Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-08-06


and the way inwhich l discovered it---ull
combine to give her very high place in
my regard. see that your curiosity is
excited, Hepfy, and viii tell you the sim
pie story, asit was told to me- This morn
ing, bought some fruit from very tidy
and pretty girl, girl, Of the nsighborhood, and
during the transaction, Helen passed us,
and, with very sweet smile, shook hands
with the fruit-girl and enquired how her
mother was. When she passed on,
asked the girl if she knew the lady. "Oh
yes" she answered. "and she is the best
lady in the world" Anxious to learn as
much as possible of the character of one
in whom you feel so deep an interest, /
asked the girl how she knew that Helen
was the best lady in the world2
II will tell you" she replied, with alac-
rity, "and then You will say the same
My mother was very i'll, little while ago,
and as We are poor, father didn't like to
send for doctor because he couldn't pay
him; SO l thought l would try to get the
doctor to see her, and pay him with my
market money. So I came up to the
Springs one evening, to make the bargain,
and in passing by little grove, I saw a
lady sitting alone, and going up to her,
asked if she would tell me where to find
the doctor. She asked me some questions,
and spoke so kindly and looked SO good,
that l just told the whole story. She then
took me to her room and sent q note to the
doctor--who came directly. After telling
him what 1 had said, she asked him to
visit mother at once, and as often as me-
cessary, and she would pay his bill. 1
tried to thank her for her goodness, but
couldn't just then, and when was going
away, she took me by the hand and told
me not to be uneasy, for she would see
that mother was we'll taken care of, and
that if / would come back early in the
morning she would go back with me
And SO she did; and every day, till moth.
er was out of danger, she went to see her
and sent everything that could make her
comfortable. This is the reason why say
she is the best woman in the world"
Snow you may learn from this little in.
cident, Henry, that selfshness is not the
sole motive Of Heien's kindness and char
ity; and you may learn further, from it,
that because woman has committed one
fault-even habitually-it does not follow
that she is totally depraved and can never
claim forgiveness though sincerely peni-
tent"
~ have never contended, he replied,
"that Helen has no redeeming traits; but
that an habitual Hirt must be Indifferent
to the feelings of others, and deficient in
that refined and amiable sensibility that
should characterize her sex. Hencefor-
ward, however, my lips are sealed, and no
matter how keenly I may feel the pangs of
disappointment, not syllable will utter
to her disparagement. But what would
you have me do, Ann? Must prosecute
the suit, under existing circumstances, at
the risk of my future happiness?"
mo; but ! would entreat you to proceed
with caution-tO take NO step you may
hereafter wish to retrace. would have
you remember that Helen has never known
the value of mothers precept and exam
pie, and then ask yourself whether an i'll
directed education may not have spoiled
good heart. Left almost, in infancy, to
the guidance Of her own impulses, with no
watchful eye to detect, and no loving hand
to restrain their evil tendencies, the won
der is, not that she has one grave fault,
but that she has no more.
"These are, indeed, palliating circum-
stances" he replied, t'and go far to ex-
euse Helen's errors, if they be errors of
the head only. But unfortunately, Ann,
the faults engrafted upon our characters
by education, are as deleteTious to social
happiness as if they were a part of our
nature; and the man who, in calculating
the chances Of connubial happiness, is
forced to discriminate in favor of the for
mer, runs fearful risk"
"That is true, Henry; but what is mar
riooa pow-o dave if not n faarf,,l riak
The parties nine times in ten, know moth
ing of each other except through the me-
dium of parlorintercourse, when both are
on their good behavior--studiously con.
cealing every habit, or trait of character,
that might prove repulsiye, and showing
off sentiments and virtues borrowed for
the occasion. And is it not better to know
the faults Of man or woman, before marri-