The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-02-16
From the Richmond Enquirer.
The Irish Girls Lesson.
BY CoRNELIA J. NJ. JORDAN.

BY CoRNELIA j.. NJ. JORDAN.
Come, gate up. Miss Nelly, gate up; it's la
rung time sinC~ the day brake-be sure, marum"
and The Irish maid raised the little window,
pushed open the biud and hooked aside the GRIM
son curtain 10 admit the light.
oh, Pm so snug, Alice, and so very sleepy
couldn't you leave me just little while 1-you
must be in disguise to rise early these
cool mornings And the fair maiden drew the
comfortable blanket still closer around her form,
buried her head more firmly in the snowy pillow,
! and turned aside TO resume her coveted nap.
'Ah, Miss Nelly, you'd baher be up and
don', while ye kin, marum-thefeE be time
enough for rest in the grave there'lI be no dis
turbin' O ye there. sure. And humming low one
oC the beautiful chants peculiar to her church, the
Irish girl, broom in hand, closed the door, and
went TO complete her chamber maid dulies.
Nelly Horton lay quietly in bed, but not 10 sleep.
That strange speech OF Alice rang in ner ear,
and she thought it pity that Romansn should
make such mopes Of its votaries. Why was AL
ice always preaching industry, avoiding sloh,
promPtness, value of time, &c. &c, just as If she
were sent into the world 10 reform 2 Some
people have such strange ideas Of christian duty,
as though lying IN bed until twelve O'Clock in the
day had anything to do with ones pety. Odd
system that Of Romanism. These were Nelly's
objections, but these were not all, for something
make her toilet, even IN less time than usual
After slipping her coffee absracedly at the break
fast table, she called again for the novel she had
almost finished al midnight previous Carelessy
she turned the pages, for The romance had lost
its charm. Instead of The absorbing interest it
first awakened, at every line glared the fearful
truth, rhere'lt be time enough for rest in the
grave She closed The book mYsingIy, and to
drive off the blues went out to walk.
II tha 4
The air had all the freshness of May, with a cer-
tain mellow sollneSs peculiar TO Indian Summer.
Here and there CLEANED voleIs in sunny hooks,
while at every step eIl the golden tinted leaves
a beautiful blending Of summer glory and autumn
decay. Vany did Nelly strive to Danish thought.
"A vewIess spectre haunted her on every side
She read in the dreamy, subdued face Of nature,
in the yellow tlnts of the forest leaves, in The
dropping stalks Of the wiltcd flowers, only con.
frmation Of the Irish girls lesson. They had
fulfilled their mission. Why had not she Those
IeaVes, now so sere uuu yeIIOw, as they rustird
beneath her feet, had worn their green livery and
dispensed the cool shade for which they were de
signed and those pale flowers, dropping now on
their slender stems, had shed abroad their fra
grant beauty throughout Tie brief season allotted
to them. Their duty was done, and they had
now their rest-tme in thai grave Of decay which
swallows up all that is beautiful and fair OF earth.
Was it thus with her Had she, too, fulfilled the
design Of her creation by an unceasing vigilance
over that soul which had been entrusted to her
keeping? Had each day seen its duties perform.
ed with the patient, loving, lorbearing spirit of
true disciple Had her lie been tha: OF an I'm.
mortal being whose destiny lay beyond the con-
fines Of this passing away world? Alas no a
long career Of time ms-sPent, talents misapplied,
and opportunities neglected, rose up before her as
she looked back upon her term o! eighteen sum-
mvrs, and she shu6dered al the retrospect. Was
there any future to her wasted and iIl-spent lie
That vast unknown lay out before her dim, dis.
tant, uncertain maze. The thought walked in her
heart the slumbering chord of penItent emotion,
and in the broad temple Of nature, with all its de-
caying glorIes around her, she sent up, with tea
lul eyes, the first Lord have mercy upon me-
her lips had ever uttered.
Months 2assed-NelIy Horton was no longer
the giddy wording, The gay devotee of luxury
and fashion, the slothful lover Of Incidence and
ease. Day after day. the morning sun found her
up and doing, with a cheerful, happy and obe-
dent spirit. Her delicate hands were continually
busted, furnishing food from her stores of plenty
for famshing mouths, and plying her needle with
pious zeal 10 supply garments for shivering limbs.
Many and many time did her thoughts recur, I
with graelu! emotion, to that memorable morning
" hen her Irish maid taught her so nnocently the |
value Of those golden moments she then |
squan3ering in soh and deness.
Reader, she has fulfilled her mission. That
young, patient, hopeful spirit reached its goal
For five years she lived pursue her labors OF
love, and by constant and careful keeping OF
The heart she went down to the grave in peace, |
and is now enjoying that 'rest which remaIneth
for the people of God
LYNCHBURG, January 27, 1855.