True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-07-01
q SgIen6l6 Stotg.
'LIFE's CoNTRA s T s
THE DwELLERs AT moRELAND FARM.
.DY NARY Q, VAUGHAN.

ny MARY o, VAUGHAN.
Claudia Moreland, even in childhood,
was endowed with rare and exquiset beau.
ty that charmed the eyes and attracted
the regard of all who looked uponit. To
this radiant lovelness Of face, this glow
ing fairness Of complexion. those liquid
eyes Of blue, those sunny, cleaning curls
were added an indescribabIe gracefulness
Of undulating motion, and a vondrous
power and mobility of expression.
In those early days her whole being
was encircled by its appropriate a,mos-
phere--that of an entire and increasingly
walchful love. Her father was wealthy
farmer--a man Of education and refine.
ment, who priced intercourse with Nature
far above the conventionalsms and false
ness Of life among the great aggregates oil
humanity-a gentleman in the true and
literal sense Of the term. Her mother was
a wom;n tmiiently fi'ttd fer hers s|Lere,
an intelligent, practical housewife, with
brain, and eye, and hand equally alert
throughout The entire realm over which
she held sovereignty ye. able, by means
of an admirable system, which governed
all her household operations, 10 appear in
the presence of her frequent guests. and
always at her stated periods Of rest and
recreation. with that graceful repose
which characterizes the, true lady. The
daughter Of a New England clergyman,
as distinguished for his learning as for
his piety, she had been well and tho.
roughly educated and, in connection
with her husband, had instructed her
children at home, in all the rudiments OF
knowledge. Her sons had been prepar-
cd to enler upon collegiate course be.
fore leaving the PARENTAL roof, and her
daughters needed nothing to perfect them
in education (according TO common and
conventional ideas) except the years tut.
ton in modern accomplishments, which
they we're sent to neighboring city to
obtain. f3
Claudia was many years younger than
the other children of the family and the
halsehold would have been left desolate
without the joyous ligh, Of those voices
which the harsh tones of sorrow had new
er rendered discordant, had she not re-
mained, when they all were gone to, de-
light the eyes Of her parents with her
radiant beauty and her winning grace,
and 10 cheer their hearts with her loving
aways. ,s .'sralg t'gir
She hadever been the pet Of the house
hold, concentrating arorhd her its whole
mighty aggregate Of affection; but the
lime came when the names Of her young
sisters were spoken in grief broken tones,
or with tender reverence that follows in
to the tomb the. memory Of the beautiful,
early dead; and Claudia was left the one
daughter Of her bereayed parents. :
a A fearful and fatal epidemic had enter.
ed the boarding school where Claudia S
elder sisters were residing. Both we're
seized by its terrible symptoms, and be-
fore their agonised parents could answer
,.ahe hurried summons To their bedside
one was dead. me other fast sinking to.
ward The same fatal contamination. I,
Sc.rcelv wore these young forms laid
shsne.,h ~ ~rssr, cod of the l;t,le f.miIv
bnr;al aronn9 @ + SI ,h.n ia elder SON cams
]. home % die Az .,dsnt Snd entbusias.
III schnla," he hsd Iii ,hs Foundations ot
nremetura de..v at oolleas, ,9h0 h;s nm /.
scsasing devot;on - book,s While s,udv. /.
e,ing b;s nrofEsss;on III efo,,s had ,nays,
besn suasrsT - rsisy 1.bo"sh I AZ ;vss
,constan,lv warned by his falling health,
y H.Iosa,S ;;ust .t,bs ,nnloiion Of his
tseal,I Jsss sssi,"o III ~ 49, " of 4.
ssru,ss, nv wne,t @ Wy hOnI,aStss; p. bs
longer l,le seemed prlgnl,pe.ore n'm' ~
oslcAenea ano, ms stfeng'a lullsq g W.
ser wesSness before 'ne inroaas ,, ol ms
1onginiooen dlsease-.consumPuon, p ae
saw a.! ms hopes yahlshlng as leasp . oscN1
osoneo MN 1owara tne grim eatss @ !. ;ol asue ~
grave mi Moa'ns y q hGgering sSls.,ug % so,-