Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-09-21
EVENING STAR.
THR UMBRELLA GIRL.
From the Life of Isaac T. Hopper.

/ =
--------------z tt--ee--N-=-----=--
THR UMBRELLA GIRL.
From the Life of Isaac T. HopperJ
A young girl, the only daughter of .
widow, removed from the country Il
Philadelphia to earn her living by cover
ing umbrellas. She was very handsome
with glossy black hair, large beamine
eyes. and lips like wet coral! She wa.
just at that susceptible age when you'll
is ripening into womanhood, when tht
soul begins TO be pervaded by t" tina,
restless principle, which impels poor hu.
mans to seek perfection in union"
At hotel near the store for which she
worked, an English traveller called Lord
Henry Stuart, had taken lodgings. He
was q stnkingly handsome man, and Of
princely carriage. As this distinguished
stranger passed to and from his hotel. he
encountered the umbrella girl and was
attracted by her uncommon beauty. He
easily traced her to the store,s where he
soon after went to purchase IN umbrella.
This was followed up by presents of fow-
ers, chats by the wayside, and invita-
tlons to walk or ride all of which were
gratefully accepted by the unsuspecting
rustic; for she was as ignorant of the
dangers Of city as were the squirrels Of
her native fields. He was merely play
ing game for temporary excitement.
She, with head full of romance, and a
q heart melting Under the influence OF
love, was unconsciously endangering the
happiness OF berJwholellife. -, ~ a.
Lord Henry invited her Ito visit the
public gardens on the Fourth of Julv.
In the simplicity of her heart, she be-
lieved ali his fattering professions, and
considered herself his bride elect; she
therefore accepted his invitation with in
nocent frankness. But she had no dress
fit to appear in on such q public occasion
with q gentlemane1of high rank, whom
she verify supposed to be her destined
husband. While these thoughts revolved
IN her mind, her eye was unfortunately
attracted by beautiful piece of silk, be-
longing to her employer. Could she not
take it without being seen, and pay for
it secretly when she had earned money
enough? The temptation conquered her.
in moment of weakness. She concealed
the silk, and conveyed it to her lodgings.
1t was the first thing she had ever stolen,
and her remoTse was painful. She would
have carried it back, but she dreaded dis
covery. She was not sure that her re-
pentance would be met in spirit of for.
givenesS. fJ --. -. e...
On the eventful Fourth of July she
came out in her new dress. Lord Henry
complimented her upon her excellent ap
pearance, but she was not happy. On
their way to the gardens he talked to her
in a manner which she did not compre-
hend. Perceiving this he spoke more
explicitly, the guileless young creature
stopped, looked in his face with mourn
full reproach, and burst into tears. The
nobIeman took her hand kindly, and said
My dear, are you an innocent girl g.
81 am, am,'' she replied, with con.
vulsive sobs. s..Oh, what have L ever
done, or said, that you should ask me
such aquestion z" .. ., ... .-- !
The evident sincerity Of her words
stirred the deep fountains of his better ma
ture. If you are innocent" said be,
"God forbid that should make YOU
otherwise. But you accepted my invita-
tions and presents SO readily, that sup
posed you understand me-. .str.-
What could L understand, " said she,
" except that you intend to make me your
wife 2" -... .....
Though reared among the proudest dis
tinctionS Of rank, he felt no inclination
to smile. He blushed and was silent.
The heartless conventionalities of the
world stood rebuked in the presence of af-
fectionate simplicity. He conveyed her
to her humble home. and bade her fare
well, with thankful consciousness that
he bad done no irretrievable injury to her
future prospects. The remembrance of
her would soon be to him as the recollec-
ton of last years butterflies. With her.,
the wound was deep. In the solitude of
her chamber she wept in bitterness of
heart over her ruined air-castles. And
that dress, which she had stolen to make
an appearance beftting his bride! Oh,
what if she should be discovered And
would not the heart of her poor widowed
mother break, if she should ever know
that her child was thief!J go So - II
Alas her wretched forebodings proved
too true. The silk was traced to her;
she was arrested On her way to the store,
and dragged to prison. There she re.
fused all nourishment, and wept inces-
sanity. On the fourth day.. the keeper
called upon Isaac 7. Hopper, and in
formed him that there was a young girl
in prison, who appeared to be utterly
friendless and determined to die by star
vation. The kind-hearted Friend imme-
diately went to her assistance. He found
her lying on the floor of her cell, with
her face buried in her hands, sobbing as
if her heart would break. He tried to
comfort her, but could obtain no answer
leave US alone, "said he to the keep.
er. perhaps she will speak to me, If
there is no one to hear" When they
were alone together, he put back the hair
from her temples, laid his hand kindly
upon her beautiful head, and said in
soothing tones "My child, consider me
as thy father. Tell me all thou hast done.
IF thou hast taken this silk, let me know
all about it. l will do for thee as would
for my own daughter; and l doubt not
that / can help thee out Of the difficulty
After o long time spent in aiectionate
rntreaty, she leaned her young head on
L <ln,,lIo~. aud cohhaI n,,f