Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-12-03
From Glesson's Pictorial.
the DISCOVERED SECRET.
BIZ MISS LUCY BRADSHAW.


GRACE OsaooD was one of those kind
hearted smiling, sunny spirits that seem
to have been born under happy star, and
whose province it is to take the evil and
the good that Providence sends with an
equal degree Of philosophy, and Who, in
shoYt, reasoned that as life has real ills
enough to burtben the spirit with, she was
not inclined to add heaviness Of soul to
the balance. But then Grace had good
cause for gladness and cheerful spirits
Heaven had blessed her with the very
sweetest face imaginable, lit up by pair
of soft blue eyes that went straight to
your heart every time they rested upon
YOU, and voice that was never out Of
tune, because it was in such complete har-
mony with her kind and gentle heart
Grace was young, handsome, and the pet
of parents able to indulge her in all
reasonable desires and why shouldn't she
be happy3 aaa d
Grace was natural--vcry natural in all
her tastes and habits. She rose early in
the morning, and went early to her couch
at night; for she was country girl, and
knew none of the Establishments and art
full allurements Of town life. The opera,
the theatre, the ballroom, were to her
quite the same thing as the descriptions
she read of the last court fete, or the open
ing of Parliament, or the coronation Of
the new Emperor Of the French. Grace
had never seen or personally realized any
Of these True, she had often been to the
city, but it was only for few days, and
then under such strict chaperonage of her
parents, who ignored all such vanitics as
the theatre, that she saw little beyond the
immediate society with which their city
visits made them acquainted, and she
generally returned to her fathers spacious
house and finely managed estate, with
much the same feelings that might be sup
posed to actuate a bird freed from the
bondage and restraint of its cage.
Grace had an abundance of occupation
to employ her, besides her regular course
of studies Her father, who, in early life,
had made divinity a study, had, on arriv-
ing at the age of twenty-five years, when
he married, fallen heir to large fortune (;
and not relishing the idea of the ministry
as regular calling, retired upon the ample
means he now possessed, and occupied his
time between such literary pursuits as were
most congenial with his tastes and the
overseeing of his large property. Added
to this, he conducted the studies of Grace,
and undertook the task Of being her sole
instructor She was an apt scholar, and
loving her father better that all else on
earth, she needed no other prompting to
induce her to strive with her stdies, than
an approving word from him, or grati6ed
expression from his lips, at a realization
of her admirable proficiency.
Grace had already mastered Latin,
italian and French was we'll read in
English history, and thoroughly practised
in the rudiments of good English educa-
tion, besides being qaite proficient in
music She was but eighteen at this time
but her healthful habits, and the constant
exercise that she had accustomed herself
to, from very childhood, had developed q
frame naturally delicate, to the fullnes'
and perfect beauty of womauhood. She
would leap on TO Romulus, her favoritC
horse, and dash off for ten miles ride
and back again without a thought o.
fatigue. She tended her flowers constant
ly, watered the plants with her own hands
walked to the top of the neighboring hill
two miles of, and back again, often before
breakfast, and feeling richly repaid by thu
splendid view its summit yielded of th'
wiudings of Hudson River, or Of the loft,
points of the banks along its romantic
course Grace was no sickly city belle
but real Di Vernon, such as Scott woul,
have loved to describe.
Her mother was kind hearted, pains
taking lady of forty, who loved he
daughter aud only child, but who was o
such domestic turn of mind as to b
entirely satisfied with her husbands as
suming the entire charge of Grace, an,
thus the daughter grew up with devote
love for the father, and tender regar
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