The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-09-12

rs she murmured, half prayerfully: "Oh
God, l thank thee for this avenue thor
has opened to my soul thank the,
that from this lone spot may pour forth
my thoughts upon the worlds great heart
and if perchance they find an echo in on
other spirit, tuned in unison with mine, ol
watt aught of joy or consolation to sin
gle griet-worn heart, it is enongh! I ask
not for fame. My brow were little fitted
for the laurel wreath to lie upen. ask 2
richer boon--the sympathy of loving
hearts, the power of sending forth my
spirit into the debths of others, and wa
kenIng their STRAIN Of beauty and glad
ness. Thou hast given me some token
that the boon is mine. Oh! God, thank
thee"
Oracle Glenvill was an orphan. Her
parents had died during her childhood;
bequeathing her to kind, simple hearted
friend; who had been TO her all that q
mother could be, save in the depth and
power Of love that only mother can
know. and in that sympathy with her rich
practical nature, which not comprehend
lug, 1t was not in her power to give.
But this practical love Of the beautiful
had grown up with her from childhood;
nay, it was part Of her very being; and,
though surrounded by no outward c;rcum.
stances to call it out, vet it would find
vent. Like secret welI-spring or bid
den fountain, it found secret and silent
channels for its over-charged waters to
gush forth; and though so young, for two
years she had been pouring forth her soul
in song, upon the worlds listening ear,
aud it had more than "only murmured," !"
its pulAe hal thrilled most strongly be-
meath the magic touch of her Poetic
Lyrc.
AT first il had listened, tremuIous and in
silence, and then the murmer went I'd,
"Who is this gifted unknown who plays
upon our heart strings sol" But echo, as
it rolled the sound along, gave back the
only answer-"Unknown."
Then the murmer died away and il
had only listened and swayed to the mu-
sic OF her strains. But anon il suryed A.
gam, and other cries arose. The sensitive
nud refined, wboas, eanls-n,ar.> .lo.,,l. a.,
bued with the beautiful and true, to.whom
her strains came home, rs the embodi
ment of their own heart.noteS, murmured
"who is this gifted one? Tell Us, that we
may yield her tbs devotion that lies hoard
ed in our heart Of hearts for this most clio
rious Lyrist."
And the great and gifted, cried, Who
IS shei Tell US, that We may give her
our hand, and welcome her to our circles.
And the coarser and moro earthly cried
still louder. Tell us, who she is, that ws
may tear her from her seclusion and feasl
our e. es upou her beauty, and defy hel
her according to our own gross ideas ot
adulation."
Thus the world clamored. And now
it clamored loudly, and nearer and NOR,
near came the sound, unit. it almost
reached the precincts Of her obscure sane
tuary.
At length voice did reach her. II
came from one whose spirit-brea,hing,
had echoed through the, earth, and caus
e1 her own heart to thrill, even as her:
had thrilled the worlds heart.
II was one OF those soft, ,balmy evening.
that sometimes greet Us in the early par
Of September. The bright.eyed stars in
the blue heights above seemed as if smi
ling DER a sea Of liquid either, while tn,
pale wild moon, wading through masse.
Of tleecy clouds, now glared down, rounc
and full upon the earth; now yelling he
face behind some darker wisp. leaving heu
earth sister enveloped in dim shadows
then suddenly darting forth again and
surprising many maiden into bushes a.
she listened to a tale that was to sea
her destiny.
AT the beautiful and almost princel,
villa Of Prof Roland was gathered ga,
and brilliant a>cnbIage. Many lustrou
stars, and among them some Of the bright
est in the literary galaxy,graced the seen,
with Their presence. And peerless among
them, the lion Of the crowd. was Ernes
Leveredge, and there were few hearts il
all our country's wide domain who hat
not echoed back his thrilling strains.
Gifted in conversation as he was il
song, genius sat enthroned upon his brow
and beamed forth in bis lofty, mani,
bearing, and all hearts yielded to tn
power Of his fascinations.
The guests had mostly arrived an,
were disposing themselves in little socia
coteries about the different apartments
when Mrs. Roland entered the most pro
minent saloon with a lady, young an,
evidently q Stranger to- the crowd. ieanin,
upon her arm. There was an air q