True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-07-11
g&l&&t Gale,
From the Waverley Magasine.
THE UNDLINGj
LEAVES FROM MEMoRY's TABLETS.
by CLARA AUGUSTA.


Well, my friend, again the moon is look
ing down upon us kindly, and It's a night
for sweet, holy thoughts. Let us 60 and
sit beneath the boughs of the old elm, by
the spring, and if thou wilt listen, / will
tell thee little romance of former days
connected with a cherished friend of mine.
Dost thou ever think, gentle friend,
when gazing upward to the clear, cerulean
arch, on an eve like this, that thou art
nearer the confines Of the spirit land than
at any other time ? | often fancy it is
thus, and at this hour my soul seems 70
commune with the "lovcd gone before"
and sometimes it seems | can detect In the
.bcaming stars a resemblance to the light
of love which onco shown upon me from
eyes long since sealed by the icy hand OF
Death But will Pot cast over your
sunny spirit tho shpdow which has rested
80 long and heavily on my own. May you.
dearest friend, ever remain in Ignorance
of trials which often scar and wither the
soul, upal it yields to its posscSsor only
sorrow and anguish!
But to my story. 1t was dark, tenn.
pcstuous night in tho month of December;
the loud winds roared fendishly around
the tall chimney, and died into low, sad
moan amid the long corridors of statcly J
mansion, in the city of B. Its luxuriant
occupants had retired to rest; but the
fierce cries of the tempest, and the cease
less beating of tho rain and hail agains
the windows drove sleep from the eyes o
Mr.. Elmington, the owner of the house
lie fancied that he heard strange sounds
in the pauses of the tcmpest-sounds a!
of human voice in distress; he listened
more intently, and the protracted wall fel
more distinctly on his ear. Mr.. Filming
ton was humane man, and he spranl
from his comfortable couch, and taking W
u lamp, descended to the front door, from
whence the cries appeared to proceed.
On opening the door he discovered lyiss
on the marble door step peculiar looking
box, the cover of which was perforated
with two large holes. Mr.. Elmington lift
ed it into the hall, and on removing th'
cover, what was his surprise at beholdin:
q living infant; the very incarnation o
loveliness It's little features were con
vulsed with weeping, but it spread fortl
its tiny hands so imploringly that Mr.
Elmington's heart was touched, and h,
lifted it from its resting place and bore i
up to his wife chamber. Great astonish
mcnt was expressed by that lady, mingled
with sort of horror that Mr.. Elmingtor
should be so thoughtless Of her healtl
and happiness as to bring that vulgar chile
into her presence. "Who knows" sh
exclaimed, affrighted, "who knows but sh
has the smallpox, or yellow fever in he
clothes? !? Put her down, William, if you
ever wish to look upon me again ~ an,
the delicate lady covered her facc in tn
bed clothes. And yet she was one q
those who interest themselves so deeply il
tho "poor suffering hcathen," forgetful o
the homeless poor who flock our streets
and beg for bread at our doors, Truly
dear friend, there arc strange people il
our lower world.
"Poor thing!" said Mr.. Elmington
compassionatcly, "some bereaved heart
mourning thy loss-undoubtedy thou was
stolen from thy parents" and Dir. n
mington thought of his own precious chill
drcn, and plying tear dropped on tn
little cold face that nestled, dove-like i
his bosom. Calling up Marietta, the nurs
of the family, he committed the infant t
her care, merely telling her that it was
child entrusted to his keeping, and desi
red her to attend to its comfort. On ez
animation the box was found to contain
number of rich suits of clothes for tn
child, and a small golden locket, in whiC
was set the likeness of magnificent
beautiful woman. No other clue was al
forded, and Mr.. Elmington wisely conclr
dcd to retire to bed, and leave further il
vestigations till daylight. On the follow
ing morning every exertion was made
discover the relatives of the lone chile
but in vain, and Mr.. Elmington was obi
ged to carry it to the aims house, as HI
lady-wife refused to receive IL under he
roof The child was christened Rosali
Moreton and when she was ten years
age she was taken from the almshouse b
wealthy family Of the name of St. Eu'
taco, as an errand girl and nursery maic
Mr.. st. Eustace was an extensive DR.
goods importer, and consequently was al
sent from home the greater part Of tn
time. His wife was one of those ladi'
we too often meet with; selfish and e'
acting to the last degree, towards her Sc
wants, and neglcctful of her duties as
wife and mother. Upon Rosahe she loOl
ed with feeling akin ia hatred, and I'll
poor child was clothed in the coarscst.h'
biliments, and hor beautiful brown cur