Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-05-27
THE TALKING SHELL:
4 Tale fer Little People.
coNcLupHp.

we're TAKEN IRON the pts ID WHICH they nae
been buried, and carefully examined by their
captors. The Pearl whose story am mar
rating far exceeded in beauty all others
which the fishers had obtained, and a hun.
dred merchants consnded for the possession
Other. For days she was exhibited BY her
master, who seemed never 20 tire Of praising
her form and color, until she almost forgot
her past suherings in the praise which she
excited. AT length merchant vas found
70 give the large sum required for her pur-
chase and by her new possessor the Pearl
was carried to England, and confded 10 the
care Of skiiiful artisan, who made for her
delicate framework of gold, attached to a
chain Of the came precious metal. When
the Pearl found herself thus arrayed, all her
former pride returned, and she no longer re-
GREETED her rocky home beneath the sea.
THE merchant himself was childless, bat
he had a niece he loved very dearly, named
Adeleve; and it was for her that he had
bought the Pearl, and had placed it in its
costly setting Achieve was very beautiful.
and, like the vain Avicnla, she knew it and
was satisfied to be only beautiful You can
judge how proud she was Of her uncle's gift.
and what use she made Of it. Achieve had
an lido"
What an idol like the ugly Joss in the
9rawing.room said Laura
'DD not interrupt me, continued the She'll
This idol was Enclosed in shrine which
was made of the clearest crystal, ana, a gilt
tering substance made Of the purest silver.
But, although the shrine was very curious.
the idol was still more wonderful, for its fea-
lures, which were remarkably beautiful,
would change their expression twenty times
day, and yet always bore a strong resem-
blance to those of Adeleve In fact il was
almost like herself
"Adeeve was never so happy az when she
decorated this image, either with flowers or
gems, or golden ornaments; and as soon as
she received her uncle's costly gift she has
tened to the shrine and hung the Pearl upon
the forehead of her idol The figure smiled
while an expression of great delight beamed
from its eyes, and Ade.eve thought it had
never looked so beautiful Hour by hour
would she stand and gaze upon the object OF
her alteration, negleeting for is worship her
studies and her duties
at was not always that the idol smiled J;
for at times when Achieve had been using
violent words and INDUCING in angry pas
sions, it would assume strange, forbidding
look, which was perfectly frightful, and Ad
elevo would turn away from it and weep with
vexation. These angry moods were of such
constant occurrence that it was wonderful
the idol preserved its beauty, or that Achieve
retained servant to wait upon her; and it
WAS only by large brides that the depend
cnts other mother consented to submit to the
treatment which they received -Even the
Pearl though proud of being the slave Of
such lovely mistress, was often ashamed
of the scenes of violence and waywardness
which it was compelled to witness.
"Adeleve had but one friend, her cousin,
Mary Merton; for her early playmates had
grown tired Of her caprices, and annoyed by
her passionate disposition; but Mary Merton
bore patiently with her cousins ill-humors,
and only remembered her acts of kindness
towards her; though She from her gentle.
ness was more exposed than any one else to
be treated slishtingly by the young beauty.
Mary was a year older than Adeleye, and
could lay no claims to any personal attrac-
tons Her features were irregular, and her
eyes OF no decided color; but there was ever
an expression of genteness and good nature
in her face, which more than made amends
for the absence of beauty. She was always
dressed very plainly, and seldom wore any
other ornament than n iower or bow of gay
colored ribbon, thus presenting Il marked
contrast to her more wealthy and beautiful
cousin but her mind and disposition had
been more carefully trained, and all who
knew Mary Merton loved her. Even AIDE
leye did so, as much as her own sclilove
would allow her to esteem another; but she
never failed in her own mind to draw unla-
vorable comparisons between her own per-
sonal advantages and the plainness of Mary
Then Adeievc would wonder that her cousin
should be always happy and contcntcd, when
even she, whom every one praised and ad
mired, was so frequently annoyed and dis
satisfied. AS she had never been taught to
consider the feelings of others when she de-
sired her own qualifications she one day ask
ed Mary if she did not wish she was beauti-
ful?'
"Not |, replied Mary, laughing mcrrily
"tor not even Fortunatus $ wishing-cap wo'd
make me so Mamma would have nothing
to tease me about if had not pug nose
ana we often laugh heartily because papa
will not admit that it is like his own Many
and many kiss has my poor little pug gain
CT for me lecause it has been made a lest
OF.
"Adeleve thought these were strange rea-
sons to make any one satisfied with u pug
nose. She wondered what could reconcile
her to her straight haxen hair
But surely you would like hair that wo'd
curl Mary 2 asked the beauty
"Wcll, if it would always curl replied
her merry cousin; but you know | ike to
have the wind blowing about my temples
when | am gathering wild flowers in the
fields; or when my good spirits run away
with me how sadly | am disposed to be u
romp My straight hair never gives me any
trouble then; and often hear merry heart
ed girls like myself confess that they would
do us do but for fear of disturbing their
ringiets No, Achieve, | am quite contented
To have straight hair, since it allows me to
enjoy the good spirits with which God has
blessed me-
"Adeieve pitied her poor cousin thinking
In her own ignorance how much she had to
regret Ii was with this conviction that one
day they were to9etherin her dressing room
Achieve proposed to her to accept one of the
beautiful dresses which her uncle, the mer
chant had given to her
y Gu are very kind, dear Adeleve,' said
Mary but | connot accept your pretty
dress 1t is quite suited to YOU; but this
huS'in 'rock, with its bright cherry-colored
bows, is more fitted to me and to nv station
You forget that papa is not so rich as your
mamma
What has that to do with it 2? asked Adj
eseVe, little angry ut the rejection of her
oher,-'W What has that to do with it?
Much, my dear cousin, replied Mary,
with smile; much more than YOU NAV
tank. should be obliged to tell everybody
tins dress is present from cousin Achieve,
or papa would be thought to be extravagant
anu foolish TO buy me such an expensive ma
ter'nl Besides, | have sisters
Surely they would not be censured for
your appearance said Adeleye
No, dear cousin" replied Mary, "but it
would be wrong of me to incur the chance of
giving them pain; and might do so by APP
pear'ns so much more splendidly dressed
than themselves.
Well, they might be ANNOYED, for what
should care, said Achieve; 81 wouldn't
dress myselfa fright to please anybody"
=. Il hope am not quite fright replied
Mary with laugh; land | deny myself no
thing IN refusing what you so kindly offer !;
yet would do much to please you
Well, you do that | must acknowledge,
said Achieve; aud why, am at loss to dis
cover