St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-02-19

stole over my mind. Truth, it is said,
is stranger than fiction. And. l be-
lieve it, All that you have related of
yourself-of what has befallen you
since you came to this city, might ca
silly occur, and it doubtless has occur
red Life is theatre ON whose stage
strange bewildering events are ever
transpiring | have seen enough tc
make me feel but little surprise at any
new change of scenes.'
Mrs. Grand, the name of the wo
man who here appears as the protec
tor of friendless girl, resumed the
chair from which she had risen when
Anna called her attention to old Mr.
Markland, and taking up some work
that had been laid down, commenced
sewing upon it. Anna followed her
example, after she had retired for a
few minutes to wash away the marks
of tears from her face. But the heart
of the young girl was too full. She
had not bent over her work many min
utes, before the tears were binding
her and dropping upon the hand that
in vain tried to direct her needle
Mrs. Grand saw this.
Anna, child,' she said, soothingly,
g 1t is vain to give up 50 to your feel
lngs. But, if you cannot yet control
them, put by your work, and go up in
to the chamber. Perhaps an hour
alone may restore your mind to a calm.
cr state"
No, ma'am," was replied. II do
not wish to be alone. | would rather
sit with you and sew. l will try to
control myself Though it is very
hard, indeed, to think of my mother,
whom | so deeply loved, and Of my
present condition, and yet be perfect
y unmovcd. Why am | not with her :?
Why am l left when she was taken
away?"
Tears now flowed freely over Anna's
face. Her words seemed to trouble
Mrs. Grand, who, letting her work fall
into her lap, drew her chair close to
that Of the weeping girl. Taking her
hand. she said
MY child, be sure Of one thing,
that, to murrnur at events over which
we have no control, is to do wrong.-
There is One who governs and guides
in all the affairs Of life for His crca-
turc's good, with uncrring WISDOM
Without Him, not sparrow falls to
the ground. He numbers the very
hairs of our heads. His love is ever
seeking to confer benefits. No event
takes place without His permission,
and, however seemingly evil an occur,
renee may be, He surely oycr-rules it
for good. This separation that SO
deeply distresses you, is no accidental
thing-nor has it taken place through
an evil agency. The hand of wise
and merciful God is in it, and it will
be better for you in the end that you
have been so sorely atflictcd.'
oh no-no ! Itcannot be bless
ing to lose my mother, Mrs Grand !;
my mother, who knew me better than
any, and loved me better than | shall
ever again be loved. 1t is not good
for young girl like me to losc her
mother
and yet, yours has died has God
done wrong to take her." ~,
There was a long silence.
Anna, you have been taught to
know that God in Heaven is our best
friend; tits He to whom we are indebt-
ed for all the good gifts of life"
- No reply was made to this.
y" You have read a great deal in your
Bible 2"
Anna was silent for time, and then
murmured--
"Not great deal"
Then you must learn to read it
very often !; it will lift up your
thoughts out of yourself, and cause
them to dwell in a calmer region. 1t
will teach you confidence in God, and
enable you to see that He not only do
eth all things for you, but doeth all
things well. Would it not produce an
entire change in your state of mind,
if you could really believe that your
mothers death was the best thing that
could have happened to vou?"
"Oh, but that cannot be it cannot
be best for young creature like me
to lose her mother; how can it be,
Mrs Grand ? Oh, no-no-no do
not try to make me believe that /; my
dear, dear mother oh, that Ihad died
with you !"
Convulsive sobs followed this ex-
preston OF her feelings deeply touch
ed by her grief, Mrs Grand drew the
head of the weeping girl down upon
her bosom, and more by atlectionate
caresses than words tried to sooth her
troubled spirit into quietness. She
lay thus almost motionless for nearly
a quarter of an hour, when she gently
disengag ged herself from the arms that
were thrown around her, and rising
up, retired; with her hand partly shad-
ing her face, to her chamber.
CHAPTER V. j.
About one year previous to the open
ing Of our story, on a stormy night in
November, Doctor Minor, a physician