Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-09-14
LIT T. e K " .

LIT 4 ".
THE HIDDEN PATH. BY MARlos HARLASp
AUTHOR OF ALONE. Published BY j. c. DERBY
NEW YORK. COURTESY or Mr.. a. MoRKIs.l
Let this no6le production I'VE use the adjective ir
is fuiles; sense) lie upon the table, enlivcn the hearth
b. thu household companion of every true-hearted
N~irgiuian. Foster this gifted daughter Of the South
with the expanding sunshine Of appreciation, the re-
trcsaing dows Of praiae-stimulate undevelnpcd GO
mus, which has never yo, "penned lis inspirations" to
wa!k in her steps, emulate her achievements, and
share her honors,-!e let Virginia produce @ few more
sucl. writers, and the cry that the South has no litera'
trrs Of its own is silcuced forever? Tho Hidden
Path is q worl, that North or Son:h, East or Vest
Lay point 10 with the finger OF homes: pride and say,
,'sa~ la9sker sends this message TO the world--polrs
Ill, balm into wounded hearts-;races for waveripg'
e-r;n- fee; this Hidden Pa,b,' which leads t" the
great goal OF eterna! Peace
We extrac, one passage in which the authoress has
spoken through the lips Of her heroine, the utterances
Of nor own sou!-but spoken them in all modesty, with
oot dreaming that they would be applied to herself;
for her language i, Us free from all sell. slorifca:ion Us
tie spontaneous warbling Of 4 bird, whose song
ca.hss uuconsciously forth, because Heaven fashioned
il 10 sing.
The following dialogue occurs between Isabel 1.-THE
poe.ess) and Frank, her something more than friend,
though less than lover:
you used to approve of my writing, Frank. Did
] act unwisely during your absence! If you bud
been here when I was solicited to publish tho vol.
uu,o now In press, what would have been your coun-
cell"
Precisely what was given by those who know and
love vou best. / should have said, as l have done
since, Isabel you are a genius-ouSht not to, if you
eould-cannot, ii you would, conceal it. The sun
never says, 4 shine Light is his essence, without
which be would have 10 being. As spontaneously
generously do you di1use your radiance; %glorying,
lika him, in your strength, not because it is yours,
hu, that it confers happiness upon others. Are you
answered"
With an irrcpressible impulse OF gratitude, she
caught his hand aud bowed her face upon it.
His smile was yet more tender. "The suspicion
that l thought Of you, while describing the unnatural
prctendavs TO the name Of woman, was more unjust
20 Yourself than to me. II Won can forgive l will for.
get il. But the lau%rel-wreath, which they have
smc,hersd their hearts 10 obtain, ia ready for your
temples. 1t is your birth.right, voted to you, more
over, By the reclamation of your subjects; and you
will wear it royalty"
lido not want il. Frank! No woman covcts it,
while tho roses and pansies blossom within her DO
som. have no ambition to acquire fame. This is
why l wished You to understand me. am happy!
Not a flower peeps from beneath my feet; not n bird
MARBLES; not q breeze sighs. but has n lesson OF beau
" and goodness, and truth for Inc. | am never lone
l~v-nevsr sad. How can I be, when my heart is full
OF life and Joy, and love for all things, and Him who
made theml My friends lavish upon me what my
spirit mos: observation-disclosures my breast swells
with answering devotion. Before / knew life, l
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES blessed as myself, but
gradually, wondcringly, | became aware Of the mise.
~, tho self-love, the ignorance Of everything that
makes man most happy, that prevail in tho world;
and, with the authority of an inspired command, the
conviction dawned upon me that | had my mission;
that freely as l had received, it was my duty to give;
not merely TO those in the limited sphere Of my per-
,onal influence, but to the toi.ing, suffering masses
whom my pen could touch. l; is my scoptre. For.
merly il was my p%laything, handled famiiarly
for my recreation, and to promote the enjoy.
men, Of my home circle. | cannot tell You how
il: is epdeared, sanctifed TO me by its uses. A thought
like n bright. winged seraph from the CLINE Of the
~hlest-co.ne to me, diffusing perfume and light through
my heart know that far away, perhaps, all earth
wearied soul is sinking beneath her load, and l say
there is hope and peace and blessedness in store for
you! a.. to my sister, partakcr of my Fathers love, l
trin; you a message l have seen o flower, Frank
which, growing upon the upper stem, received more
Sunshine aud rain ,bsa It's .ow.ior mates, screened by
THO branches, ali ho~in:. I sent the ~glittering drops
down TO the wciting petals below. My cup brims-
overfows. Shal! l deny the refreshing shower to dry
and ,hirs:ing hearts, where no water is7 ] dare not
should deserve q curse il I did"
We DO not give a synopsis. Of the plot Of the book
for this ia TO forestall the render and diminish his in
tercs.-a practice .'morc honored in the breach thar
IN tho observance" Suffice it to say that the heroine
10 The daughter Of q Virginian planter her struggles
and trials perform the uses for which trials are sem
tho achievement Of lifv's great victorics-sucl
victories as the breath OF Fame never hcralds 10 al
approving world, but which angels voices trumpet OF
high. before TIT. throne Of their King.
The young au;horess speaks in the most atfectlonat'
manner Of Virginia, Of Virgiuia's dear old customs
aai Virginian characteristics; but tho enthusiastic
prlio with which she dwells upon her Southern home
j. !:er from II shadow Of sentimeptnlity or uttectati"n
May her gifted pen be tn, pioneer to many NOR,
ouch hidden Paths" Ak the one she has just explor
ed,