The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1858-08-05

lest she should expire upon my breast
quickly laid her down on the high
grass, ran back to a living spring. which,
gushing from the rocks little way back,
ran across the road, and scooping out
the cool water in my hat, again spcedi-
ly hurried back. The maiden had re-
covered her consciousness. Hearing
my footsteps she slowly rose up, aiding
herself by an exertion of all her strength.
Her cheeks were again colored by pale
redneSs, and she thanked me with a
grateful smile.
" Are you very sick 20 enquired /.
With a soft, trembling voice, and the
same grateful smile, she replied, "not at
ALL"
drew out my. money purse, and in
stead of selecting any of its contents for
her, | presented her the whole sum, and
still thought had given but little
The girl blushed, and giving back the
gold, said :" | do not need so much"
!" At least, however" said l, "you
will allow me to accompany you to your
dwelling, as you are SO weak
6 1t is not far from here" returned
she.
/" Do your parents live there 90 ask
ed.
Oh, no." sighed she /" my parents
are dead, and | am an orphan. They are
distant relations, poor and good people,
who have had compassion on me. But
aside from the shelter of their hut they
are unable to give me anything. | tend
the geese, or carry milk, Or
Why" | asked, do You not go out
to service 20
=" cannot" was her reply, "because
then the old man m our cottage, who is
sick, would be deprived of care and at
tendance"
" And how old are you 20 l said
She answered, seventeen years.
Pursuing our conversation in this man
ner, We arrived at the girls dwelling
crazy hut, almost held together BY the
luxuriant ivy which enveloped it and fas-
tened it to wall of red and steep rock.
Everywhere within appeared all the indi-
cations of extreme poverty. and yet ev-
ery,hing was clean and neat. A woman
was engaged in washing at natural
spring, shaded by the foliage of high
elder bush. Inside of the hut by the
door, moaning on straw bed, lay an old
and gray-headed man. We took seat
on wooden bench, at short distance
from the ruinous dwelling, and through
the willows and alders we beheld spread
before us smiling prospect that stretch
ed beyond the river to the onnosite shore.
-" May i hAes se--.,', said the girl, to
partake breakfast Of fresh milk and
black bread ?"
| nodded eomplaisantly. Joy stream
ed from her eyes, and she rain, nay. she
flew away. During her absence l held
some conversation with the woman con-
cerning her foster daughter. She spoke
with warmth and affection of the poor
girl, who, she said, often labored to com.
plete exhaustion, and who was always
amiable and good. Cecilia was her
name. In short time the charming
maiden re-appeared. She placed the
bread and milk before me in a clean,
wooden vessel.
{" Cecilia" said /. "you inspire me
with compassion, for you are unhappy" +"
/ Her cheeks were clothed with bushes,
and her eyes, SO full of feeling, again
glistened with tears.
"Will you always remain beggar %
| continued.
"Poverty does not make me unhappy"
sighed she.
"Iwish to do everything for you," re.
sumed |, after pause : $ will procure
you new and suitable clothing; l will
furnish you with money for your travel.
ing expenses, and you shall accompany
me to my native town. | will also pro.
vide amply for your foster-parents. and
they shall hereafter be always shielded
! from want
! The foster-mothcr heard my words
Cecilia cast down her eyes with deep dis
quietude. The woman hastily approach.
ed us, and exhausted all her eloquencc
in advice to Cecilia not to reject such
good fortune. The young girl listened
without repugnance to the counsel, and
willingly obeyed. | gave the woman
money, and dispatched her to the village
IN order to purchase better clothes for hel
foster daughter. Cecilia also withdrew
and | was left alone. In little while
heard some stifed sobs. | recognized
Cecilia's voice, uttered in soft and sub
dued tones, within the hut. flew thith
er. a half-open door allowed me to see
the poor girl in her chamber. HcF bach
was turned towards me. She stood with
her hands clasped and raised to heaven
sobbing and weeping. and occasionally
distinguished some of her words : {. Thou
I" Thou hast beheld my tears" said she
overwhelmed by her emotions "Thor
hast counted my sighs oh, my God, my
God, how have l deserved that thot
should'st make me SO happy,''and tha
thou should'st send thy helping angel te
my foster parents 20
Prayer, when it emanates from sur
charged and oppressed heart, resemble,
tears. 1t plucks the thorns from misfor
tune, and takes from JOY its intoxicating
poison. sat down Oh the wooden bench
aue in a few moments Cecilia came on
with weeping eyes, We gazed fxedly u