The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-02-19


reveal the light or darkness which umes or black.
ems the holy altar wherever heart true, loving
heart should but alas, too often does not throb to
high and noble emotions ...s
said you were strangers to my little pet,though
you meet her very often. Yet | who have been her
friend and confdants could reveal to you depths
Of soul, Of passion aud Of feeling, which you dream
not lie folded away in those calm, clear eyes, whose
glances trace no memento upon your minds There
Is, after all much in name so will give my he
roine the romantic one Of Evalyn. Eva was a
strange child, or should say. she never knew the
sweet, wild buoyancy Of that happy period, for
illness with weary hand crushed out the cheerful
gladness which SO wins the affections toward
childish loveliness. Time fitted on, leaving the
rose-hue upon cheek aud lip, yet it brought no
elasticity to her step,-no gladstone gush of hap.
pness to her heart. She knew that heavy weight
Of sorrow had fallen suddenly upon their household
that the pleasant, almos, lxurious home had been
exchanged for q very humble one, e,--lhat soon the
kind and loving father became morose, often times
quarelsome and brutal and that her mo theirs face
grew pale and eare-worn her step slow and fee
gently scaled their eye-eds, that trembling mother
came and knelt beside the couch where she la,
and near which slept her little brother, and with the
deep earnestness Of a bursting heart poured forth
the agony Of her soul in prayer
At last it came--that fearful tidngs Tho hus-
band and father was no more He had fallen from
the foot-bridgc into the stream below and sank with
scarce struggle.
My dear young friends, you have all OWNED the
terrible foc that wrought such ruin and d,solation
in the home Of my little heroine will not name
i, Ia your happy circle lest the loathSome, hated
sound fall like an omen Of evil over your joyous
spiri,G Would to Heaven, it were the last home
over which the reeking aood-gates Of the demon
curse might close, forever darkly down.
Eva was now near fifteen, aud it was few
months later that b,cam. acquainted with her,
| wos one day sitting under the piazza Of the
- House, watching the various passers-by,
and idly wondering what the life history ofeach
might be, and how many Of that ever changing
thronS marched to III: thrilling music Of high
and generous aspirations, or ,roIc to the weary
| mouoiy Of alving death the slow. lingering
death uf all the good and b.autlfi which God
hath implanted in the soul for gr at ani worthy
purposes. My dreamy reverie was interrupted
by the grn,lc toms of little girl, who. may
as well tell you, was Eva. ! hai never before
seen her. but there was sweet simplicity, a
tnodr.st bashfulnrss about her, m;nging with
| shade of sadness. as OF tears crushed back upon
her young spirit,lrst hey should cast a shadow
over those she loved.
Timilly she en- u red il I wishal any sewing
, done. You all kn1w that | am an old "B ich, :"
an have. therefore, no one to look after missing
buttons for m, or do tn. thousand necessary
triA's. which after all, makes u, so large a sum
of mans comfort ani happin SIS. | cannot tell
you why but felt irresistably drawn toward
the sweet child. an promptly answered in the
affirmative, although had that morning given
all the work needed for tim, to another
Having learned her address. and promising tn
s'nd work. she tripped lightly away.
That evening found ms in Eva's home,--an
humble one. but veiy tidy AMI pleasant despite
the absence Of almost all that constitutes com
tort or convenience. Mrs. Holmes was pale and
weak from long protrsctcd mental suffering and
subsequent unremitling toll, but lady-like in sp.
p-arancr ani polished in manners. Already
felt strong sympathy and respsc ct for the moth
er, and love for the child. This they must have
LEARNED more from the tone Of voice and man
ner, than from any words was enabled to ut
ter. How quickly the wounded, stricken hear
leaps from its great SORROW, to meet sympathiz
ing looks, friendly. cheering words cen though
they glance from stranger eyes,or fall from sran
ger lips! Ere left, that night, had Learned
the history of that family, their hopes and fear
for the future. Eva was, in soul. woman, anc
through her sad. almost mournful eyes, looked
down deepi in her throbbns heart.and there reaC
: and earnest desire to throw her tiny arm' sroun,
r the loved ones, and in some way shield then
Q from the cold. dark storm showering pitilessl
6 upon them.
= Her mother possessing an excellent and hghl
cultivated mind. had not neglected the educa
u tion Of her daughter, which was even NOR
thorough and advanced than that Of most girl
is OF her age although she had attended school yer
D little. Since the fathers unhappy death, the
b. had supported themselves, and kept an only SO
b. and brother three years Evas Juniors at school, =
q by sewing that suicidal resource Of so many {
lie Eva's unfortunate descendants. had determir
oil ed to become the friend Of this worthy famil
ct and perceiVing that this employment would,
ID percevered in, eventually undermine the healt
ct Of both. conceived plan by which Eva migl
crafty the darling but unspoken purpose of HI
soul. and at the same time become tho benefs
at trese of others.
q A few days Ofterwsrd l placed in Eva's bar
to the key of pleasant little school room, telliT
se her to 60 on the morrow, and she would meet
,ly class of dozen scholars who would claim h
cd as their teacher These we're from the fsmili
In. of the poor. those who were unable to sci
nd their children to school, yet she was regular