Spirit of the age., 1853-05-25

ottoman, she calmly reyolVed ber plans OF
action. In one short hour she passed from
the dependent, protected girl, into the ener-
getic, responsible woman. Without leaving
her room she penned hasty note to Mr..
Ware. with whose family her close and de-
lightful intimacy had been kept up then
she sought Mrs. Loring, and con6ded all to
that dear and sympathising friend.
You have noble, generous heart, my
dear Laura, said the lady, and God will
reward your self sacrificing devotion. But
alas, dear child, you arc young and inexpe-
rienced, and have but little knowledge ofI
the trials which await YOU
But have learned much that will be
useful to me now, and the God you have
taught me to serve will aid me and keep me
from despoading, Laura replied
lie will, my child, and if ever you need
the assistance or counsel Of an earthly friend,
apply to me- am thankful that I have
been permitted to keep you so long, but now
the path of duty is plain before you, and
should be false to the lessons | have taught
you, if dill not bid you follow it,
When Laura took leave Of the place en-
deared to her by vast store of rocollections
and asOclatiations, many tears were shed, and
many kind wishes and heartfelt prayers fol-
lowed her on her way. We will pass over
the painful and distressing meeting with her
mother.
The fall of Mrs. Leigh was SO sudden and
complete that temporary alteration of mind
succeeded, and she refused to leave the house
she still declared her own, although the
sheriff hammer had sounded the knel o:
her grandeur, and warned her to seek an
humble home.
Laura saw she bad greater difficulties to
encounter than she at first anticipated, and
! it required all her fortitude, all her faith, to
sustain her. The purchaser ofMrs. Leighs
mansion gave her permission to remain in it
for a short time, but Laura judged speedy
removal would be best for her mother. She
waited in anxious suspense for advice from
Mr.. Ware, but her note, unaccountably tc
her, remained unanswered. Other friends
however, came to her assistance, but they
were not from among the fawning minions
who huttored SO lately about their pageantry
Of wealth.
Edward Ellis felt delicacy about intro
ducng himself at such time to Mrs. Leigh
as the acquaintance of her husband, but
when he learned the sad state Of her mind
he hesitated no longer to offer his services tc
Laura. Through his assistance temporary
lodgings were procured in retired but plea
SAINT portion Of the city, and thither Mrs
Leigh was removed with the aid of little
stratagem. In the persons Of Mr.. Ellis ant
his lovely wife, Laura had secured true anC
sympathizing friends, but she depended no
alone on earthly help and consolation, or he
sensitive spirit must have broken down.
The best room in their new home Laur
appropriated to her mothers use, and sh
fitted it up tastefully and elegantly wit
1 costly articles saved from the wreck of for
, tune. Here with untiring devotion til
g daughter attended the stricken parent, ar
= ticipating all her wants, supplying as far {
r possible her thoughtlessly exorbitant dc
g mands, and gratifying each exacting whi
If within the range of possibility. While loo
= ing forward with faith and hope to speed
&c restoration. she watched continually for SON
look Of love or smile of reward from h
i mother, but oh, how long she watched
n vain.
n Why do you wait on me? Where a
a the servants Who authorized you to d
charge them 2 the mother would often a;
< in cold harsh tones, and then she would co
.1 tinue-" Are you my daughter, you who
willingly stoop to mcnial service? Are u
is the child cradlod in luxury, and hoped
&c sec shining Il brilliant star in the world
a, fashion But might have known it. Y,
m were born with low notions, but you do n
of take them from me. You are like your fat
er's family but not like him. lie never spo
at to his sister after her silly marriage with
wv poor, low born student. But [ am part
or to blame for allowing you to have your oJ
m way about pursuing your education amo
C. those Puritans, who have made you unfit
er anything higher than tending babies, a
IT. teaching pnupers' children to read
ht Dayaf,er day Laura was obliged to list
n to something like this, and often when lit
Walter was brought into her room, the mo-
a or would order the whining, pale-facel or,
he ture' taken out Of her sight. Then Lal
ed would fold to her bosom the little pensive
nv valid, over whom her heart had continued
be yearn with all its early tenderness, and
of would weep tears wrung from an agoni'
IN spirit. The loving child would twine
,ir- slender arms about her neck, and brush av
ve the tears with his little hand and say, Dc
W. cry, sister Lolo, mamma will gat we'll, 4;
so papa will come home to see Walty some d
ley Now let US talk more about God and t
good place where people go when they {
Ire and are sick and sorry no more
ad, The delicate boy l5vel his father with
in unbound affac ion, and it was chiefly
led cans he woIlI frequently call upon the ma
rst Mrs Leigh would not now listen to with
lad tience, that sAo WIS annoyed by the chi
tho presence.
RS
CHAPTER *.
~ Rare are solitary woes :
ii They love train they tread each others h
and Soon after her removal to their hum
| to lodgings, Laura received few hasty Ii
was from her friend at the parsonage. Mr.. "
ion, had been absont when her note to him
TO ved and on his return several days after