Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-06-13
F L 0RENCE SPRAGUE.
BIZ ANNIE ARTHCRS.

! 1t was the last day of the term at Collinswood.
/ Conswood was retired estate in Tennessee, on
! the south bank of the Cumberland. The owner
| sCoilins, vas widow n atfuent circumstances,
without any family relatives, who had
received number of pupils TO educate, from a
/ loniness for the society OF the young and the
| pleasure she took In their improvement. Mental
| application only eXacled IN proportion 10
health habits of order and regular exercise were
strictly enforced while the cultivation OF the
moral nature and love to another were
! paramount to all things in the system OF
instruction pursued by our honored teacher.
! No public exhibitions and examinations ever
disturbed the serenity OF Co!nswood all was
tranquil and happy and at The close OF the last day
of the term groups of girls were scattered about
the grounds, taking leave of familiar places
endeared TO them by many pleasant associations.
! ForenceSprague, a tavorte companion, had Joined
me IN stroll on the bank OF the river. We were
admiring the beauty ofthe scene the rose-colored
clouds OF sunset the dark woods, and the mansion
with its long porches covered with sweet-brIar
! and trumpet creeper, when carriage In
view and drove 10 the front entrance. An elderly
gentleman alighted and in mon1A Kate
| Douglass, a YARN hearted girl from Nashville,
sprang from the porch and folded in her
I fathers arms Florence usually calm, burst
/ into tears. She had so frequently spoken 10 me
of her own father and her grief at his loss, that
we'll understood the cause OF her present sorrow
/ Mr. Sprague had been a merchant in New
! Orleans. His wife died few months after the
birth of Florence after her death, his energy OF
character was directed TO the accumulation of
wealth The world called him hard, money
loving man, and what the world said partly
true. Every heart, however calous and encrusted
by avarice, must have some object upon which TO
lavish It's natural tenderness Persons that alone
/ knew Mr.. Sprague as business man could not
have believed aim the kind parent he was. 1t
! would however have bPen a hard heart Thar cpulG
have resisted the winning endearments of little
Florence She would watch from window at
the regular hour of her fathers return aud meet
him at the door to be kissed and carried N his
arms to the diningroon always her reyva I'd
maiden sister of Mr.. Sprague superintendent
his household, stately lady, with whom house
keeping object of the greatest importance,
and who only reproyed Florence for making
noise, soillng her clothes. Florence. with the
intutition of childhood made her stern aunt
the confident OF her childish thoughts, her iIttle
! perplexities all told 10 her father who would
sympathse with her, and instruct her with the
kindness of a gentle mother. OF her mother
| Florence retained no recollection A full length
portrait, painted in a bridal dress hung in an
apartment that she named her mother room;
here she spent many hours In listening 10 her
father speaking OF the departed wife in terms of
love and reverence, and In gazing upon the
beautiful likeness that seemed 10 regard her SO
/ CultuLOOu ptoStu tiiitil
and happily in the retirement OF home until she
/ had entered her thirteenth year.
/ Mr. Snrague had been suffering from debility
| for some time a prevailing epidemic attacked
! him. and in a few weeks his child orphan
! He had desired his sister, II he did not recover, 10
request Mrs Collins to take charge OF his daughter
education A responsible duty, but one for which
| she was fully adequate. When Florence four
teen she came TO Coinswood. The quiet manners,
| the low sweet voice and mourning dress of the
orphan made strong lmpseSslon IN her favor,
and she was soon an established favorite Among
com panions of her age her health and spirits
soon improved. No that her now
| could have believed that the bright. beartifnl
creature was the pale, ana little girl that TO
| Collinswood four years before.
Florence's tears called forth BY the afectionate
meeting between Kate Douglass and her father,
were soon checked, but she looked lowspirted and
desponding. | directed her attention to the groups
of girls remarking that in a few days they would
be In their widely separated no mes, and perhaps
never to meet again.
| ssHome said Florence "there is no one &c give
me a warm welcome home My aunt has removed
from the CITY, and am to reside in my guardian
family with people that almost strangers to
me. Black Susan and Sam were the only being:
that shed tears at my departure and will probably
be the only ones 10 rejoice at my return"
"And Mr.. Sinclair-you forgot him, Florence
aSinclair. The child he loved 10 pet and caress
ne will care nothing for when transformed 10
, woman Perhaps he will require formal IN
PRODUCTION before renewing our acquaintance
In few days, Collinswood was deserted by it
lively inmates The parting between the belove
: Principal and her pupils vas painful one. 81
] would be left in comparative loneliness, while The
were going abroad in the world to share IN II
cares and anxieties, and many to take upo
themselves new and responsible duties.
few years had elapsed since leaving Collins
wood, when bachelor uncle, whose presence wa
reouired in New Orleans. persuaded me
accompany him During the journey frequeatl
thought OF Flofence.and earnestly hoped to see he
o had heard of her but once since leaving schoo
:, She was then occupying the position in socst
that wealth and beauty always gIve-respecte
5 and loved for her goodness of heart and mob
mird.