The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-02-25
Original Storg.
Written for the News
The Girl-Friends.
BY MARY D.
CHAPTER VIII.
BY MARY b.


The sweet young spring-time with
its radiant beauty, blessed the earth
again. The grass grew up on hill and
vale, and the fragrance of the FIRST dow-
ers aoated upon the balmy air.
It was the twilight hour, in bright
and beautiful May. Seated on the old
porch, where they had so often sat to-
gether, the Girl-Friends were dreaming |
The cottage was closed; and the low
voice that had resounded there was
hushed in death. Mrs. Neal was gone.
Trustfully she committed her precious
child to God, and passed out upon the
dark, solemn river Elsie had yielded
to Nellie's and her fathers pleadings,
and shared their home. With a sacred
tenderness in her young heart, she
would come and sit upon the old porch,
her thoughts attuned TO the winds
mournful chant in the elm trees. Her
slight figure was more slender, her
black hair shaded a paler face; but
amidst all her heart-sufering, disap-
pointed love-dreams, and the loss Of her
j mother, she was learning to look up
Her trust in herself was fading away;
, and a hope was springing up in her
heart, which Time, with its changes,
Z might never darken or destroy.
And Neniel How very womanly she
J grew, even in her sixteenth year And
3 now her young heartwas troubled. I'm
s consciously to herself she had learnt
= the sweet lesson, which we all sooner
or later have to learn.
i Slowly, but surely, the truth dawned
IS upon her, that she loUed Ali what
: a wound to her girlish pride, to confess
. to herself, at last, that she loved a man
l. who had never evinced the slightest af
W fection for hor;--even the young minis
+ ter, Stacy Humes
. She listened to his voice almost every
!. Sabbath, uttering the beautiful Language
Is of immortal Truth. Oh, what emotions
e then seemed to thrill his frail form l.
u What a smile wreathed his faoe The
Il very image of his Maker seemed traceC
,r upon his brow. The light of his grea
E. soul cleaned forth in his liquid eyes.
~ People said he was homely in person
il but when standing in the pulpit, fam
# ing fire as it were, Nellie thought hin
sr more than beautiful. He seemed to he
r' II Living Angel, crying to a lost world
n of the greatness, the immortality Of tn
a soul. She was trying to live the beau
NJ tiful life he pictured; and the way grey
e. brighter to her timid feet, walking u
Iy the shining path, which "shineth NOR
as and more, unto the perfect day"
~ ~ Little did she dream, that her boaut
full eyes, bent upon the young ministe
so earnestly, thrilled his soul with
he new courage, so that he preached as b
never preached before
A new, sweet change came over he
heart. Thoughts which she tried
MS Danish, would come. What a joy to /
l. his ,oyfei To him, she thought, 81
rs might breathe her sweetest and mo
he sacred dreams. How trustfully 81
could walk by his side, all along the
.ze lifo-path, till it merged into the brigh
ness of Heaven Oh, it were a lif
time Of happiness to be pressed to h
. bosom one hour, and hear his voic
calling her 1Ojej and telling her tn
above all the world, she was the mo
loved
Sitting on the old porch, on that calr
quiet evening, with tears in her eye
she told her friend Elsie her trouble
% tale.
~ have struggled long," she sal
,to "to quench this new light, which h
sprung up in my heart, but it will n
60 out; and I yield now, that I 10
him above all others, and he only CT
IN make my life happy. Only TO 20
dear Elsie Of all the world, would
make this confession"
81 feel grateful for your confidence
replied Elsie. ooh, I sometimes thin
one we're it not for your sweet sympatE
Of your unohanging friendship, the weu
pain in my heart would wear my
away But now it is my turn to sootI
Be not troubled, my friend. He cam
help but yield to the good and beau
full"
"Ah, Elsie, dare not dream Of th'
Others do not see me as you do. j
my consolation will be, that ba
/, Of given my love to one so puro-Ono
worthy"
gina There was a touching sadness in
lag tone, as she spoke, but 10 a moment
seemed as though the plant Of