Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-12-01

and that it was all important that she should
choose one at least equal if not higher than the
one she occupies
"0h, perhaps it will be Bit of romance in
her life, chimed the merry-hearted Jennie.
at would be anything but romance to me
to step down to lower rank; she certainly
cannot hope to rise again ~ said Miss Willis
with eaTnestness, while an expression of scorn
lightly curled her proud lip.
The three as they sat there enjoying thus
their morning chit chat, formed group not al
together uninteresting.
Mrs. Greene, a lady scarce yet attained to
the prime of life, showed, as she sat in her
easy chair with rich piece of the half-fnished
embroidery in her lap-a countenance beaming
with light and smiles-but in which an aecus
I toned eye might trace a shade of diseontent.-
She had married some five years previous-with
a pure girlish affection-her heart beating
wildly with its heavy laden sweets of antiei
patea happiness. But she had found her
youthful delights in society-she had been
taught to look to gay, fashionable society, as the
| source Of enjoyment, but she had found that
wealth and fashion could not charm away the
trials and sorrows of life. No wonder she
trembled for the future happiness of Alice
Weston, for she felt that if in her position hap
piness could not be found, how pitialbe must
be the lot of those whose portion is daily labor
Oh, she little dreamed that she had mistaken
pleasure for happiness-little dreamed that
while the source of pleasure fails often, the
tount of happiness springing within the human
heart, pOurs forth its sweet waters, clear and
sparkling, and more free as life's trials unfold
to US the sealed secrets of the heart.
The sister-the gay young being on whose
head some seventeen summers had shed their
wealth of golden hght-so artless, guieless did
she look in her simple white morning dress, one
would feel as they gazed upon her that there
was the pure beauty of the half-blown rose.
Miss Willis, in the expression of her dark
eye, in her classic outline of feature, and her
dignifed demeanour, told plainly that she as
pired to rank and position high in the worlds
acceptation. For this she had acquired graces
and accomplishments, the highest to be attained
Musical talent of high order and fully cultivat-
ed lent its mystic charm, and the need of
praise due to artistic skill had fallen in delicious
tones upon her ear.
She seemed one who possessed intuitively
the knowledge that it is the nature of mind to
rise-ever onward, ever upward is its natural
tendency, surely as the humble plant looks and
starts and grows upward toward the light of
heaven. But the light toward which her mind
turned was not that pure light, ennobling and
purifying in its influence, but twas the bor-
rowed light of fame and honor, enfeebIing, pois-
oning to the very soul. Fain would we see re.
moved the false eolors of life which they have
so brilliantly painted; fain see the veil lifted,
and the inner life of the heart revealed to them
But could We turn in this same hour to the
one who thus forms their theme, we would find
IN strange comparison to the staid dignity of
hiss Willis, the meek, calm dignity of true
womanhoOd pictured in the countenance of
Miss Weston, as she gathers around her her
little group of scholars Truly, as each little
leaf and timid flower turns in all their tender
ness to the light of the morning sun for strength
and beauty, so does each infant mind, placed
under her care, turn to the sunlight of her
presence, to grow and expand by her aid and
as the gentle dew is exhaled from the flowers,
so the dew of affection arises from their hearts
to gladden. hers, and soothe the heat and bur
den of care.