Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-05-08
MISCEI.L A N US,
G R A G E W A r N E r;
OR, THE HEAD AND TEE HEART


OR, THE HEAD AND TEE HEART
w hat happy girl is Grace Farmer !?
said an elderly lady, as bright, laughing
gill turned into another room.
And so exceedingly lively and cheer.
lful, for one of her years rejoined anoth-
er.
'Yearsp exclaimed the elder lady how
old is she?'
About twenty -four, said a third, vile
had hitherto been silent, and yet no one
to see her would think it.
SO thought the world, who in their most
searching glance, could detect no signs OF
care or gloom in this object of their obser
vations, who, was one OF those bright, ill.,
Itelligent beings, ever ready for converse
lion, and whose sallies of wit never failed
to excite the attention of those around her,
Little did they know of my aching
heart, said Grace, that evening to one in
whom she had cohfded much of her form
Ier history--ior years had passed since she
had left the grave of her mother, and her
ratlve home, on New England's rocky
shore, to wander forth with her father to
the Western wilds. Little did they know
of the bitterness Of soll which felt while
making meriment for them.
How can you SO conceal your feelings,
with such on excess of gaiety2' eagerly
inquired Ella.
ALI that is the work of time ana neces-
sty,' replied Grace. Time has schooled
my heart to hide behind the covering
think best to wear. Were my history
known, my name would be the theme OF
every tongue, the derision of the social
the pity of the simple, and exposed to the
rdicule of heartless and unfeeling world.
The head must dictate and govern my ac-
tons. all else submitting. Yet nothing
cun equal the wretchedness OF trying to
conceal with smiles the bitter struggles OF
wounded spirit, whose every hope hath
persisted. Eye may not pierce through
the laughing cover, or ear catch the breath
ing of sigh. Even sympathy seems like
the cold blasts OF November night, seek
ing the hidden recess only to chill its peace
forever
But do you not said Ella, enjoy some
thing of that mirih which you inspire in
others /"
Sometimes the excitement is sufficient
10 make me forget for moment the past,
said Grace--'but then it is followed by
such depression, that the feeble clay We'll
nigh sinks beueath it. Misery pays her
tribute to all my revelry," she added,
with deep sigh.
"Then never again will wish for Ora
ce's light and joyous air" said Ella--for
being one of those sober ones whose words
were ever the thoughts Of her heart, she
had often wished for Grace's power to
charm.
Weeks and months had rolled away,
until they numbered years. Elias calm
face still enliyened the domestic fresde,
and Grace was gliding in the crowded
halls the gayest of the gay. No voice
more musical than hers, or tones more
sprigh.ly-she moved as a creature of en-
chantmtnt, her image fastening upon the
minds and memories of all-but Ella was
not forgotten or eleeted--they often
lcorresponded. Graces letters told too tru-
ly how much those things were enjoyed
by her. In ans wer to the invitation to
come and spend the summer in the retire
ment of Elias home, she says, Even iii
this giddy place my heart is full to burst
| iug-should allow myself more time for
meditation it would surely break. In the
dark, cherries hours OF midnight, my
burning. throbbing brain still keeps its
restless beating, scaIce bestowing the poor
refreshment of a ieyerish dream TO strength
en- the earthly tenement My health is
failing, there will soon be nothing left for
me out the drifts of thought and memory,
which gather round the weary past and
blighted future.
1t was in vain that Ella tried TO place oh
paper words of soothing and consolation
to draw her thoughts from lingering around
the ruined wreck OF her affections, and di-
rect them to the hope set before her of OBJ.
tanning home "where the wicked cease
flom troubling, and the weary are at rest. "
Every letter she received came burdened
with its own weight of woe.
The summer passed-i.s roses doomed
and died. Another autumn came and
whistled by--but ere the winters snow
had melted, there were anxious thoughts
concerning Grace Warner Never before
had so long time elapsed without letter
from heI to Ella. The first crocuses OF
spring had just BEGIN to smile when let
ter came written by strangers had Ii
told of Grace being sick, even unto death,
aud begged Ella as she loved her friend,
to come and remain with her while vel
|lifs's taper burned. 1t was fearful sum-
mons thus to break the suspended SPELL
That evening saw Ella sitting in the cab
iii Of ore of the large steamers which ply
the eastern waters. anxiously vending her
way to a retired yet pleasant village near
the Ohio, for Grace's sad, declining health
could no more mingle in the excitement
Of the city and she retreated to this lonely