The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-03-08
N U M B E R A.
There is shadow on my heart,
j cannot fling aside.
ALICE CAREY.

4
The bird that futeed and sang so sweety yesterday
to-day still and silent. The wind blows COOL the dayis
dark and perched on his the usually gay canary
ping and sad. Or bright day, when tho smiling sun
dsperes those dak Clouds she will utter and sing as
sweety as What the with our gay little Ida;
Just from Church. and so serious Has the sermon produced
this changer How can you go dinner, Ida with such
sad countenancc The fair girl learning secret
Ellen and Ida the guests of Mrs. Melton their aunt.
Mrs Melton was the sister of Mrs. Wentworth Mr. Melton
mad been formerly merchant in the city, and time
was reued to be very wealthy but adverse circumstances
had crippled his income very much however at his DEATH
sucency remained to render his widow comfortable the
mander of her life. Besides Mrs. Melton Mr.. NJ had left
one daughter, two other children had died in infancy Agnes
Melton just sixteen years OF age when her father died
She was good girl and little comfort, therefore, her
Surviving relative. But it is said actiou brings on an
other and but short year after the death of the husband
and father Mrs. Melton followed her only child the grave
The ruler of the universe deemed it best take the young
flower TO himself; she pure and immaculate. On tho
other hand the mother regarded the child with
entia, devoted love than she did her Creator. God is
Jealous God. The love for him cannot b9 divided In
Ills wisdom tie saved the child and the mother also Mrs.
Melton had been very worldly minded woman she loved
DRESS and gay company frcquencd balls and parties in
TACT a of much e1ity But he Lord chastcned
her-she purified, and became like through the
purifying influence of the blood of Christ. Not only out
ward show Mrs. Melton Christian she cxcmplifcd bv
her walk and conversation she member of Christ and
her heart free from all vicious wicked influences Such
We find Mrs. Melton at this time. She lived in very COM
Portable brick house. in fashionable portion Of the city, and
highly esteemed by all her neighbors whilst the aso-
cratic of the city proud to number Mrs. NJ. Of
their elite account Of her high bear and noble de-
meanor
Mrs. Wentworth the mother of Ellen and Ida although,
introduced to the reader may not be Of place
she much like her sister, although given much
to levty and not deeply mbued with the principles of
gion still she a good woman and on all occasions en-
deavored teach her children what was right Ellen re-
sembcd her in disposition than Ida the latter like
her aunt Mrs Melton thought great deal of her neces
particularly Ida. Frequently would she mistake and call
a Agnes much did she remind her of her lost daugh
ter Ida loved her mother and Ida loved her When
in trouble she would go her aunt her having more
patience and taking pains instruct and with
her than her mother If Ida should accdenty ruin collar
ribbon her mother would say would teach her lesson
to be careful the me whilst her would show
her how to cut the collar that she might fail to do it
correctly the time lfda should do thing wrong her
mother would declare she did deserve any more whilst
her aunt would assist her to repair the injury We have
spoken thus of Ida and Ellen merely be in such in
stances the aggrSor unfortunate would certainly be Ida
When Ellen did wrong knew it. Her heart the
repository of all her secres-all except Arthur Mon
! roe knew she loved him.
Tho Ball had passed off pleasantly Arthur mad devoted
all his attentions Ellen and the succeeding night
that he told Henry he disposed try his chance there
The fact is Henry did in the least doubt the sincerity Of
his brother Arthur lad accompanied the ladies to church.
he walked with Ellen and told her how Henry had acted
wherever coourng needed, the brush applied, that
when Ellen related all Idn in reply to her sisters inquiry
it wonder the girl had already learned secret Yes
it then she learned Henry dear her Her first
intention tell her aunt but then she considered the
mproprety Of such conduct could she acknowledge that
she deeply concerned What would her aunt saw when
she confessed she love with Henry Munroe when she
knew the of his affections. No, would be too
premature she could not tell her yet.
Henry lost time in calling the ladies' so soon rs he
had taken his tea at the Hotel he proceeded the residence
of Mrs. Melton. I'VE reoccd to see you said Mrs NJ"
after civtes passed. wishing some one to
CALL up little ida the poor girl most awfully
depressed do hanl Mr.. Munroe and see what Won
can do; all efforts have proved ent,ely frucss What
under other Circumstances would have given Henry peasue
gave him pain for instantly occurred to his mnL that
his late conduct had something do with Idas sadness
lie not vain suppose that Idas detection
from socude for him, but there vague apprehension
about wicked guilty individual, that the least ap-
proach OF danger to any thing unlsua
~ effort appear nnembarrcssed but adds to his embaess
So it with Henry had he been guicss Of any
misconduct he would have smiled the observation of
Mrs. Melton and embraced the opportunity most fayora-
bc onopoe Ida attention, but he appeared dscon
certed fearful and apprehensve he that his o mis-
hand the knowledge of his friends and from
be indirectly the Of ldas melancholy. So
fearful is after the commission Of crime. Nerying up
himself however well he able under the circum
stances he took the Ida and inquired how size
could be sad in such gay city, 1T may be gay for some
Of u.s. replied Ida in very serious Henry directly
took this remark applicable his xacly. $50 It
may said he "Lu aided by exper should teach
to value the retired country aud moreover teach
us to act better in future"
$50 it should" said Ida "bd. such is unfortunately but
rarely the too APT it rather the tht species
uispauoh tAlRFieHce
have lost all ccn.ro habit and appetite lead 6
dstructon' ~ R-l ~ -
"You certainly in morazng vein to night replied
Henry At this uncture Of the conversation Arthur came
and acccedng to his proposition the other ladies had de-
temined to 90 church Ida declined going saying she
did not feel very we'll. Perhaps censure may be attached
to her aunt eIvng er thus with yeang gentle
man, but il muat be ecoectel chat on Tie terms o fnma
cy existing between idaand Henry. theye o1 lie no i'm
pfopnety Henry reinsAea With Ida and tley continued
tie conversations Il 81 ~ - 4 9