Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-04-01

shrewd SUSPICION that the daughter who though
tia sufficient excuse for shameful personal neg
lect that there was no one present but her moth
er. would, as a wife, be equally regardless OF {
husbands presence While pursueds these re-
Elections, my feet invountariy drew nearer and
still nearer TO the light, which had been the
loadsone of my opening manhood. had con-
tnued to meet Mary in the gay circles | fire.
quente1. but had lately become almost strang-
er to her home. Shall be welcome guests 2
said to myself as / crossed the Threshold
Shall find her en- deshaJittc likewise, and dis
cover that feminine beauty and grace are incom-
patible with rainy EVENING" / heard sweet
voice reading aloud as | opened the door, and
knew it was the voice which -was once music to
nv ears. Mary rose at my entrance, laying her
book quietly on the table, and greeting me with
alnodest grace and self-possession percullar to
herself. She looked surprised, little embar-
rassed, but very far from being displeased. She
made no allusion to my estrangement or neglect,
expressed no astonishment at my untlmely visit,
nor once limited that, being alone with her moth
er, and not anticipating visitors, she thought 1t
unnecessary to wear the habiliments of lady
Never in my life had seon her lcak SO lovely.
Her dress was perfectly plain, but every fold
was arranged by the hand of the Graces Her
dark brown hair, which had natural wave IN
it, now uncurled by the dampness, was put back
in smooth ringlets from her brow, revealing
face which did not consider its beauty wasted
because mothers eye alone rested Oh its bloom
\ beautiful cluster of autumnal roses, placed III
glass vase on the table, perlumed the apart.
ment and bright blaze on the hearth ditfused
a spirit of cheerfulness around, while it relieved
the atmosphere of its excessive moisture. Mrs
Carlton was an invalid and suffered also from
an inflammation Of the eyes. Mary had beer
reading aloud to her from her favorte book
What do you think it wasl 1t was very old
fashioned one indeed No other than the Bible
And Mary was not ashamed to have such fash
ionable young gentleman as then was, to sec
what her occupation had been. What contrast
to the scene had just Quilted How loatheo
myself for the infatuation which had led me tt
prefer the artificial graces OF belle to this pure
child of nature! drew my chair to the table
and entreated that they would not look upoT
Inc as stranger, but as friend, anxious to bt
restored to the forfeited privileges OF an Old ac'
quain:ance. ! was understood in moment,and
without a single reproach, was admitted again
to confidence and familiarity. The hours had
wasted with Theresa seemed kind ofmesmerl(
slumber, blank in my existence, or, at least,
feverish dream. What do you think of rainy
evening, Mary y" asked |, betole left her.
81 love it of all things rer!ied she, with an
imation. There is something so home-drawng
So heart-knitting, il its influence. The depen
denotes which bind US to tie world seem with
drawn, and, retiring within ourselves, we learr
more of the deep mysteries Of our own being.
"Mary's soul beamed from her eyes, as it turn
ed with transient obliquity, towards heaven
She paused, as if fearful of unSeang the foun
tains of her heart | said that Mrs. Carlton wa:
an invalid, and, consequently, retired early t
her chamber. but fingered till a late hour. MOI
did 90 till | had made full confession OF my
folly, repentance, and awakened love; and, a
Mary did not shut the door in my face, you ma.
imagine she was not sorely displeased."
"Ah! know who Mary was. knew all th'
time! I" exclaimed George, locking archly at Aun
Mary. A bright tear, which at that momen
fell into her lap, showed that, though silent
she was no uninterested auditor.
"You haven't done, father" said little Ann
lin disappointed tone. 81 thought You wer
going to tell story. You have been talking
about yourself all the time."
u have been something of an egotist, to b.
sure, my little girl, but wanted to show m.
dear young friend here how much might depen'
| on rainy evening. Life is not made all OF sun
, shine. The happiest and most prosperous mus
have their seasons of gloom and darkness, ant
woe be to those from whose souls no rays @
brightness emanate to gild those darkened hours
, | bless the God of the rain as well as the sun
shine. can read his mercy and his love as wei
in the tempest, whose wings obscure the vislbl
glories of his creation, as in the splendor OF tn
rising sun, or the soft dews that descend atte
his setting radiance. began with metaphor
said rainbow was drawn on the clouds tina
lowered on that eventful day, and that 1t sti
continued to shine with undimnshed beauty
Woman, my children, was sent by God to be tn
rainbow of mans darker destiny. From tn
glowing red, emblematic of that love whic
, warns and gaddens his existence, to the violet
melting into the blue of heaven, symbollcal
, the faith which links him to purer world, he
blending virtues, mingling with each other
5 beautiful harmony, are token of Gods mere
here, and an earnest of future blessings IN thos
! regions where no rainy evenings will ever com
to obscure the brightness of eternal day"