Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-08-02

y NAH H.
we'd and wept, lamenting the sore b%ereave- lei
mcnt, as if the Jewel was Of no value now the vi
casket was married. Ib was happy for Ida a
Cousin Harriet, Nth her gentle minis 90
was ever at hand, to prevent her
these childish outbreaks OF feel- OF
ing on the part of her mother. She soothed be
and amused the sufferer, and spoke words of =
consolation to the frantic mother. Above
all, she impressed on her mind the necessity (
Of cheerfulness in Ida's presence. !
Ida's father was y man much absorbed In +
business, never troubling himself about do :
mestic matters, yielding in all things of that :
sort to the direction of his weak and proud
wife, fully satisfied that in supplying all de-
mands for money he was a good husband and
father. He loved his children that is, when
he had time to remember he had any. lie
was sorry to find that Ida was sick babe his
wife let her have whatever she wished; went
to his warehouse, and forgot every thing but
ships and merchandise.
But Cousin Harriet thought Of every thing,
and what she did was always done judicicus-
ly. As Ida grew stronger, the weak and
infamed state of her eyes made it still need
full to remain in her darkened room, where
few but the members Of the household were
permitted to enter. OF Ida's young friends,
some were deferred from visiting her from
HnCC Oh pICNC4b VI duOblICts 4ICI nOLAACL
dreaded to exhibit her changed appearance.
Cousin Harriet feared Some sudden exclama-
ton or look Of surprise should reveal to her
yet feeble patient the extent of her misfortune.
During these long and lonely days, Cousin
Harriet never emitted her kindness. She staid
by her, conversed with her, read to her, and
amused her solitary hours, until Ida began to
wonder how it was that in her darkened cham
Der, shut out from all that used to interest her,
she was so happy, The truth was, she had
just begun to realize the pleasure of thought
and reflection, apart from that whirl of gayety
in which she had lived. No one was better
qualified to reconcile her to herself, and to
commune with her own heart, than Cousin
Harriet. She drew from her own rich store
house treasures of mind and memory, and she
taught the newly-awakened mind to unfold It's
soaring pinions. But there was one source of
anxiety to all her friends: Ida had once an ac-
cepted lover-she fancied she had still-if one
could be called a lover who had been dazzled
by mere external glitter, who was as gay and
inconsiderate as the toy he had hoped to make
his own. Ida had been fattered and her van
ity gratifed by the preference of one who was
the heir of considerable wealth, polished in his
manners, handsome in his person, and, in her
opinion, "every inch a gentleman" He was
the idol of that circle sometimes known as ia
ponicadom; and so far as her unfinished soul
could love, Ida loved him. During her long
illness and convalescence, he had often solicit
Cd permission to see her, and was as often, on
various pretexts, denied. At length. however,
he grew importunate, and insisted on seeing
his future bride. As he must sooner or later
know the truth, Cousin Harriet deemed it best
to admit him. She had prepared his mind tc
Gee n great alteration in Ida looks and though
.lA I,1 naun. lolo1I -. or,, FoA,.,o Ella
her severe illness, Cousin Harriet anxiOusly
strove to fortify her mind for the shock sht
felt sure awaited her.
The impatient lover was admitted; but il wa
evident his mind was unprepared for the SIGH
that awaited him, from the involuntary excla
nation ofsurprise and disappointment that es
capped him. Then Ida realised for the frs
time the full extent Of her deformity. He
IL 0Ysr. made P PpH a AFisaffu FFa ifit4 aha ii When he r0s
to go, he did not speak IF coming again. Id
summoned all her womanly pride, and pre-
served a show of composure until he left hel
, when, in the depth of her modification, sh
, determined to see and know for herself wha
havoc disease had made; and Selling the nc
D mentary absence of her attendant, she tottere
D into another room, for thoughtful Cousin HaI
r riet had removed all means of seeing herself
: and now, for the first time, the whole .trut
G WIS TGFedleu 10 nCT. w 0eQ ner CarefuI nurS
returned, alarmed at her absence, she sougE
her in an adjoining apartment, and there sh
found her, cold and senseless, lying on tn
u floor.
q The shock had been too great for her e,
feebled frame, and a severe relapse of few,
was the consequence. Perhaps it was we'll Fl
Ida that debility and delirium for a long tin
swept from her memory all recollection Of tn
! day. When her mind was again clear, her fo
mer admirer was in another hemisphere. B
| health came slowly, and with it some renal
of her former beauty. Slowly the hair, al
eyes, and skin, if less brilliant, yet becar
s. agreeable to the sight. She would never aga
c. be a belle, but she was not repulsiye.
d And now Cousin Harriet had the most dill
cult part other mission to fulfill. Pity had
long held her by the side of the invalid, I'll
;" love, such as we may suppose angels can fl
for error and feeble mortals, now filed i
G. heart; and she determined, as far as lay in h
oil power, to fill up the unwritten pages in t
a. hearts tablet to store the mind with treasul
le which accident should not rob her of or effaC
10 1t was no light task, however, to redeem t
u waste of years, and to overcome the indolen
~ and p~etulance of a neglected temper. But wi
will not patient and assiduous love fulfill?
- BY degrees the mind, Suddenly withdrawn FRI
,r all its former pursuits, began to unfold its
h. bier powers, and to Stake IFS thirst at the foI
%. tain of wisdom at the same time its form
susceptibilities were drawn out and cultivat
Ida began to look away from the narrow cir
= OF selfish qualification, and to sympathize W
," the more ennobling pursuits Of others.
le- pursue the symbol of the casket, it was i
of brilliant, but the jewel it contained was rece
ay ing so beautiful a polish, that its surroundiI
were little needed. With steady perseveran
Cousin Harriet taught her to find pleasure
"a rational pursuits and at length she saw, "
:, emotions OF thankfulness, that her labors W
u 5 crowned with abundant success,
ess Ida could now look back with rejoicing
her escape from a premature and ill-star
ct, marriage fori it could not escape her, tn
for love which grew cold at her first misfortu
m must at best have soon merged into indiffere
>. and neglect. How she loved dear Cousin T
riet, that more than mother, who first tau
her the real value of life! Her friends CT
a acter was no longer an u~nsolved enigma,
at she could fully enter into her purposes.
NY was beginning to live in a new world.
VS. looked back with wonder on the butterfly
ION istence which had so engrossed her time.
mother never fully comprehended the nature
Oh her daughters contentment but she saw
= was happy, and she grew recoEciled to "
she still considered an irretrievable misfortu
un- lda's father took a more comfortable view
the case; and remarked, that " what the
Llh, lacked in looks, she would makeup in none
ouV When she again emerged from her seclus
Ca she was no longer the gaudy, but perfume
GU tulip, but rather a fruitful vine, dispensing