True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-01-25
rived in this city about five years since

PLY and in comfort, when the demon of
intemperance seduced my dear father into
his embrace, and for many months We
were miserable indeed. At length my
poor father sickened and died, leaving us
but a small sum, with which to procure
the necessaries of life, My mother imme-
diately took the cheapest lodgings she could
obtain, proposing to economist in such a
manner as to be able to support ourselves,
and send the boys to school, but alas, in
her endeavors to earn a livelihood, she
over-tasked her strength and become sick
then followed time of want and .depri-
vation, I shudder to remember. At last
my dear mother died, and was conveyed to
the silent grave ,.....
Here Nora paused; choaking with emo
ton, she buried her face in her hands, and
wept. l took the hand of the sobbing girl,
and offered her such consolation as my
mind afforded, and assured her that neither
she nor the children should again want
father, or a home. The conclusion of her
tale is one of too much wretchedness and
suffering to bear writing. She told Of her
constant yet fruitless cndcavors to procure
employment; of her removal from one
place to another, each one more miserable
than the former; of her prayers for char
ity which were answered by the sensual
villain to whom it was made by the most
debasing proposals, which we're indignant
ly rejected.
| leave the reader to realize the degree
of suffering that Nora Neill must have cx-
perienced up to the time of her release
from the miserable cellar in the Five
Points. Nora was handsome, and Nora
was pure too as the driven snow. What
an admirable soul that young girl possess
ed, to resist all temptation to sin, in the
vile connection her poverty drew around
her, preferring even starvation to dishonor.
4 had said she to me, the night I met
you almost crazed with the cold and hunger
that | suffered, determined at last to sub
NIT to any degradation to supply the dear
once more with food, and then to
destroy my life which was almost insup-
portable. But said she, looking up into
my face, her own radiant with gratitude,
Heaven sent me to one of its angels 1
stood abashed before her, knowing my own
My greatest pleasure, for months that
was to pass my evening with
Nora, reading and conversing with her. |
was agreeably surprised to find included
into her mind, high and correct principles,
and also to know that her education was of
no mean character. By constant commu-
nication with her, I found that her mind
like her person, was pure and beautiful,
and that both had already acquired an un-
usual degree of perfection, notwithstanding
her youth and the hardships she had been
subjected to.
l had with their sisters consent, con-
Quoted the brothers to an academy at no
great distance from the city, where Nora
and myself often visited them, we'll salts
fed of the motherly care of the matron
who had them in charge. I hud induced
Nora after much persuasion to take lessons
in music, but only through the argument,
that by so doing, she would enable herself
to become a teacher, and thus acquire a
profitable means of support; for although II
she was perfectly frank with me, in rela'
tion to every matter, yet she feared there
was an impropriety in her receiving so
much at my hands. She soon performed
upon the fine instrument that ornamcnted
her room, with exquisite taste. ] had not,
nor could I realize or define my connection
with this beautiful girl A few months of
thoughtless companionship had so woven
our feelings together that I could not love
sister more affectionately. Nora was
now quite round and perfect in person, her
health was entirely restored, and hel
cheeks glowed with exquisite color.
was often surprised at her young beauty
rendered still more beautiful to one who
realized her late destitute and forlorn con
dition.
One evening having as usual entered th'
house in which l had secured apartment
for Nora, I knocked gently at the door bu
received no answer, and was surprised t.
find the door locked on the inside. aske,
the lady of the house if Miss Neil ha
gone out. I was answered in q surl
manner, that Miss Neill, probably kne,
her own business best and that she iva
not her keeper Startled at this answer
I hurried from the house, understandin
! the allusion at once. The idea had nevt
! L -