Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-01-21


with me. A few weeks before. when We
were all forming plans for the approaching
holydays, | asked" Are you going home,
Miss Ena {" Home she echoed sadly,
have no home. shall remain With Miss
Palmer. No home; these words seemed
as kneH to every hope. Without a home
what were life Like dark and dreary
night without star AS [ thought Of
my pleasant home aud its dear inmates
who were impatiently waiting for my re-
turn, and how during the past five months
the thoughts of that sacred place had min
gled IN every duty, urging me on to higher
attalnments, saething sorrows, and
forming an event to which every circum
stance related, it seemed so dreadful that
Miss Ena, the child of song was homeless.
The thought, o! that I could share nv
home with her, gave impulse to my action,
as tWlned my arms around her neck and
exclaimed in childish glee-"O. Miss
Ena, go with me; my home shall be yours;
we'll have such nice times. must 90
and write to my mother that the dearest,
best lady Ia the world is going home with
me; and scarcely waiting for an answer
to my question, | bounded from the room
ana wrote to my mother and arranged eve
Iy thing. They were to send the carriage
for US the last day of the session.
Worn out with excitement, most of the
family slept soundly, the last night of the
session. | could not sleep because was
so glad was going home and in the lit
tie room next to mine [ heard the hurried
step at the still midnight hour and heard
stlied sob, so mournful, that rising has
tily | hurried to the door and asked if I
could come in. Receiving no answer, I
pushed open the door and saw Miss Ena
lying on the bed pale and careworp, her
tiny hands clasped tightly over her aching
brow. | slept softly to her bedside. Are
you Ill, Miss Ena shall call Miss Palm.
er? what shall do for you? els it YOU,
Nellie: you will not let him come" q Let
who come p | replied Suddenly recol-
lectlng herself she said-"O, nothing
must have been dreaming. I am weak
and foolish now; | shall soon be better
Give me the cologne and go back to bed.
Why were you not asleep, my little girl"
-. was SO glad that was going home.
could not sleep; and then knew YOU we're
unhappy. What makes you cry so much.
Miss Ena? Other ladies who are not so
beautiful and good as you are, laugh instead
OF cry. What troubles YOU? Has any one
been unkind to you?" for in my inexperience
could not imagine what could beethe cause
Of SO much -Waeoing. :: Can Ida- aru-t -ti.i.<---
No, no; my grief is not such as eartl,
car heal. Heaven alone will be refuge
from it ; when my faith is strong my sky is
serene. Clouds overcast it now I am
weak, my faith will grow stronger, brighter,
and shall be happier. Now go to sleep, else
you will not be able to travel tomorrow. and
what will your papa say to his wilful daugh-
ter p
went to my room, but not to sleep. I
wondered, planned and conjectured NV
beloved teacher was unhappy. I could not
assign any cause for it still | could not help
thinking that the tall handsome stranger had
something to do with her unhappiness. IF
not, why did he turn SO pale when he saw
her! Why did she start and gaze SO ear
nestly at him, and why did the pale lily give
place to the rose OBJ her cheek, when she
saw his noble form advancing. toward her.
Well, he was coming | had plan, for had
promised when | first saw her, will cheer
her heart; and so what hand could do |
would
rose early and commenced preparations
for our journey. Miss Ena, tranquil as ev-
er, though the dark fringed eyelid dropped
more languidly than ever, assisted in our
preparations and entered with lively inter est
IN all our plans for enjoyment. We were
busily engaged slowing away one article
place ready for use the next session
packing away books, coRgratulating each
other that we were free from school duties
Tor one month at least; and conversing as
earnestly as if the fate of kingdoms depen-
ded on the result of our observations. Bat
this did not prevent my casting ever and a.
non an axious glance toward the gate, to see
II the looked for gentleman was making his
appearance. AT last saw him. / must see
him first; must make some excuse to 90 down.
1 heard the door bell; l ran to open the door
and invited him in As I was school girl
and knew the rules of Etiquette were not
written especially for me, | was not in the
least confused by being in the presence of
the noble stranger.
Is Miss Clifford in ?" he asked politely.
She is, sir;" I replied. 81 will 90 and
tell her that you are bere."
20 Miss Ena, " / cried, almost before
reached her room, tn at same tall man with
dark eyes, that was here last night, is in the
parlor waiting to see you. Don't you wish
he was in Ethiopia? just as | was wanting
you tc put my tarlton dress away so it would
not get ruined, he must come. Well, I am
sure he has nothing to do but to wait so
fix it before you go; now, do, Miss Ena."
Well, if you will go and tell him | viii
be down in few minutes"
what l wanted to do all the time; for the
dresses were the remotest objects of nv
thought, and | should have cared little if she
mad lett the identical tarlton hanging in the
wardrobe. | delivered my message, and
seated myself, wishing he would say some.
tning; Tor was anxious to have a little mys
terry solved which no one could do, save Miss
Ena or Mr.. Howard +; and that was, the ex-
tent of their acquaintance.
"Well, you have a pleasant home here
have you not little Miss ?" he said kindly
Your teachers are very kind, and I sun
pose you love each other very much fn
Yes, indeed we do. Miss Palmer is good
and kind. but Miss Ena is IN angel. Noone
could be unhappy where she is We do love
her, and you would too, if you knew her."
Il knew her long before she came here
In beautiful New England Village we had
our early homes, and hand in hand we wan
dered over the fowery dales and beside the
peaceful streams, never so happy as when
thus engaged"
And was she always as beautiful, as good
as she is now ?''
AtN Sha 10 aYnI e.