Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-03-31

traced in a delicate hand, which was not Aunt
Mattys; it could not be and no doubt con-
tanned information as to her parentage TOR
not even Leila knew anything of her parents,
save that her father died when she was small,
and that the day her mother died she told
Aunt Matte TO take care of Leila and be a
mother to her; and Aunt Matte cried and
said | will, while | live. | remember, SAID
Leila to Willie, my mother was beautiful,
even when she was sick her face was pale
except her cheeks they were rosy and her
eyes were very bright. She used to pray a
great deal and sometimes she took my hand
and wept and said-"Poor Leila, who will
guide you when | am gomez She gave me
a beautiful little bible, with a gold clasp, with
"Lelia Lyons engraved on it. 1t was hers;
the precious book which consoled her IN her
distress and | will never part from it. She
told me to love God and meet her In heaven.
| promised her / would, and kissed away the
tears which were in her bright eyes.
The next day she died! and oh, how l
wished that | too could die and be with her.
Aunt Matty left the beautiful little cottage
where mamma and | had been so happy, and
came here. | do not know the name of the
sweet little village where we lived, but |
should know it if | could see. shall never
forget it. Mammals grave is there. O, |
shall see it some day, | am sure / will. J.
thought | would be good and meet mamma !;
but Aunt Matty did not care for anthing good,
; and / had no one to help me. ! was getting
!, worse and worse. Mr.. Roberts did not tell
q xme what Mas right. But.mamma said God
{ would not orsakc me, and he has not for Efie
came and tried to teach me the right way,
and now | have a sister and a brother-my
T own brother Willie-and dear Aunt Mary ;
and poor Leila wept with emotions of graf
r itude.
n To Willie she was a kind sister, while be
4 loved her almost as he did Efie. Together
n they talked of books ard things, and manl
:. lessons he gave her in piety and WISDOM
: She at last was brought to bend low at tn,
= foot OF the cross, renouncing her own sell
&c righteousness and gave herself away. Lik
7, many others, she tried long and earnestly t
make her own heart good but she too ha
IT to cast away this, the last resort of the prou
heart and then peace and joy filled he
a heart,-that poor little heart whose youn
affections were scared and would have bee
~ finally wrecked, if the gentle heart and kin
Ill hand of Etfie Arlington had not taken her an
led her in the pleasant paths of truth and vi
tue. Did Fife regret the care which she ha
bestowed on the poor little orphan ? To h,
nd it was as 1.-The memory of past joys"
"a brought only gladness to her heart, for ST
r. had found a sister, afriend. Together they pu
" sued their studies under Mr.. Roberts, who loo
ed with amaZement on the change wrought
= Leila, the once neglected, pining child-u
lovely in disposition and disagreeable in h
on manners. Now, a graceful, beautiful gin
ing %sprightly, studious and affable. He cot
.ht only ascribe it to the gentle influence of Ell
ON Arlington. But he was kinder to Leila tn
formerly, though she was always afraid ofhi
the TO be continued.