Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-04-12
MISCELLANY.
The Fountain very for Down
BY VIRGINIA F. TowNsAND.

~ don't believe it, said my cousin Ned, who
was passing his college vacation at our house
and there was world of unwriten scepticism
in the air with which he dashed down the pa.
per over whose damp columns his eye had been
travelling the previous half fhour.
"You see, cousin Nelly" continued Ned, get.
ting up and pacing the oId-fashioned parlor with
quick nervous strides, "t's sheer nonsence to
talk about these doors in every human heart. II
sounds very pretty and pathetic in story, I'll nd,
init, but so do great many other things which
reason and actual experience repudate. There
are hearts--alas! that their names should be ie-
gion--where "far away up'' there is no door to be
opened, and 'far away down are no deeps to be
fathoLled.. Now, don't cousin Nelly, level anotl--
or such u rebuking glance at me from those brown
eyes; for have just thought of case illustra-
tive of my theory.
Don't you remember 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. and so, OF
course, became public property! Fdugh! shall
never forget the tones of the vragos voice, OF the
scowl on her forehead as she sailed out OF the
front door and shook her hand at me. woman
who could refuse a half-withed flower to little
child. | wonder that roses could bloom on her
soil At the "smiting OF the rod no waters could
flow out of such granite heart. In the moral
desert of such character, no frrtilizng rill can
make it's way
I did not answer cousin Neds earnest, eloquent
tones, for Just then there was low rap of vsIters
at the parlor door. But have always thought
there was good angel in the room while he was
speaking, and that it flew straight to Miss Steb-
bins, and looking down, down, very far down into
her heart, he saw fountain there rank weeds
grew all aroundit the seal Of years was on its lip,
and the dust of time deep on the seal; but the an
gel smiled as it foated upward, and nnrmured, Il
shall return and remove the seal, and the waters
will fow.' .........
Stern and grim sat Miss Stebbins at her work
one summer afternoon. The golden sunshine
.lept and danced in its play-place in the corner,
and broke into loud laugh along tho ceingand
single beam, bolder than the rest, crawed to the
hem OF MISS SteDOiIsS uhu ioon0u uP WIN ".''
id, loving smile in her face, such as no human be-
ing ever wore when looking there
Poor Miss Stebbins! Those harsh features on
" daguerreotyed too faithfully the desolate arid
heart beneath them; and that heart, with its dry
fountain was true type of her life. with the one
flower of human affection which had blossomed
manv wears before along its barren highway.
She never seemed to love anybody, unless it
was her brother William, who was favorite with
everybody, but he went to sea, and had never
been heard of since. Sally has always been
stray sheep among the flock; but dark hours, and
at last death, came upon the rest, and the home
stead tell to her.
Such was the brief verbal history Of Miss Steb-
h;n,s life. which received from Aunt Mary, who
closed itthere in wise adherance. to her favorite
maxim, never to speak evil Of her neighbors.
But that afternoons. there came the patter OF
children's feet along the gravel walk, which led
70 Miss S.ebbin's front door; and at the same mo-
ment, the angel with gOlden-edged wings came
down from ito bl1e-sky home into Miss Stebbins
parlor,,-sag IN II sg4-8 si.s ssE
she raised her head and saw. them, two weary
looking little children, with golden hair and blue
eyes. standing hand in hand under the Portico,ant
.hens that terinagSnt scowl darkened her brow
andS6sasked, with i dissgfeeable note in hel
vOics. Ike the raw breath .sin The noFthssas'
wind