The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-06-14

OF memory fit We may hover years in sti.
fled drawing rooms, and never meet a kin
drcd spirit; no little, unseen angels watt
their kindly influences through its tainted
atmosphere. But the pure breath of Hcav
en- inspirits us with kindly feelings, and,
| while we feast on summer beauties, there
arises conscious craving for sympathy, a
certain going out of our soul Mt every mani
fcstation of God in nature n certain CRASHING
at we know not what. little robin sings
in the wood, and every nerve tinGles. The
brook leaps laughingly away, and our heart
goes dancing with it. The grasshopper's
chirrup, the rustlings of the leaves, aye. ev-
cry note in the incomparably sublime ora
torio of Nature, falling, each distinct, in the
pure harmony, on the ear, send the blood
bounding through our veins; and the hearts
warmcst affections 90 out to the dear one.
who is drinking in Heavens harmony by
our side.
Mary's eyes lost none of their sparkle. nor
her step its buoyancy. after James RS de-
parturc; for his frequent letters assured her
of his steady purpose. There was weight
on her helrt, but the burden was a precious
one. True love is ever serious; and oh,
what magic power it gives TO woman's
charms, deepening the ey c-glanccs, touching
with It's pcnsive pencil each delicate feature,
and sofening still more the low sweet mel
ody of voice. Such was its power over the
beautiful Mary r.
But, all at once, she dropped, like bligh-
ted lilly. often found her in tears, at the
old haunt.
"What is the maitc,, Mary, dear ~
would ask, twining my arms around her
neck, but she only wcpt the more. What
true woman will not keep her own grief, till
her heart is full to breaking7
At length, one day, overcome by the i'm.
fportnnity, oil, perhaps drawn out by the un-
selfish nature of childish years, she told me
all.
Mr.. r. had found how matters stood.
and had forbidden his son, under pain of
disinheriance to marry the penniless orphan!
ShOrt-sightcd man! She WAS rich in beau
ty, and E,r better in the unbought wealth Of
heart and mind. Was she, then, portionless?
For ourself, we would pray with Agur, I" Give
US neither poverty nor riches; not poverty,
lest in our want we forget the lessons we
Iisped on our mothers knee; and not wealth,
lest, Midas-likc, it transmits our very hearts
love into gold"
"Shall hesitate n moment Mary?" wrote
James. IL have strong arm, and with you,
what care for wealth! Will take mc, poor
but stout hearted Is am?
GLOW generous, how noble" she soLbed
But can fought /, accept such n sacrifice
No, cannot, will notm Then II flush
of indccision mantled her brow; and love at
last gained the mastery.
Wcll-James II. did wed the pennilcss
orphan, was disinherited by his proud, deter
mined father aud went TO the city of A.
seventy miles away, without penny, but
strong in hope and love. Providence favor
ed him, and he obtained responsible situa-
ton in n large mercantile house. Fora year
or two he was blessed with comfort and a
happy home. But the clouds, which had
come from the woodland harnt, lowered at
last. HiS frst-born, beautiful likeness of
her mother, passed away. A crisis in the
commercial world ruined his employers, and
turned him, second time, adrift. Want
stared him in the face. His beautiful Mary
dropped under her manifold trials and the
proud spirited son was fiin, at last, to ap-
peal to his unnatural parent
Twas on bitter-cold mid-winter night
that James r. stood, tbinly cIid, shiyeripg
at his fathers door. That door was fudely
shut against him, and he turned DEATH
stamped from his old homel A fever,
brought OF by the excitement and exposure
Of that night, left him in decline, in which
he fingered year, being meanwhile almost
entirely dependent npon the exertions of his
frail wife, who devoted every moment she
could spare from him and her infant child, to
the needle.
And Mary was right, when she accepted
the sacrifice of home and wealth, at the hands
Of lsEees r. Otherwise, bis being had been
blan1z1o him. He had lived lifetime of
gladness, in the few years granted him ofthc
loving trust Of that young heart Sickness
and want had brought out all the latent en-
ergics of her nature. He saw her, the once
gentle, dependent child, become the no less
gentle, noble. self-sacri6cing woman. How
dea,hless, how forgeiful Of self, is the love
Of true woman, like Mary RI No fatigue
overcomes her; no misery appals her in her
grateful labors. She never wearics Of
watching, never tires Of waiting She
shrinks not from the sick room, nor starts
back at the tread Of death. She hides un-
bidden tears, and chokcs the struggling
sob. from watchfuI ears. o, woman your
noislcss tread snd gentle touch were meant
for tho deIicato assidrities Of life; and why
yield up your alLpotent wand in struggle
for the leadcn sceptre manly powerl And.
oh, let 20 true hearted woman who feels in