The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-03-07
NEW SERIES. ----VOL. l, NO.31.


clock startled us with its unwelcome o.
clock warning, and the softly spoken re.
minder. Girls, it is bed time," woke more
than one stiHed sigh Of regret. Then sister
Ellen must 60 with us to lay George in his
little bedl to hear him and Annette repeat
the evening prayer and hymn, her lips had
taught them; to comb the long brown braids
Of Emiy's head, to rob Arthur Of the sto-
ry.book, over which he would have squan-
dered the midnight night oil and to breath
a kiss and blessing over the pillow of each
other sister, as she tucked the warm blank
cts tenderly around them. 49,. ...
We did not know how often Of late she
had stolen down again, from these sisterly
duties after our sisters were locked in sleep;
or if our eyes and ears have ever been open
to the fact we could not have suspected the
minister to be guilty Of such plot against
our peace. That name was associated, in
our minds, with oil that was superhuman.-
The gray.haired pastor, who had gone to
his grave six months previous, had sat as
frequently on that oaken armchair and
talked with US. We had loved him as a
father and friend, and had almost worship
PED him as the embodiment of all attaina-
BILE goodness. And when Mr.. Neville came
among us with his high forehead, and SOUL
kindled eye we had thought his face also
'the face OF an angel'-too glorious for the
print Of moral passion. Especially, after.
in answer to an urgent call from the people
among them or any where on his native
shore; that he only waited the guidance Of
Providence to home in foreign cline
After this much bewailed disclosure of his
plans, we placed our favorite preacher on
high pinacle Of saintship!
But sister Ellen was to be married--and
married to Mr.. Neville. And then, 'Oh,
sister, you are going away to Tndio!" burs,
from our lips with fresh gush of sobs.
was the first that looked up into Elen's
troubled face. 1t was heavng with emo.
ton that rpffled its calmness, as the tide
ruffles the sea. Her lips were firmly CON-
pressed, her eyes were fixed on some dis.
tant dream glassed with two tears that
stood still in their chalicss forbidden to fall.
almost trembed as / caught her glance.
Sister! Agnes-Emily!' she exclaimed,
8 in husky whisper Hush! be calm!
e Don't break my heart, do love him less
s than
The effortwas too much; the words died
. on her lips. We lifted her to bed, fright
!, ened into forgetfulness of her own grief
n We soothed her, until she, too, wept freely
b and passionately and in weeping grew
: strong for the sacrifice to which she had
h pledged her heart. ....
We never spoke another word of remon-
Y STRANGE to her tender heart though often, in
9 the few months that fitted by US together
we used to choke with sobbing in some
? speech that limited of the coming separa.
Y ton, and hurry from her presence to cry
0 alone.
), Our Mother had told us the tidings with
n white lips that quivered tenderly and sadly.
t No love is so uniformly unselfsh as moth
: er's surely; for though she leaned on El.
e len as the strong staff of her declining years
she sorrowed not as we did, that she was
= going. She too was happy in the thought
s that her child had found that pearl of price,
: in cold aud evil word-a true, noble, low.
n ing heart to guide and protect her. f@
t Father sat silent in the chimney corner
!, reading in the family Bible. He was look
!. ing further than any of us--to the perils
n that wsuld environ his dearest daughter, ane
e the privations that would come upon hel
8 young life, in that unhealthy, uncivilzee
q corner of the globe whittier she was going
: Both our parents had dedicated their chill
Q dren to God; and they would not cast ever
h shadow On the path of self.sacrifce ant
IT duty their darling had chosen. I.t
n To come down to the unromantic little
Il details of wedding preparations; how w
a stitched and trimmed, packed and prepared
IS stoned raising with tears in our eyes ant
II seasoned the wedding cake with sighs. Blu
h there is little use in thinking over these
n things. Ellen was first and foremost in all
,r as she had always been in any emergency
great or small. Nothing could be mad
rs without her. Even the brides cake wa
re taken from the oven by her own fair hands
e, because no one, servant, sister, or ,evel
ID mother, was willing to run the risk of burn
e ing sister Ellen's BRIDES cake; and sh
tn knew just how to bake it.
~ We were not left alone in our labors, 70
to Ellen had been loved by more than tn
70 home roof sheltered. Old and young, poe
~ and rich united in bringing their gifts, re
r. grets, blessing to the chosen companion {
be the pustor they were soon to lose. Ther
is something in the Idea of missionary lii
that touches the sympathy of every hcal
which mammon has not too long seared.-
ry To see one, with sympathics refnemen
ry like our ewn, rend the strong ties that bir
no to country and home, comfort and civiliz
ler tion, for the good Of the lost and degrade
on heather, brings too strongly into relief
Ter contrast the selfishness of most human hv'
,ly led among the gayeties and luxuries oftim
no The day; the hour came. The ship VI
led to sail from B. on the evening week, and
-. vn.,.t o,.,o,, - ~;JoI~4