Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-12-26

During this conversation the little
Igirl had crept silently in, and now
crouched down at the side of her
dead mother. She did not weep. but
looked utterly heart broken. In pity
the lady gazed on her, and well she
might. So slight q figure! SO fragile
d frame! The little hands, like BIRDS
claws; the large, beautiful eyes, pre-
ternaturally lustrous; the small En-.
glish mouth, grieying, and q. bright
crimson burning in her thin, dark
cheeks; the child was an object Of
sympathy. 4IjafsSf ..'.H1saafsi
The neglected Creole was laid at
rest in the grave, and the little girl
transferred to the home and heart Of
the kind English lady. Then might
be seen in that stately house, where
hitherto the footsteps Of infancy had
been an almost unknown sound a
beautiful child, in snowy robes, list
lessly moving about the balcony, or
striving, in her little way, to show
her gratitude by feebly playing with
the costly toys which the hand Of love
bestowed upon her. 8 Il -.sEE o.. +.
| For a time, it seemed as il the dis.
ease with which her mother died was
working its way silently through that
fragile frame to the vitals. And the
child's grief seemed to lend it wings,
for often would she start up in the
night, with that sorrowful wall: 'Oh,
Use got no nanny now!' Nor could
the sweet words and caresses Of her
foster mother begtil her Of her sor.
row; she would spread her wan fin.
gers over her face, and, as if wholly
tdesolate and hopeless, would rock her.
self to and fro. ~ I: ~ ,N,'.@- Z }5>tf
| Months passed and to loving eyes
there was q little improvement Wis
ible in the unfortunate, little stran-
ger. The childish form grew round
and full; the great blue eyes glared
less wildly, and there came. instead
Of the violet crimson, the softly sub.
dued tint of early spring roses. II =
| Yes, my little Ida is surely getting
well, said Mrs. Clermont one pleas:
ant morning. The darling, how she
has grown to my heart! never
thought to love q human being as
love her. How beautiful! how beau.
tiful she is! she still soliloquised, az
the now happy child gaveher an arch
! look oyer. her shoulder, and then,
with . merry laugh, continued hel
play. s-s -. 5>s..,. -, - :
| II would indeed have been difficult
to recognize. in the fairy-like being,
lchasing the sunbeams, the squalid lit
4 tie figure once bowling in rags and
| dirt by the side of the old hovel. A
robe Of spotless white hung, swayine
and shining, over her faultless figure
The dimpled arms were bare to the
shoulder, and fastened with knots Of
glossy ribbon. The dark thick hail
hung in curls even to the pretty shout.
4 ders, and the tiny feet were encased
\ in soft kid boots, that battered ovel
the thick carpet with the light foot.
fall of o fairy. 34,l4. m y sr.,.' !. Il
One day, o tall and very handsome
man inquired of the servant whether
Madame .Clermont was within, and
being answered that she was away
making calls, eagerly, asked: as there
a. child here they call ldaT ,nG..r-.
, The servant replied that there was
that Miss Ida was at that moment
asleep on the sofa in the .parlor. t.
Show me the way to her then" ex
claimed the stranger with much agi
tation. She il my little girl. Ian
the child's father. i .aers5. a.,..C.e,-gsf
With extreme reluctance-for, tt
the girls imagination, he had come
, to take their darling from her home
on the instant-she led the way t
the richly furnished room; and, OF
1.-THE strangers declaration that HI
should stay till madam Clermont re
turned, she left the apartment. Thl
gentleman, first pressing his harif
, hard upon his brow, moved softly tt
where fine white lace was thrown
, carelessly over the face and form Q
,, little Ida. She was sleeping sweetly
, one little hand under the rich curls;
! bright color mingling with the almos
, white complexion; the little lips roe,
red, parted in q. smile, and the lons
, silky lashes, so like her mother
sweeping the rounded cheek. .etEt
: my daughter-lny little daughter,
! murmurcd the stranger, sinking mp
: Oh his knees, with claspcd hands
while tears filed his dark eyes. M.
dear deserted little one, beautiful o
q dream. Oh, why have ] not cher
!, lished youl Why have 1 left you 70
!, strange hearts to love, while non
|, love mel . O God, thou art just r.
!. The aided, raising his fearful eyes,,
J. sShe who would have given her LII
!, for me-nay, has given it for the MAJ
I who left her to cold charity
! the sleep Of death, and my own chill
knows me not, 80 -, &
He bent over and kissed her; n
motion made her restless. He softi