True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-03-25
q RAGAN, Editor and Proprietor.

confused in,errogatories of her young
mind were seeking to mould themselves
into form, SO that those great emotions
should become great thoughts. All,
Mrs. Grey !! the diamonds were brilliant
that glowed upon your breast that night
but jewel of value untold was spurned
from your bosom when you drove that
little one from you.
A year yassed away. and the repulsed
affections of the child clung nervously to
poor Mary, for she had ever a gentle
smile and loving word. With delight
almost maternal, she had watched the
unfolding of this bud Of PROMISE and
though she often wearied of the bolster
Gus plays oflhe older children, she never
seemed it a task to talk with little Katie
it was very pleasant to mark the chang
ing expression of that lovely face, while
listening to the long beautiful tales which
Mary had learned just to relate to her
darling.
But all this time Mrs. Grey was en-
crossed with things foreign from the
mothers trust. She did not fail 10 con-
gratulate herself upon her own good for
tune in securing the trustworthy an midi
vidual to take charge of her children as
Mary, and this perfectly quieted the
conscience of the deluded woman. But
Mary was too young and frail to sustain
the weight of care which she had assum
ed.-She grew pale and thin, and when
the Physician came. and said that she
must go far away into land of pleasant
scenes and heallhful bleezes, little Katie
wept sorrowluly, yet she did not realize
that her "dear good Mary" woull 60
away and leave her behind. But the
kind governess departed, never to return
to the home of little Katie again. And
who was now left 10 answer the childish
inquiries 10 return the yearnng love of
her susceptible nature! Mrs. Grey
would fain have been thoughtful, earnest
and patient. even as poor Mary but she
was impulsive, beautiful, aud fond of dis
play, which last trait amounted to pas,
sion, making her selfish in the extreme,
and she could not appreciate the young
spirit whom God had entrusted to her
keeping.
Katie mourned piteously when her
dear governess was at last gone, and for
a time sought no one to supply the place
she had lett vacant but that little busy
mind could not solve every question of
its own propouuding, nor could that warm
young heart beat freely withou: sharer
in its lofty aspirations.
Her father was highly cultivated
and excellent man, but business called
aim much abroad, and he, too, failed to
apprehend the great want of his little
daughter. Katie found little companion
ship with those of her own years, and
though she often joined heartily in their
gay pastimes, she could not induce them
ito love that which she most delighted
in.
} One bland Spring morning, when the
air seemed permeated with coloring ol
peach blossoms and lilac flowers, and
zephyrs were gay with the new life oil
young buds and green leaves, Katie
Grey bent fondly above a bed Of fresl
blown violcts, as if spell bound by thei,
humble beauty, she would have deemed
it sacriege to sever one from its tender
stem, and thus destroy the life of augh
so lovely. Now the warm blood rushed
to her temples and the little hands were
pressed convulsiv6ly against her brow
anon that beautiful face grew pale, anc
then it was flushed again strong emo
tons were agitating her young breast
: Was she in converse with those gentlu
flowers and did she find in them a kin
: dred spirit? AS the breeze played pas
they appeared to her palsating with lille
she felt with unutterable pleasure, the in
fuence of their grace and freshness, ant
while gazing, she seemed assimilated It
them then she asked herself why the,
grew, and whether such beautiful thing
: could really die! Conjectures like thes,
may seem fancful and absurd to, NOR
J mature minds, but are they not the frs
$ unfolding of those high thoughts whic
y are The germs of noble action Though
(. is not formed to waste itself in words I
y reach lis ultimate in empty sound; bu
6 rather to become embodied in great an
u lnftv daads The suinuinu nf an nj