Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-03-24
9AiGreIlaaeaus.
From "The Fly Leaf
"Look into thy Heart, and Write"
BY AURORA.

Evening shadows were already gathering
when Agnes May arose and with a sigh OF
relief shook out the heavy folds of rich
ralss, which, she hnti beon Svsarily bond
ing since early dawn.
The simple attire aud sad, pale face Of tile
young girl contrasted strangely with tho
crimson hue of the costly fabric--strsngely
but beautifully for even the queenly woman
for whom. it was destined, might have envied
her, as standing there in the fading light Of
day, she gazed musingly on the shining gar
ment. Fair hair parted smoothly away from
q pure brow and clustering in wealth Of
sunny ctifis about snowy neck-a look Of
sadness i'll the blue eyes and lingering around
the faaltess mouth-all combined to render
her lovely in the extreme
The worn, and faded dress in which her
graceful form was clad--the meagerly ful-
nished apartment, and above all, the subdued
and melancholy expression Of the youthful
fcountenance were true exponents of her life
history one, dear reader, which need scarcely
be related It's but an o|t-repeated story Of
poverty and toll that comes to us at almost
every turn in The crowded thorough fare Of
human experience. A widowed motl.er strug-
Cling through long years of want and suffer-
ing for the support and education of her
fatherlcss children; and now, when George,
the eldest, had gsne from her, with prayers
and taars raciinn 1tta n 1,apaJ;oti<,, ~, 1,iy
young head, to battle with the adversities of
life, Agnes was devoting her energies with
untiripg perseverance to the sustainance OF
herself and mother. Day after day and
night after night the fair girl toiled, fabrica-
ting airy costumes for ballroom bellies, who
cared not that fingers as delicate as theirs
had grown weary in the work--that tears
from eyes as bright as theirs had fallen s-
lently upon the shining folds. All the
charity of this world the stifed woe OF
sching hearts, the piteous longings for rest
that ara known and answered but in Heavenl
Yet, despite all this, the lfo Of Agnes May
was not devoid of happiness, for the outsDdfrl
world was not the one in which she dwelt
continually-in it she mored but there was
another, an inner, in which she lived: one,
to enter which, was to her the banishment
of all that was dark and cherries and unkind
about her-the revealing of new existence
filled with strangean and glorious aspirations
the creations of her own fancy for, who
among us all lives not an inner life, into
which we love to withdraw ourideal natures
and indulge in sorrewfnl dreams of what we
have been--regrets that 1--WE are what we
arc" and happy imaginings of what We may
be. Thus it was with Agnes-yet, amid all
her aspirations, there was one that came forth,
as it were, from the surrounding throng,
and stood out in the dim, shadowy landscape
of the future, bright, beautiful and -unwaver-
| ing--and around which, day by day, her
thoughts gradually clustered, iu which all her
hopes were conferred. A powerful and all
absorbing desire had taken possession Of her
soul, She would not, could not be content
with mere physical existence-there were
i yearnings for the truest and purest aim Of
this slife--intellectual prominence. Ho%this
great want was to be satisfied she knew not
and yet, she felt that Fate in her mystical
web of the future was weaving golden
threads, minglng bright and glorious huea
with the sombre shade in which her young
being was shrouded. Yet, little did she
dream, as she carefully folded the robe and
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