The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14
A Proud Heart Humbled.
BY LoUIzA A. MoULroN,

trees lifted their green arms to the sky all the
long, bright days, as II imploring benedic.
'ion, or spread them out lovingly over the
white houses that nestled around the one
church in that vale below.
But tonight it wore different aspect. A
storm was upon the hills. A little snow and
hail we're borne upon its wings, but not much
Chiefly it was the force of rushing winds,
shaking the leafless ash trees. hurting
against closed windows swinging the bell
in the old church tower, till it gave forth,
now and then, dirge-lke appeal as if the
dead were tolling their requiems.'
Many houses there were where the wild
scenes without seemed but TO heighten by
the force OF the contrast, the blessed calm
wi,hin-homes where smiling infants slept
warm and still, through the twilight pilowed
on their mothers bosoms, and happy children
gathered round the knee of father or grand
sire, to hear again some simple story or
thoughtful ones looked into the fire, and
fashioned from the embers brave castles, in
which they were to dwell in the coming time.
with over oil, the sunshine OF youth and
hope. Twenty years from now they would
look again into the embers, and see these
fair castles, in which they had never come to
abide, with ruined windows and blackened
walls
S'The twilight Of memory over all
And the silence Of death within"
But in one house no stories were tod to
gladden. listening ears-no soft evening
hymn hushed slumberiDg babies to rest-no
childreh's eager eyes looked into the embers.
1t was the stateiest house, by far, in the
village-a lofty mansion, cleaning Whit
through the trees, with the roof supported by
massive pillars. Nowhere did the evening
fire burn brighter, but into it looked two old
people worn and sorrowful, with the shadows
Of grief and time upon their shriveled faces
Two who hid forgotten. long ago, their
youths rair castles-who locked back over
wasted fields Of memory, where not even the
setting sun rays gilded the monuments built
to their deud hopes.
They sat there silently. They had sat ST.
len,ly ever since the darkness gathered
The lofty, we'll furnished room was lighted
only by the wood fires gov, and in the cor
ntrs strange shadows seemed to gather, with
beckoncd hands and white brows cleaning
speclraiiy through the darkoess. Toward
them, now and then, the vie looked with
anxious, searching gaze then turned back
again toward The fire and clasped her hands
over the heurt that had learned through mony
trials the hard lesson OF patience.
Judge Howard was stern, sef.contained
man. In his native town, where he hrd
passed all his life, none stood higher in pub.
lie esteem. Toward the poor he was liberal
towards his neighbors just and friendly !;
yet, for all that he was a hard man, whose
will was iron, whose habits were granite
HIS wife had come TO knew this, even in the
honey moon. The knowledge was endorsed
by her sad waiting face, her restrained man.
ners.
His daughter, Caroline, his only child, had
learned it early. and her father, became to
her as much on object Of fear as of tender.
ness.
And yet he loved those two with strength
which one more yielding could not have faith.
omed. When his child was first put into his
arms, when her frail helpless hunds CROPPED
bllndly at his OWE, he felt the strong thrill
of fa,herhood sweep over him. For the mo-
ment it swelled his soul, irrudiuted his face,
but did not permanently change or soften his
nature. AS she grew toward womanhood
and her bright head cleaning in his path
was the fairest sight earth held, her rim ing
voice the sweetest music. he never gratifed
her whims, nor always yielded to her reason
able wishes.
At length love came to her. She gave
her heart 10 one whose futher Judge Howard
hated. james Huntley and he had been
young together, and a teud hud risen be
tween them, which Rufus Howard's stern
nature allowed him neither to forge, nor for
giver He had yet to learn the lesson holeI
than philosophy, lottier than oil the teach
ings OF seers and sages, the lesson our Saw
iour lived and wrought, aye, and died to teach
of forgiveness even for our enemies-prayer
for those who have spiteiully used us ant
prosecuted US. His former enemy was dest
now but not 80 with the Judges hate.
had been transmitted, like real estate, to th'
dead mans heir, and so he forbade his daugh
ter to marry him and sterHly bade he
choose between parents and lover.
She inherited her fathers strong will, an
she put her hand in Richard Hunt ley's an
: went forth-she would not have been he
4 fathers child II she had not--without tear
: From that, time, for ten years, her nam
! lad been forbidden word. Letters che ha'
written at first, during her Punishment, bu
P they had been sent back unopened, and 70
. years no voice or token had come to tel
whether she were dead or living. Therefor
the mother looked shudderingly into tn
D shsdow.hsunted corners in the long twi
lights, and almost believed that she saw
s there the face for which her mothers hear
had yearned, momently, all those years.
? Judge Howard loves his wife too-oh, bu
II she knew il Every outline of that sad
!. f..o ovavv thrond of that a;luo. l. :.