The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-08-04
48. DAVENPORT. SCOTT CO., IOWA; THURSDAY, A
IrUr uIe udZctte
THE BETTER CHOICE.

THE BETTER CHOICE.
"And so you, the aristocratic and envieo
DR.. Edward Berkley, are hesitating in youl
choice between Marion Linwood and Cara
Lee; hestating in choosing between the
beautiful, the gifted, Miss Linwood and the
plain, the unsophisticated Cara Lee, whom
never should have known had she not
nursed my sick grandmother last winter:
Then how could you introduce your aristo-
cratic friends to your little, awkward, rustic
wife! tell you Edward the opinion of the
world and of society is not to be rudely set
aside.'
"Leroy how can you call Cara plain! plain
with that wealth of golden hair, plain with
those large earnest eyes that look up into
every face for love and sympathy, one mo.
ment beaming with Joy and happiness, and
the next filled with tears for the sufferings
of some poor fellow mortal! Cara may be
ignorant of the conventionalisms Of society
but she has certain inborn grace that would
forever preserve her from awkwardness
Where do the birds of the air learn grace
fulness! They never were in ball room
vet every movement is harmony. Cara has
heart alive to every noble and generous
impulse; her first and deepest love she gives
to her Father in heaven, because he has
blessed her with life; to her it is blessing
for she loves this great,-beautiful world
with all its faults, because it is the creation
of his omnipotent wisdom. know that the
world calls Marion beautiful, but to me
there is no beauty in that flashing eye ane
scornfully curling lip. Ionce heard friene
ask her to watch with poor, sick woman
across the street, and the answer was with
wounded pride and scorn, 'my avocation is
not to nurse beggars.' And oh, / am tired
of this scene of fashionable dissipation, |
long for a sweet, quiet home, for light foot
steps, for sof: hands, and for sweet loving
face to welcome me to it; but as you say, it
is fearful thing to brave the opinion ofthe
world, and very probably Marion will yet be
the lady"
In the cabin OF sailor Ben, or uncle Ben
as he was usually called, burned dim light
by his side stood pale and silent watcher;
large tears were unconsciously falling on
long, white hair, which swept over pillow
that the love and charity of the watcher
sweet Cara Lee, had provided At little
distance stood the philanthropic DR.. Berkley
Uncle Ben was passing through the dark val
lev and shadow of death.
"Cara my child, my darling he murmur'
ed, show you have wound yourself about
nv heart, it seems to me there is something
more than earthly about you; you are SC
noble and good and yet SO simple and child
like: when am half sleeping and you glide
about the room in your quiet way, you seem
like some beautiful angel sent from the
spirit land to make my passage through the
so-called dark valley pleasant. Cara" he
said laying his hand upon her head, "may
the winds and tempests of life not beat
against thee too roughly; and oh, my darling,
may our Father in heaven bless thee"
"He does bless me, uncle Ben, he blesses
me every day of my life with innumerable
blessings: when look around me and my
spirit drinks in the beauty of nature, my
whole soul goes out in thankfulness to my
Father in heaven for this blessing of life.'
A few weeks later and the marriage oi
DR.. Berkley and Cara Lee had ceased to be
a nine days wonder: among the wealthy
Cara was spoken of as the beautiful and
gifted Mrs. Berkley, while the poor knew
her as the good angel who lifted up the
bowed head, strengthened the feeble knees
spoke peace to the weary in spirit, and led
the wanderer that traversed the paths OF sin
back to virtue, and taught her beautiful and
holy lessons of life. ELoIsE'