Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-12-10

thirty years; very long, dark hair fell over the
brow which lcoksd like sculptufed marble in i,s
whituness eyes dark and Snnnhturslly bright
while che heotlo hesh burned upon ei,hsr cheek.
She he'd doubflcas bocn a Wofnan OF no common
beauty bus there we're fnFrovs Of care and trouble
marked too plainly upon her brow 10 Be mistaken.
] saw At q glance thai foul disoase-- consumption
had done iu work upon The frsii form before
me--that another Of its victims lay near upon
she consines Of eternity - that another weary
worm Of earth was about 70 shske on ifs clog of
clay and unfold IN bright wings IN the spirit land
'e-thnt the gentle Laura was indeed 70 become an
orphan. ! told her how 1 came 20 be visitor
there st that early hour, and asked permfssion 70
assist her In sending for friends, or procuring
Whatever she might need.
She informed me that her acqunintance was
limited, that she had % friends TO summon, that
she had, feeling her htns Of probation was short
sent her daug ghier 70 ask come kind neighbof IN, !,
to whom she could confde her life history and
entrust to their care messages Of affection 70 be
sent 10 her relatives, when she should be no
more Of earth--to inform them Of the place
where her sshes lay, and also 70 give instruc-
lions concerning the sweet treasure Of her care
80 soon 10 be alone. (" III 1t were only the will
Of heaven" exclaimed she, athat 1 might live
TO SEQ her arrive at womanhood, or at lcsst at an
age suitable TO warn her Of the dangers Of life,
what would not giver Alter a silence, bro
ken only by hollow, hacking cough, she ad-
ded, Thy will, o Lord, not mine. be done
al know in whom | have trusted, He will not
forsake me now T. s;l4 4, y sls ~
propose TO lay her life story before you
in her own words as nearly as can fecoliect
them, but my pen viii fail to portray Nith what
pain and remorse she wandered again DER her
youthful days, when her feet wandered from the
beacon light and became ensnared in the quick
sands OF ruin, and misery, and despair. Thea
succeeded the settled mslancholy and Christian
forbearance-and lastly peace, such as is so
pleasing TO witness in those about to leave the
dark and thorny pathway of life, to walk in the
terrestrial road Of peace and dhappiness-"where
the wicked shall cease from troubling. and the
weary are at rest.
Her story. which is but imperfectly told, ran
somewhat as follows:
:" was born in the town Of Springfield in the
State Of Ohio. Ny parents were respectable
and considered wealthy. AT the age Of five
years my mother died, and ! felt, even at that
tender age. that my best friend was gone.-
Being the only surviving child Of seFen. she
had lavished all the deep love Of her mothers
heart upon me. She was Christian in the
true sense Of the word, living her religion day
by day, patient and untiripg in her efforts TO
appear spotless before the world aud merit the
blessings Of Heaven. She taught my infant
lips to pray, and often does memory picture her
as she bowed before the throne in my behalf.
Had in after yeare continued to follow the pre-
cepts Of that mother, many weary hours of suf-
iering and papgs of unayailing regret would
have escaped
Nv father was a man Of the world--stern and
unbending in his viii, was rather inclined toin-
fidelity, yet made no serious objection TO my re-
ceiving Christian education. His whole life
and aim we're to accumulate riches, but at the
time of my mothers death be seemed to arouse,
and when too late, realize what a treasure he had
lost The few years that followed he paid
o.h.,. ~.
all his life before-but he did not nor could not
fill my mothers place He gave me a good
education, permitted me to attend all the balls
and places Of amusement chose, and never re-
fused me any luxury however extravagant. b
The finer sensibilities Of my mind lay dor
mant--no watchful mother to guide my youth
full footsteps. butleft to do whatever my impet-
nous nature should dictate, it Is no wonder /
chose the broad road Of life, where flowers were
spread upon their thorns Twas proud, dressy,
and possessed Of good looking if not handsome
face. Twas introduced into company at twelve,
and could dance, sing, and pay thelady admi-
rably at fourteen. When arrived at this age,
father brought home new wife, but not such
woman as NY mother was. Harsh, cruel, and
tyrannical, she sought to annoy and drive me
from home. i dislIked her and did not try to
please hsr--a bitter enmity sprang up between
US, and we lived house divided. My whole
time and attention. was turned to the love Of
dress, the allurements Of pleasure. Twas court
ed, caressed and fattered BY the opposite sex.
At eighteen bore the reputation of being CO.
quette. How many bright hopes lie withered,
hearts crushed, and family peace forever de-
stroyed, and life time made miserable, by
triAing with and deceiying those who never can
or should be more than common friend.
Henry waldron came to Springfeld--he was
eight or thirty years Of sge-a fine dancer and
not ashamed to take glass Of wine in presence
Of the ladies' His figure ives tall. graceful and
commanding-his eyes large, dark and lustrous
his forehead full and high-features faultless,
and complexion fair, with voice SO low aad
musical rs to be almost feminine. | could new
er steal glance at his handsome face, but those
dark piercing eyes were bent upon me. and
would turn away with the red blood mantling
cheek and brow. His face seemed TO haunt me
II often clasped my hands over my heart to
still its wild throbbings when his footstep first
sounded upon my car, or his form appeared be-
fore me-his influence over me was such that
dreaded, yet how ardently l wished bis pres
ence. Il was alike happy and miserable. Many
times in the succeeding weeks did we meet,
either in the social circle or crowded ball room,
and every where was he the one bright star of
the company. His conversational powers were
superior, and he never seemed weary of exerting
them for the entertainment of his hearers.
became tired and disheartened at the noise
and tumult around--a strange unaceountable
freak--and shut myself in my own little room
under the plea of indisposition. How watch
ed and waited and lopged for bis coming, The
hours seemed like days aud the days like weeks
in their toilsome march, At length ] received
note, carefully worded, expressing sympathy
at my protracted illness, and deep regret at my
loss from society, and ended by asking the IA