Spirit of the age., 1853-06-01
where is she to be found How have you

then occupied by Mrs. Ware and her two
Youngest daughters. Mrs. Ware raised her
sweet, mild face, and welcomed with a smile,
her guests, but on a motion from Laura, she
rose and approached the two.
This is my loving and well beloved amt
dear mother, and you love her already, do
you not I? said Laura, her frame trembling
with excitement, and her eyes overfowing
with tears of joy. The scene which follow
cd cannot be Justly described. Mrs. Leigh I
sank, nearly fainting in the embrace of her
new found sister, and the two lovely girls
clung to Laura, caressing her as if they too,
had just discoved cousin, although two
years had passed since they first learned their
relationship TO her.
Oh, why have been kept in ignorance
of our affinity ? asked Mrs. Leigh, as soon
as her emotions would permit her to speak.
Since we have first met, my sister, your
physical state has been such as to render you
unfit to bear any excitement Mrs. Ware re-
piled.
/ And previous to that l was morally un-
fit to associate with you and yours, return
cd the other, bursting into tears.
BE reasonable dear Margaret, said Mrs.
Ware, soothingly. . My position in life is
so much more humble than yours has been,
that it was natural, since we had never met
in the lifetime Of my brother, that | should
feel delicacy about introducing myself to
you or our return from the West, after that
brothers death. You have been with us
long enough to know that the principles of
our religion teach US love and good will to
ALL
Forgive my hasty words. lam a novice
in your school of charity and meekness, yet
hope by patience and faith to initiate the
!; examples l see around me, to prove myself
grateful for your angelic kindness to me and
mine. But how did you discover Laura to
be your neice9'
MY eldest daughter was Laura's earliest
, friend and con6dant at school, and she was
at first, struck with the name. On making
= few inquiries of Mrs. Loring, who is dis
tantly related to Mr.. Ware, and also by mar,
I riago to Herbert Leigh, she was almost con-
} vinced that the little girl she loved so we'll
was her relation. And when she saw min
iature of my brother, which Laura wore, and
compared it with one she had seen in my
possession, she no longer doubted. Isabel
kept silence, however, unit! she saw me, and
= ! fearing to be deprived altogether of the
, ooo,oty oG the only child of my brothor, LEFT
your daughter in ignorance Of my relation
q ship to her until she had further advanced
> in years.
o You acted wisely, returned Mrs. Leigh
e and | confess, with shame and sorrow, that
d | should have been prompted, in my day.
e of wordliness, to keep Laura from you, haC
this discovery been made to me then; anl
4 thus should have deprived myself of th'
il great benefit and pleasure l have derived
v from my acquaintance with you and your in
> tcrestng family. How much happiness i
re lost, how many ties are severed, and heart
wounded and separately by vanity and world
a ly PRIDE she added, with deep sigh.
ID Your remark is just, dear Margaret sal
ne Mrs. Ware, yet our Heavenly Father, i
Ills own good time and way, brings to pas
ID all the purposes of his WILL
v From that time a sweeter intimacy, and
= closer union of hearts existed between thos
I'd who now composed the minister's household
er Gladly would Mr.. Ware and his wife hav
lis retained their guest. Laura was very des
1c to them and seemed almost to fill the pIat
as of gentle Anna who had gone up from the
sight Little Walter was quiet, lovely chill
and had endeared himself to ali their heart
and Mrs Leigh was an object of deep ar
lie tender solictude. But as the health of Il
er nvalids improved, Laura felt growing d
ad sire to be more independent.
The village was rapily increasing in po
ith ulation in consequence of the extension Of
on railroad which now passed through it, al
Of Laura saw an opportunity to render profit
bic her talents and thorough education.
DO pretty little house was hired, and she plac
,d- her mother and little Walterin it, and co,
nd mcnced giving instructions in music, al
not the higher branches of education.
ad While visiting her friends at the semir
al ry, she walked over to see the widow who
nd children she had formerly taught, and VIII
Law she asked for her eldest born, an intellige
to girl of fourteen, Mrs. Ray gladly consent
to let her so, and Ellen joyfully went
,th- serve the young lady who had rendered b
rim the services. And now the little fam
were calm and cheerful and happy in t
sis performance Of duty, in the sweet ties Of n
loY ural affection and in the pleasant intercou
of true friends on earth, and therefore dea
ler. Mr.. Ellis occasionally tore himself fir
her the cares of business, to spend a day W
us the family of his early friend, and his vi
W always left them more cheerful, and m
neY full of hope. He gave them no positive
say, formation respecting the absent husband {
cas-, father, but he related over and over the 2
Her ticulars Of his last interview with HerbC
diff and continued to express his confident be
less that the pledge would be fully and faithl
was ly kept.
r. Now that Margaret Leigh could see
am follics and errors of her own past life,
remembered with sorrow and regret
ind harshness and injustice to her husband /;
low, the sorrow was heightened by her knowles
our of his contrition, and of the sufFerings be
my endured, and was perhaps, still enduri
bout She felt she could gladly give up again
fer she had ever possessed Of worldly cor
qucnce, to bring about reconciliation.
her early fancy had been captivated by the ha
dis some aud brilliant Herbet Leigh, but n
ooh from the crnsbad ond ,pouIdor;no whine