The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-08-14
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From the Ladies' Wreath
ELEANOR.
DY MIRIAM y. HAMILTON.

have but an indstinct recollection
of my mother, fresh, bright, girlish
creature, who died when | was too
young to realize the loss l had sustain
ed of my father l remember not much
more, for soon after my mothers de-
cease, he placed me, his only child, at
boarding school, and went to Europe
where be remained during the remainder
of his life. He wrote me occasionally
kept me abundantly supplied will
money, and sent me on each birthday
some elegant and costly present these
marks of affection pleased me, but
longed for something more and wher
I saw the meeting of parents and chill.
dren at the close of term, and hearo
my schoolmates talk of home and it,
Joys, I envied them, and would gladly
have exchanged all my costly trinket'
for one warm embrace from my father
or for the privilege Of having home
NY vacations were spent with one or
the other Of my fathers three sisters,
who treated me kindly, but who | felt
instinctively, did not love me. l was
not prepossessing child | was plain
in person, reserved and shy in manner.
NV cousins did not like me, and at
school l was no favorite. | was always
good scholar, yet my teachers while
they praised me, and held me up to my
schoomates as an example for imita.
tion, in their hearts preferred to me
many pupil far my inferior in attain
ments.
| saw it all, but was too proud tc
betray the pain it caused me. l grew
even more distant and naughty, and the
result was my more complete isolation
from all around mel could not have
been more entirely alone in the desert
than | was in that crowded school
building. / was pronounced proud,
cold and odd How little they knew
me How 1 yearned for lovc-how |
longed to be one of the merry groups
who met to talk sportivcly together in
the long hall, or with arms entwined
lovingly, walked in the garden
There was one sweet, loving girl who
did attempt to gain my confidence.
She was one of those happy mortals
who possess a charm that draws all
toward them, key which unlocks all
hearts: what it was | could never un-
derstand but all felt it. She was
neither remarkably beautiful, graceful
or witty, but never have | seen any
one so irresistibly charming as she was.
How 1 envied her magic power against
which l alone was proof. At times |
almost hated her, and when she sought
to win my affections, l coldly repulsed
her for l had heard whispers among
the girls that Dora would tame the
lion,' as they called me, and was de-
termined that her arts should be baffled.
| would not see then what l now know
was the case, that her true kindness
and warm heart alone Influenced her in
her advances towards me. After my
cold repulse of Dora, | was left to my
self again. l buried myself in Imy
books, studied, read and wrote but all
my labors would not still that craving
after the affection which was denied me.
The monotony Of my life grew almost
insupportable. longed for change
and it came
| received a letter from my father,
in which he informed me that be was
married, and that he and his bride
would sail for New York in the next
steamer. He added that he had com
missioncd one of my unclcs to procure
house in that city, and make all ne
cessary arrangements, and that he
wished me to meet them at our resi-
dence on their arrival.
was delighted-at last l was to
have a home, father, and a mother
Not even the dismal forebodings OF my
A.. Al trAn ha