The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-04-22

the narrow dooryard, laughing till tn
air rang with echoes What would
not have given for one unprohibite,
race outside the brown gate, which
seldom passed through save on Sunday
Sometimes, too, [ came very near ha
ting our uneventful lives, child though
I was, and yearned for something, N,
matter what, 30 break up the continued
routine of eating, drinking and sleeping
reading, running, and patchwork.
But restriction and rebellion boil
had an end at last. One wild, wet, sob
bipg October day, kind neighbor lift
ed me in her arms to take my farewell
look at the only friend God had evel
given me. / was unused to the solemn
whiteness of her face, and the still fold
ing together of her busy hands, ane
when the woman who held mo talked O
death and eternity, and how good must
be if I ever wished to see her again,
comprehended only enough to make me
nestle down closer against her shoulder
in mute spasm of terror, wonder and
childish grief.
A powerful pooty child that what
will become of her ?" queried woman
bad never seen before, of my friend. ]
remember as if it had been yesterday
her stiff, brown merino dress and steel.
bowed spectacles.
A sigh and shake of the head was
the only reply she elected.
suppose theoid lady left a leetle
property, didn't she ?" asked another, a
| lady with very sharp nose, and eyes
that glittcred like coal.
Another shake of the head followed,
and looi: of surprise passed between the
two questioners. Afterwards came the
dreary funeral, and the hustle of the
country auction-sole, aud the woman in
brown mcrino and the woman with the
sharp nose went away, and was carried
home by the one who hal taken care of
me through the whole.
Looking back from the ease and COM
fort which surround me now, 1 can
hardly realize the years that followed
years of toll, Of childish experience
wrestling with poverty, of tender hands
wriugiug scauty subsistence from la
bors the most severe. Mrs. Jarvis, my
sclf-iustalled guardian, was kind but
poor, and a life of dependence in her
hor sshold was not possible for me. AT
first there were liwht chores about the
house for me to do, bus rs I grew older
and stronger my sphere Of employment
widencd, until there was no one in the
village but knew where. to come for
" help" in time ofnecessity. L became
mistress of all trades-now a seamtress,
kitchen girl or cham Der r-maid; and anon,
attendant in nurseries aud sick rooms.
Was it any wonder that knowledge
of my beauty came to me like a revela,
tion from Heaven? Here was tri-
umph. The scornful Misses Sears,
whose dresses I helped manufacture,
and who passed me with such supercili-
Gus glanccs, had, each of them, red hair
and freckled faces. There was enioy-
ment for me in the thought that
they would have given half their
fnery to exchange looks with me- A
similar consolation reyengcd me upon
Jenny Gleason, the greatest heiress in
town, for venturing sarcastic remarks
touching my menial condition and proud
manners.
At last grew almost to worship the
features that looked out at me from my
little mirror. Nothing which my limi-
ted means allowed, in the least calcu-
lated to heighten or set forth my charms,
did I begrudge myself the means to OBJ
tain. I remember the stories 1 had
read, of maidens marrying above their
station, of great men stopping to gather
to their hearts humble women whoworo
upon their faces the marvellous gift of
beauty; and my joy heightened to ambi-
tion.
My fate came sooner than expected.
Not more silently or imperceptibly do
the budding violets of April gather up
their blossoms, than my heart took in
the richness and strength Of love that
decpened and hroadened till the pass
tomato waves had swallowed all my life.
I was employed as nursery maid in
the house where first met Leonard
Sherburne by accident we became ae-
quainted, and finally friends. saw him
attracted ut first by my face, drawing
nearer and nearer to me every day, in
spite of our unequal circumstances, and
1 gloried in my power I saw that pow
or deepen, till the whole fabric of'his
proud life swayed to and fro beneath my
in flnence.
Nor did my own heart remain sta-
tionary all this time. The affections
that had laid dormant ever since my
grandmother went to heaven, sprang in
to luzuriant life, and wound their bios
soming tendrils about their new friend.
He installed himself my teacher, and
a new world was open to me, the word
of intellect. With him for instructor
loornin0o Nv ranid