Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-08-16
TRUE BEAUTY-A FAIRY TALE.
BY MRS. E. NJ. GURTHRIE.

open window as lovely being as ever graced a
fairy festival in the charmed realm Of Fancy.
POising herself for moment upon the half-opened
bud OF geranium, which grew fresh and bright
beneath her pressure, she rested her eyes thought.
fully upon the shadow of Towering vine which
intercepted the moonlight and threw delicate fig
ures softly upon the carpet .....,...a.
Here she paused, folding her small hand upon
her bosom, to await the more perfect slumber of
the maiden; soon however, she advanced to the
bedside, and bending over the pillow, she per-
mitted her tresses to brush lightly as the wing of
a zephyr the brow of the sleeper, and thus she
whispered to her in her dreams. -..
| "Maiden is it the desire of thy heart to be
beautiful! Learn this, oh young inheritor of i'm
mortality that true beauty which fades not when
the hair becomes gray and years wax many, de-
velopes from within.
"Adorning of the outward form alone will not
render thee lovely; nor will bright eyes, sunny
locks, and comely features Except as these serve
to represent the symmetry of thine inner sanctu-
ary) cause thee to be beloved; but in the high
thoughts Of pure soul, which will beam forth
from thy fresh young face, thou lnayest find the
power to attract all hearts rresstably unto thee.
The dahlia and the poppy are more gay than
the rose, yet the rose is the queen of fowers..-
Her outward proportions may be no more perfect,
but her soft petals are laden with grateful odors;
from her heart floweth the holy wealth ofa sweet
nature, and surrounding atmosphere is hallowed
by her presence.
"Gentleness and purity are to thee dear mai
den, as fragrance 10 to the rose. Indulge no
thought and cherish no emotion but such as arc
lovely and pure; then lovelness and purity will
always dwell as sacred presence about thee"
"Let me ask, then, beautiful spirit" timidly
inquired the maiden, if this will indeed const-
tute me very beautiful, so that all who look upon
me may love met"
eyes, truly" returned the fairy. "This indeed
will render thee beautiful, yet remember, maiden,
that in thy hours of danger and temptation, purity
and loveliness are not easily secured. Oh fail,
not to regard them prize to be constantly and
religiousy guarded.
" In thy short sojourn upon earth, thou mayest
have beheld valued but tender plant rooted out
by the grosser children Of Flora's domain. Had
a wise hand but timely removed those ntruders
from the soil about her roots, sunshine and show
ers would have surely raised her to the high es-
tate of joy and blessing to the upper air. But
the weeds grew, the young plant died, and the air
never knew how rich treasure was once hidden
within her gentle heart.
"Loveliness and purity are within thy spirit,
sorrowing one; tender and beautiful flowers
which God has plaBted there that thou mayest
cherish for him. Yet if the growth of impure
thoughts and ungoverned passions is allowed they
would shut out the light, drink up the dew, and
poison the soil while oveliness and purity would
wither, under their deadly shade. IS
"Be it thy constant care, dear child, to keep
clean the garden of thy heart. Leave it ever open
to the rays of TRUTH and let the dews ofinnocence
virtue unfoded sending abroad their numberless
branches to fill the atmosphere of thine inner life
with fragrance and joy, thine outward form will
gradually rise to the heavenly proportion Of thine
inner self. The impression of angelic beauty
that blossoms within, will grow softly in thy
smile, and fall tenderly from the glance of thine
eye. Thy brow will become radiant as thy spir-
it expands, and thy voice melodious as thy heart
swells with that love which encircles every crea.
ture of God within its embrace.
" Good night, little maiden. Seek thou to be
generous and noble, truthful and pure, and thou
shalt become indeed very beautiful. even unto
the eyes of angels" ".' ".' .'~ ...',
The fairy ceased and bending gracefully over
head of the sleeping one; then kissed her witt
the tenderness OF mother, and fitted back agair
to the window. Resting once more where tht
shadows of vines wrought their delicate embroi
derry upon ground Of moonlight, she clasped he
hands together, and uprasing her eyes as ifinvo
king superior power. She remained thus for
moment, but ere long passed away. ..F.a
As she was departing, mystic light, soft a
the moonbeam. but clear as the morning sun
gathered above the couch whereon the little mai
den rested. Beneath its magic influence all ira
= ces of tears were effaced, calm smile came j
their stead, and she was baptized with the spir
3 ofioy. Y @''.''~
. Henceforward her life was a charmed life
When she awoke upon the morrow, her heal
was peaceful and strong, her soul light and fret
:, All about her marked the wonderful change th'
f had come upon the little maiden, though she Wa
. half unconscious of it herself, for the day.houl
. seemed but the continuance of her delightf'
dream. The quiet humble grace that attende
her steps like an angel oflight was at the promp
ing Of her fairy benefactor. 4aer. .g, g4ba.I
h Years passed cheerfully on. The spirit el
n shrined within that young form became excee
e ingly lovely; from day to day the outward fgu
: yielded to its sweet proportions, and the fairy
S, prophecy was at length fulflled.-Th The Student
N VI A college student, being examined
. Locke, where he speaks Of our relation to 4
,r Deity was asked as8sas#mai sje5it 10
[e "What relation do we most neglects' 1'9
IN He answered with much simplicity, "Poor' j