The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-11-29

Iight-made more beautiful by its chosen
resting place, giving and receiving grace,
it seemed symbol Of the Fathers love
for the poor motherless wanderer. II was
only the hole in the hat that let in tho
sunshine-it was her poverty and her lone
Ily, lowly state, that made her especially
the child of His divine pity and tender
ness; and.they. like the sunbeam, changed
TO gold her daily care, and smiled through
every cloud that crossed her little heart.
Seven years flew by-on butterfly wings
to Joy and thoughtlessness, on laden ones
to sorrow and ''hope deferred'-and our
Virginia. now lovely girl of seventeen,
had earned money enough by her bewltch-
| ing way of offering matches for sale. to
introduce herself as pupil in one OF the
first boarding schools Of the country, not
to commence but,to finish her education;
for with a passionate love of books, she
had found means 10 cultivate her taste and
talent in many ways.
The lovely and lonely little orphan had
struggled with hunger and cold. and ia
iiigues. with temptation in its most aliuring,
beguilng forms, aud evil in thousand
shapes, yet she had kept the heavenly
sunshine OF her soul pure and unclouded
through it all. She had never taken money
as gift, nor brbe. She had assisted
from her little store many a child of mis-.
fortune, still humber than herself, and
with faith, truth, and purity-an angel
guard around her-by the light OF her
own innocent smiles. she gided like star
through the gathering clouds unharmed.
! |unstained, unshadowed. In the words OF
our beautiful poet
"Peaee charmed the street beneath he. feet,
4 And honor charmed the air"
and music-the music of her own sweet
Iheart and silver voice, went always with
her through the world.
II was on the evening preceding that on
which the annual ball of the school took
tplace. The young ladies were discussing
round the schooi.room fire, the dresses
they were to wesr. Virginia. little apart
listened to them, and halt wished she had
a fairy mothers, like Cinderalla $. to deck
her for the festival. Pearls, diamonds
, iiaponicas, satins. laces, velvets! She, alas
had none of these? She had only the piaif
!, white dress in which she had been crown
ed Queen of May the spring preceding
1t was so very plain, not even bit o
trimming around the throat.
s.And what. are you going to wear, Mis-
Linden?" said one of the aris,ocrats o
the school, turning with what she fanciet
to be an imperial air, towards the young
: s.rapgtr. s:zSst. 8
Virginia blushed, and said simply, "m,
white muslin
"And what ornaments!"
Virginia smiled. "Oh, can find SOM
bright autumn leaves for a wreath" :.
l,nogene Gray would have given he
diamond necklace for such q blush AM
lsn,ile, for her own sallow cheek was neve
illumin ated; bat she sneered nevertheless
at the white muslin and garlands of leaves
and deigned no further question.
Virginia's delicate and sensitive spir
felt the sneer intensely, and she left tn
room with swelling heart and tearf,
ewes. Once safe, however, in the asyiut
Of her own little chamber, peace descend
ed like dove into her soul, and after vi
l. dressing she knelt in her night robe by tn
< side of her bed, and said her prayer, an
4 sang her childish hymn:
I'll know no fear when donger's near,
,gl I'm safe sea or land.
atl Fo. I've in Heaven Father dear,
II And he VIII hold my hano
e., Doubt and danger and sin were near'
I'd than she thought, but her little hand WI
I'd held by One who aoould NOT lei her .tai
Sc AS she rose from her deyotions, she sa'
y. for the first time, a box on the table by II
or bed. Il was addressed on the cove
d, simply, "Virginia." She opened it VOL
Id dering, and found set of exquisite pea
ed orn aments for the arms neck and head.
as Her little heart beat with girlish deligf
r | She hurried to the glass and wound arour
er her hair chain of snow white gems, lie
l fair and pure than the innocent brow b
Id meath. Next she barred her graceful arr
,st and placed bracelet there. How 9
Ter ouisitely the delicate ornaments becan
tie her childish loneliness! She thought s.
to had never looked so pretty--not ev'
lid when she used TO deck her hair with wi
l | flowers by the clear pool in the wooc
in and she could wear them to the ball! i
Ter who could have sent them? Again 8
dr. looked at the box, and this time she saw
ne note peeping beneath The cotton wool
ad which the gems had rested. Virginis
ou fair cheek flushed as she read
=" "Let innocence accept the gift OF love
,in "HARRY GREY"
led Had the bracelet been serpent with
:. deadly sting in her arm. Virginia &C,
His scarcely have unclasped it with more fe
vn, ful haste. The chain was snatched frs
tile her head, and both with the note replac
he in the box; and then the fair child thr
the herself again on her knees and buried
face in her hands. After silence OF so
me- minutes, broken only by faint sobs, I
tly. sung once more in low tremulous ton
her the hymn which seemed to her talism
ler- for all evil, and then cslmly laying
she head on tne pillow. and murmuring
q name which was music to her soul, 81
sill into the soft and deep slumber OF I'M
us cence and youth.
for Beside, the native deiicacy and pu,
s. Of her mind, there we're two other In
ure ences at work in the beautiful web OF
$ of destiny to prevent any course OF d
tied thread mingling in its tissue; one was
} OF spiritual communication with her mott
nee and the other the affectionate rem'
wa lhranna of Russel Hartley--the only be