Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-02-21
From Godey's Ladys Book.
THE FOUNTAIN VERY FAR DOWN;
By VIRGINIA +. TOWNSEND.

'IdosA believe it, said my Cousin
Ned, wh was passing his college vaca
,ion at our house, and there was world
Of unwrilen scepticism in the air with
which hstlashed down the paper over
whose damp columns his eyes had been
travelling for the previou. half hour.
You gee, Cousin Nelly continued
Ne.l getting up and pacing the long oil.
fashionelpatlor. with quick, nervous
strides, 'is all sheer nonsense TO talk
about thes doors in every human heart.
II SQUADS cry pretty and pathetic in a
story, pllAdmit; but SO DO great many
other things which reason AMI actual
experience entirely rcpuIiate. There arc
hsafts-aas! that their name SHOULD be
leSion-were far away up there is no
dor 10 b, opened. and far away down
ore no deps 10 be fathomed. Now don't,
Cousin Naly, level another such rebuk.
ing glance at me. from those brown eyes,
for ! have just thought Of a case illus.
trative OF ny theory. Don't you remem.
Der Miss Stebbins, the old maid, who
lived at the foot Of The hill, and how
picked rose for you one morning which
had climbed over her fence into the
road! Faigh! shall never forget the
tones Of the viraso's voice. or the scowl
on her forehead as she sailed out Of the
front door and shook her hand at me-
A woman who could refuse q half with
cred flower 10 a little child, | wonder
that roses could blossom on her soil! Al
the shifting ofthc roll no waters could
aow out ofsuch granite heart. In The
saaofai desert Of such character, no fer
tilizing stream can make its way
IL did not answer Cousin Ned's earn
test ,eIoquen, tones, for just then there
was the low zap ofvisilors at the parlo
door; but ! have always thought there
was a good angel in the room while hi
wasspeaking, and looking down, down
very far down in her heart, he saw ,
fountain there, rank weeds grew all a.
round it, the seal ofyears was on it's lip
and the dust Of time deep on the seal
tbot the angel smiled. as it aoated up
wafd, and murmered,. II shall return .ant
fremoss The seal, and the waters viii
Stem ssd grim sat Miss Stebbins a
,her work, one sumner afternoon. lh!
golden sunshine, slept and danced in il
play. placei in lhe corner. and broke in
10 a broad laugh along the ceiling, ant
= single beam, bolder than the rest
,,crept 10 The hem Of Mis- aStebbin's gown
and looked up wilt timid. loyinl
smile IN in her lace, such as no human
being ever Yors when looking there.
iPoesa Mss StebbinsH those stern
bsssh lsstuf,s only dasuerteotyped to-
fshhfdly tie desolate. osrid heart De
nssshl .hem; and that heart. with its DR.!
foun,aibi was i true type Of her life. .witl
the .onS flower Of human affection whicl
Aadlblossomsd many years before alon,
its.blssk, barren highway. at'F ,2a.i
:. -Shanever seemed 10 love anybody
.,nis,S was her hothsr William, VIII
,,sS ~ - ,layorite with everybody; but b
,,ssnif' "a lea, y and he'd never been hear
~ sH;nce. Ssilyhad slways,b s,b(en 9 sire,
sssSten srssonS al its familysbutS Sarlk y hour' I
IA q lsst asath,.. came npRn ~ y
iaInGd iaInIGd ha ihs dome stead ietl into =. he
frFyffS 'TtSIwSs INA brief yerbsi biz