The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-13


tried every form of argument to convince her,
but her resolution was fixed.
"Well, you will 90 home with us, and make
a good long visit, at least said her mother;
you might do that, if you were ever so hap
PLY married"
1t is not best" Grace answered Dear
mamma, have task before me let me begin
il at once to go home with you would unfit
me FOR it. How hard it would DO to leave you
and come back here; much harder than to
remain as ann
They returned without her "Poor child! o
remarked Mr.. Lindley to his wife, she has all
the zeal of new convert. dare say that she
rather reioices in the prospect of her trials
because she expects to overcome them
81 think, replied Caroline, " that she looked
like anything but rejoicing, when she babe us
goodbye this morning"
CHAP. TX.
Grace found it very desoiate when her pa
rents were gone, and she was left alone again
She strove against repining, she tried to fulfill
every duty, but her attainments in the Chris
tan life were slow, and failed to satisfy her
ardent spirit Night after night, as she re-
viewed the actions of the day. and found herself
y
disheartened. She was of naughty, selfre-
liant nature, which education had strengthen
ed and developed. This perpetual defeat where
she most wished to succeed, harassed her, and
she found her only refuge in perpetual effort.
Freed from dependency, she was in great
danger of spiritual pride. 1t was very difficult
for her to feel that she overcame" not by any
virtue of her own, but only through the grace
of another it was hard for her, when she tri-
umphed, to triumph only IN the L." Thus
her life was an almost incessant selfconquest
You must not think from this that Grace
was stern or bigoted. She had never been as
gentle, as patient, as uniformly cheerful, in the
whole course of her existence. 1t was strange
that she could be cheerful in her circumstances
one would think but the inward peace is not
dependent on the outward condition.
The parents wrote often and most affection
ately to her. Mr.. Lindley had resolved to re-
tire from business, and to reside in the city
where his child's abode seemed fixed. The
prospect of having her father and mother near
her was of course very pleasant to Grace, and
she grew quite impatient for their arrival.
As regarded any hope of benefting Sey
mour, she had been disappointed. She might
be ever so cheerful, ever 80 kind, but that did
not render her society valuable to him. That
she was good, great deal better than he de-
served, he often acknowledged to himself; but
he did not care for goodness. So he kept on
his old ways, wild and dissolute as ever. The
severe illness of his father by and by sum-
moned him to NJ, his native place. He
bade Grace a kind farewell, and left her she
never saw him again. The death of his father,
occurring in few days, left him in possession
of large and unincumbered fortune. He wrote
to Grace, announcing the fact, and for some
weeks she heard no more; at the end of that
time second letter reached her II contain
ed the information that he would be far on his
way to Europe when she read it. Whether
shall ever come back or not" he wrote, 81
cannot say. 1t depends altogether upon the
agreeability of the Old World IF like it
better there than here, shall remain.
81 do not suppose Grace, that this news will
grieve you much: know of no earthly reason
why it should. You can now 60 home to your
parents, (who will be delighted to have you
with them,) and will be much happier than
could make you. In fact, you have every rea-
son to congratulate yourself on the change.
have made arrangements with Messrs. =
b, by which you will receive annu-
ally the income of third of my estate, just as
if you were my widow, you see
"Adieu Grace, my good, kind wife, for such
you have been, and | am willing to admit it.
If your devotion did not attach me, it was be-
cause was tickle by nature and utterly inca
pable of lasting affection. Being my nature,
it was not my fault ! do not pretend to say
us much in excuse of my treatment of you, at
times though trust you have forgiven it. and
TINT no rf frian1p
Grace certainly felt no sorrow at the recep-
ton of this letter; rs soon as circumstances
permitted, she returned to her father and
mother. | believe they would have been thank
fnl for almost any dispensation that restored
her to them.
Henry Seymour sailed in the President. The
non-arrival of that vessel ut her destined port
soon caused the greatest alarm and anxiety on
both sides of the Atlantic. As weeks and
months passed on without tidings of her, the
interest died out, and she was given over as
lost. ! do not know that any authentic in
formation has been received concerning, her to
this day.
Grace was anxious and alarmed like others,
and when the certainty of the vessels loss be-
ly shocked and greved 1t would have been
uU uSnt tHlIlg III tllc HcICsS udu
disappeared in manner 30 sudden and mys-
terious but when her husband, and the father
of her child, was taken, it was very sad and
awful.
Years have passed since then, and she still
lives with her parents, in that pleasant house
in Derwenton. She is a pale, slender woman
there is no trace about her Of the beautiful and
animated Grace Lindley. People in general
say that she is sadly altered, and pity her as
the victim Of a most unhappy marriage Her
father, seeing what she is, and what she might
have been, sometimes feels the pang Of disap
pointed ambition. 1t seems to him that Graces
life has been without result.
She takes a higher view Of the matter. She
feels that to be good and to be useful are the
hottest aims, the best ambition of a human
soul She sees that her present life, imperfect
as it may be in the eyes of God, and even Of
man, is the only life truly worthy OF her since
it is an earnest ceaseless aspiration after Ind
mite exceIlence--a continual following in the
footsteps Of the Lord.
IN