The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-03-10
Result of an Impulse.
ny cATHARIAR PROCTOR.
L1A-- &
CHAP T. E R; I.

speaking was, as it were, riddle to myself,
as lay quietly and weary behlpd those
heavy, purple curtains, On those large dcwny
pillows. ..... = ,;,l,,.
My whole life has been bitter rebellion
against Providence; my whole tone and
thought antugonistic to every reverential
feeling, to everything like Christian spirit.
So heavy was the burden bore, so weak
and helpless my power to struggle through
and buffet the tempests, that, instead OF
prayer, complaints had ever been upon my
lips and had gradually come to allo W my.
self to be borne aimlessly, and at the will
Of every surrounding object in any direction;
and now that my tongue had lnvoiuntarily
given heaven praise, was in bewlderment.
The day had been one OF wondrous beau
ty; wondrous, for the resurrection Of earth
from her torpid estate is ever beautiful
1t is like the gradual but startling develop
ment Of a child's intellect, ever seeming
endeuringly original, Yet in every child the
same, except when it is now and then frozen
back by unkindne56 or ltnbeciity. The days
had grown SO warm that every well, living
thing left roof and covert, and went OFT 10
gather the mama Of sunshine, falling broad
cast over the earth. Oh, pity for the sick
and helpless, that oil the spring warmth and
( light they could feel, must come through
windows and doors Pity for the soulless,
that they could plod every hour for the earth's
oordid gold, when the heavens were go
5oantipl with that, which not only fills the
hands, but the hearts Of men
! had ever loved STORMS better than sun.
shine. Something there was OF sympathy
be,weeu the darkness and tumuIt of the
elements and the grim, restless spri, in me.
had finished my tasks; completed every
repuIsive item in the little round Of daily
drudgery, and then, without one joyful feel
ihg,, with. only en- uudefnabIe and never.
ID ending drasire to get away from myself, went
to the woods. My eyes were blinded witt
The same dark shadcw which hung upon ny
=. heart.
My whole Being waa fettered, and die
iiot care to see. knew place where the
river was very deep, and made sluggish by
, being damned 6eluW. II looked to me a.
l had imagined the bayous Of the Soutl
!. mghl-durk, euIlen, and yet quiet; thei
suddenly treuEirS rwuy from the mirrore
! shadows, and the dripping fringes of brnk
and htz~l, and from the heavy, molten SUI
Il ut midday, aud from white, motiuness mool
-, at night, it flung, like suicide, maddene
{; ind desperate, in White impetuosity over tn
=. stones aud limbers Of the dam, then streg
;. Cling for awhile with pit!ul roaring, snbsid
= miniature of my stream OF life-onIy qn;e
: he9et could reach tne, Until f,uted ou
- upon the dim, fnr.awsy ocean of eternity
- slimpses Of which imagined had ha
: through the turbulence and mists Of the tor
~ rents Of my ungoverned passions.
:. :. It Was now swollen high with spring rains
=; and instead of the suIlenless which th
= gloomy skies of winter, and the heav
~ shades Of summer cast upon its face, it wa
II &c clear as the spring heavens, and CLOWN
r. as the sun.
~ ID A multitude of children we're at play upo
" =, ito banks sorle gathering the blue violet
- - some with fshing.rods, stoicully waiting
nd bite. All were geeful and happy.
a "Murguret p
:. = 1t was the fri ghtenod scream of children
- =; voices, simultaneous shrek at once Of p
y" " litiicain and tear. 1 saw convulsive splad
" y" ing Of wuter, und without thought Of doing
~ ~ good deed, sprang to the bank and into II
~ m stream. The fr5t disk at once strangl:
:. =; and invigorated me. The child had gor
under, and just saw flutter Of her bll
dress. The first time she rose, | reache
=. - clutched her dress, and took her in my arm
but in SO doing hid lost my footing, and
was but very slight thing to stem the Gu
rent ii we should be Carried out. 1t was I
effort such as never put forth Before-al
nc it was successful. l pushed her in reach
cir the dozen little hands stretched out for he
AS' and then, without motive for exertion, Chi
3D. ed through, sank down and was drifted ou
me | was just conscious Of the renewed screaI
'ey ing of the children; and that was all.
MI Iawoke warmly nestled in bed; the lig
ng subdued by the heavy purple curtains ma
EN- me close my eyes again.
ap' should have died but for small Clur
its of bushes, which the water, in it's unjust
Dur height had overhown, and where my DIRE
elt caught. The assistance, which the screaI
the of the children brought, rescued me.
we Ilay there, quisscent from weariness, J
vii thinking calmly. l had never before be
'ot SO spbdued, my bitterness of spirit was
and gone, and, "Oh, heaven is very kind !" We
ON the first words uttered. as..
hat Was heaven kind, OF was my destiny g
ain row!
lisp CHAPTER
the "MAReARET." -.
got rho s.,,ne me name. bntt NOT the sarns vol