Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-04-20
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
ELSIES STAR ANGEL:
Contentment better than a Crown.

| Eva SAT aloHe IN ner cnanDer, silent ana Sor-
rowful. She heard the merry voices of her
panions ringing from the gardens below; she saw
the soft rays of moonlight stealing across the mar
Bile floor; sweet perfumes breathed through the
open lattice, and afar off in the wood could be
heard the tinkling sound of guitar, and the wild
clear voice of some midnight serenader was borne
to her ears upon the evening wind. Why was the
maiden sorrowful-when wealth and elegance sur
rounded her. and the alteration Of dollzing parents
was laid upon the shrine of her youth and beauty!
Alas! Eva was not contented. e
f~ssEga! {. whispered soft voice beside her, and
hand clasped her caressingly.
She turned away her head to hide the foolish
tears which glittered upon her dark lashes, but
spoke not
The mother knet beside the armchair where
Eva sitting, and drew her daughters head
down upon her shoulder.
eva, you are unhappy-you are neither i'll nor
weariedj but you are diseontented My darling
child! chase these evils from your heart that they
may not whisper of unhappiness and discomfort.
All! if you did but know it 'Contentment is far
better than CROWN and now, listen to me for
few moments, and will relate simple yet prof
table story, which teaches what little things serve
to make the good contented and happy.
And there, beside the vine-shadowed window,
with no light save that of the silver moon list
Eener save Him who heareth all, the mother taught
| her child.
Far away in the southern part of Germany,
dwelt a poor child, called Elsie, and her old God
mother. Happiness smiled not when Elsie was
born, but folded her rainbow wings silently over
her rude cradle. Her god-mother was harsh and
stern and no smile of love, no soft and gentle
voice, ever soothed her sorrowlul childhood. E.
sizes only refuge from the harsh voice and angry
eye of her stern relative, was her little chamber,
a little low garret room, with one window, which
opened out, upon a small patch of ground, and an
old tree, that just shaded the window with its green
leaves. Here after toiling hard all day with her
god-mother to procure scanty meal, would Elsie
repair to lie upon her straw bed, and hum little
songs very softly that she had learnt from the
peasant children, or to think over her and
weep bitter tears. Once when her god-mother
had punished her severely for some slight offence,
the poor child flew to the garret room, and closing
! the door. threw herself upon her straw bed in an
agony of tears.
It was evening, and all seemed dark in her room,
when suddenly little stream of silver light stole
across the bare floor, like the smile of good spirit
dispalling the darkness Elsie looked up through
! the open window, and observed, for the first time
beautiful lone star twiukling at her through the
green leaves. Instantly her tears were dried, and
she even laughed to see how funnily it winked at
| l. hr;r Cbo 1Uopdarod If
God had not sent it there to watch and comfort
her in her young sorrows; she was sure he had,
and she would conide in the beautiful STAR Elsie
knelt down beside the window and watched the
twinkling light.
ooh thou beautiful one!" she murmured, sswilt
thou love and cherish me when all others stern
and harsh!''
And the star trembled in the velvet leaves and
seemed to whisper eyes"
The child clasped her small hands and bent her
head in the CLEAN of it's charmed light, and prayed
fervently; then she crept noselessly back to her
bed, to dream of happiness.
From that night Elsie seemed changed. She
toiled unmurmuringly; was ever kind and gentle,
patient and meek-in TRUTH she was much happier
and contented with her lowly lot, now that she
had some object to sympathize in her griefs; and
even the god-mother seemed pleased with her con-
slant attentions to all her wants.
Every night did Elsie hasten to her chamber to
talk to the star which gazed kindly at her thro
the tree And in the light of the little star she
saw many beautiful things-spirit of fairy bright
ness, child-angels that danced and frolicked amid
the rose ofhappiness; and soft gentle faces whose
tender eyes seemed to glance SO kindly and pity
ingly upon her.
One day the old god-mother was taken ill, and
died, and Elsie left alone in the cottage, with
no companion but the star. But she led an inno-
cent secluded life, and the star-angel kept her
from harm. So Elsie sat all day at the spinning
wheel, singing gaily, and at night slept on her
straw bed, with the star winkng and watching
her.
Now, since the stern god-mother was no longer
there, the peasant children were not afraid, but
came often to the cottage to visit Elsie and listen
to her sweet songs. And as she grew older, she
formed little school. and studied herself that she
might instruct the poor children in reading and
writing. When their tasks were all finished, she
would set upon the wooden bench near the door,
with her favorte little pupil, Nannette, beside her.
and repeat to them again and again the story of
her sorrowful childhood, and her strange and yet
beautiful comforter; which tale they delighted to
hear more than all the rest. But after while,
Elsie grew thin and pale, and could teach no more,
but was obliged to keep her bed
One day when all her young scholars came to
visit her, she called them to her bedside and told
them that they must bid her a last "good-bye,'
now that she was dying. The children burst in