American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-01-29
MORGAN70WN MON0NGALlA CO, VA, FRIDAY JANUARY @ 1863

you wish to return, your old teacher 8
house is your home. And joined by
his wife, he again besought her to stay
with them, to give up teaching and be
their daughter, and they would be faith
er and mother to her. H
Minnie threw her arms around these
good old people and wept. 1t was a
sore trial for both, the thought Of part
ing with the good pastor and his gen
tie wife was almost as hard as the part
ing with her foster mother.
Mrs. Bell was to live with her pas
tor. Minnie made arrangement before
she went away, that she should pay
her board, but very reluctant was the
pastor to receive anything, but no 9TH
er way would suit Minnie, and so she
had her way.
Then came the round Of visits to the
sick and afflicted, not one did Minnie
neglect. AT length the morning came
when she was to leave her friends. A
sad morning was it at the old parson-
age. Kneeling around the altar of
prayer, Mr.. Norton prayed fervently
that Minnie might be kept pure and
spotless, that she might be kept from
all temptation and that their lives might
be spared that they might meet again
/ on earth.
! Long and silent was the embrace of
her foster'mother her heart was full
"Oh Minnie is it for me that you 90,
am I burden to .you?'
! "Mother my dear kind Mother, do
you think that 1 ever can do enough
for you? No never, never will you
become a burden to me, do not think
of such thing"
"Well Minnie, do not forget your
old Mother, you have always been a
dear good child to me; once more God
bless you my darling, and keep you
from all harm.
] Aftere tedious journey of several
days Minnie was set down ut Seldom
Hall.
She was kindly received by Mrs.
Seldom and family. True Miss Isa-
bella was little naughty, but Minnie
tried not to notice it. Rose she found
a sweet, shy, wee thing more like fai-
ry than anything else. Altogether
Minnie thought that she should soon
learn to love the whole family, Isabel
la not excepted, for Minnie ardently
loved the beautiful. in whatever form
she saw it, and Bella was very lovely.
Summer already lingering in the lap
of Autumn, and though she had been
warned by frost and chill winds, for
weeks and more, yet fingered as tho
10th to give up her places, but smiled
among fading leaves, and dying flow.
ers, softly as among the full glory of
June. The wood to the south of Sell
don Hall was still fresh and beautiful,
while at the north the verdure of sum-
mer was fast passing away. "The for
est was casting the leaf"
The squirrels leaping nimbly, and
chattering gaily among the frey tops
OF the oaks, that shot their shelving
trunks, and spread their forked branch
es far over the moss spotted and grey
earth. The graceful elms were yellow
as gold, and the redwood and gums a
gorgeous crimson. Far as the eye
could carry you, dotted with cotton
telds and rice plantations, the sur
rounding country looked like splen-
did picture, or a painted wall against
the sky, only far more sublime and
beautiful it was enchanting to the
beholder. Minnie's heart was full Of
love and gratitude, when she beheld
the magnificent scenery around Seldom
Hall. and clasping her hands she ex-
claimed: "Father, / thank thee, |
bless thy holy name for this beautiful,
this glorious earth. Oh if this world
is SO very beautiful, what must be the
grandeur and beauty of Heaven -
Long were the letters and frequent too
that Minnie sent to her friends at the
parsonage, enthusiastically praising,
and wildly describing Seldom Hall and
its kind inmates, and so the time pas.
sed swiftly by, and the year was at its
close before Minnie was aware of it, so
much had che been occupied with 9TH
er things that she took no note of time.
CHAPTER w.
Two years have passed since the
close of the last chapter, and Minnie
is still with the Seldons. Dearly does
she love her pupil, and as dearly is she
beloved by Rose Seldom.
Ihereois gay party assembled at
Seldom Hall. 1t is the birth,night of
Isabella. Mirth and gaiety are at
their height; and among all the lovely
! women assnmhlnd thnrn mana nn,lI