into an agony Of etie
With Ufiicious zeal kept at the window aut
the diligence gave lurch and startsa. Cd
then turning round looked at oise Al
Marie, who were already mingling their ses
az fish fnrgptfulnass oF tko;. =