The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-07-06
for tbe 3ome Girtlf.
Alice Leeds.
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.
PART I.

sorrowing woman and homeless child.-BHrt.
1t was in a Home old house in the country
and there were many elm trees about the door,
leaning down their green arms to enfold the
place with cool shadows; and where the rich
CLEANS Of sahiight struggled through there
was bright spot, like goId upon the turf
beneath 'Ahn -s. as
No one ever would have thonght that the
dark feet of disappointment had strayed with.
in the hedge of damask roses, or cast its
gloomy presence over the quiet DWELLING
But appearances are often deceitful - and
where we fancy there is only content and hap.
piness, the grim shadow of despair may be
lowering.
By southern window, overlooking the
garden whose crimson flowers tangled with
rank weeds sat the mistress of the cottage
a woman who had scarcely entered the walk of
middle age. There were traces Of beauty
about her pale. melancholy face; her hair was
| as richly dark as the heart of midnight cloud,
and the long, shining lashes which strove to
crush back heavy tears, were of themselves
charm. Maybe in her youth she had been
belle, and had listened to soft speeches and
wooing words from the noblest of earth 1t
was over now, and she was very meek quiet
woman, carrying with her only the remem-
brance of her many sorrows
But this sweet autumnal evening, Mary
Wharton was grisUing over the hopes which
had turned to ashes, and the young love which
the cold clods of the grave had hidden from
her sight. And her eyes turned sadly away
from the gorgeous. featured landscape. with its
broad stretches of fertile plain, dim valley, and
passion lit skv. to the hoary locusttree in the
garden, where the form of her husband had lain
for ten weary years. Then her imagination
carried her to the wide blue sea, lonesome and
dark. where, beneath the softly glittering
waves green sea-weed and red coral twined
abont the bones of two noble sons A great
white ship went forth from Kingston Harbor,
bearing the hopes of many an anxious heart
she came back again no more. and Mary
Wharton mourned her boys Eugene and Hen
ry, as dead. It was hard for the stricken
mother to think of them thiis-away away,
+ in the cold, sad depths of the Atlantic where
the green turf of their native land could never
fold its arms over them-where the violets of
spring would never blossom, and the birds of
| summer never sing. But the last bereavement
: had been more than all. Two years before,
her cherished child-her voungest-the blue
3 eyed little Charle-had been thrown from a
carriage and instantly killed This was the
b last great drop in the cup Of affection, she
, thought-the last great trial through which
she was to pass.
8 So all her veriure of affection twned around
d her daughter Margaret. She felt a sense of
3 security in this child. But alas in her eigh
8 teenth summer, Margaret forgot her duty TO
j. her parent-forgot the love and respect she
!; owed her, and fed from her home to share the
fortunes of wild and reckless rous Mary
Wharton prayed for death when this blow
came, but an all seeing God needed not the
n vain and rehellious petition, and the wretched
woman lived on. -i -+ GEO ,.
I Six months had fed since the fight of Mar
: garet, without bringing tidings of the wander.
!. er. and we find Mrs. Wharton sitting at her
7 window with a heart overhowing with an
n guished despair. No wonder she wept, for
the love of a mother is tower of everlasting
! streugth-wo to the child who returns it with
=, ingratitude Involuntarily she cried out
'Oh, my children my children ! Dead
- there is no comfort in the thought But
the living Oh, Margaret Margaret -
Good God, take me home-for why should
live, p
Because there are great many beautiful
n things here on the earth. don't see what
., makes you want to die,' spoke soft voice Al
' her side If the cloud comes you may be
sure there is sunshine underneath
ne And who are you, little stranger P asked
ay Mrs. Wharton. reused from the contemplation
20 of her own sorrows by the sight of an intru-
der.
W. .Only Alice Leeds, maam. live at tn,
,s, almshouse.' replied the girl.
he .And how care you here ? Mrs. Wharton
inquired.
se why, you see ma'am, was tired of stayin
ew there, and this morning came away very ear
: ly, before the sun was yellow on the hills
ss, saw the red roses here in your hedge, and
.pt wanted one. So just came in to ask YOU
his Strange, though, that you should want to di
when you have homer
RS MY dear child, you are not alone In th
world, are youl Where are your parents
in Il haven't any. They both died with th
fever three years ago. and left me all alone