Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-02-17

was never known to object TO any thing except
deficient supply of cider and tobacco. So this
arrangement was made; Mr. Center would lend
her books. and if she found any thing very diff
ficut in them he would explain, He proved as
good-in fact, much better-than his word; for,
besides the faithful teacher, he became the
warm, earnest friend; and many times said,
proudly, as he marked his pupils progress, or
watched her expressive face, "Hester will make
her way in the world 9, And from that hour
whatever drudgery, (and there was much),
whatever of care and anguish fand she had
many bitter hour came to her, she had this
one consolation-she could leave It, lose it in
her books. Mr.. Center (blessed be his memo
ryD kept a firm, steady hand with her. Dearly
as she loved reading, the Grammar and Arith-
metic must be learned first; passionately as the
child's heart asked for poetry, it was given but
observation-disclosures some earnest, strong prose
that made the girl look down deep into herself,
and grow strong, because she had to be so
strong in order to understand it all.
No bookworm was she either. Ifthe ''Mid'
summer Nights Dream" made her little dis
contented with the home care and roughness,
then from the very same volume would be
found passage elevating any life, however
humble, so it was well-liYed-
Dc1uk pOCL. DCAilS AauAOAof HI NNhAcA tOAo
the eager, ambitious child, was of little value,
so that one was Christian, and did their work
well; not stopping to murmur because it was
not to their liking. So the years went by, and
it was well that he did so for before she was a
woman life grew to be hard thing for her.
A village had grown up at the foot of the
mountain, just on the shore of the lake, and its
public-house possessed great attractions for Job
Graname and his Oldest son. He was the
brightest of the three; and poor Hester's heart
sank within her when she found that she could
no longer depend upon him; that night after
night the two would return from q drunken ca
rouse, and only arise the next morning to betake
themselves to the scene of their last nights deg
radiation. That is not pleasant time TO re.
member; it makes the tears come to Hester
eyes now when she recalls how earnestly she
used to pray for one quiet hour, when with Mil
ton or Shakespeare, she could dream by herself
But am glad to say she did not neglect what
the seiishness of others threw upon her. She
planned, she asked advice, and in the autumn
the barn held nearly as much as when old Gra-
hame mismanaged the farm. And there were
still leisure minutes, and every one was impro-
we'd, SO that once fortnight she trudged down
the mountain to her teacher. Once, as she was
reciting lesson, she CHANGED to look up, and
SdW3 OlucI ClO VI tIS IOOlAA3 a AldL
whom size did not know, and whom her teacher
carelessly presented as My nephew, Mr..
Brownlow, !" and then asked the next question.
When thelesson was finished Paul opened the
door for Hester, as he would have done for any
woman, she thanking him by little bend Of her
head and before she had walked mile she
sad forgotten his existence in the fascinating
pages of "Marmion." A deep sigh, as she
reached her own door, told that she thought
there was long distance between the book and
milking cows; but the smile never left her face
as she did all her work that night, for she was
young, and youth makes not much of stepping
ever the line which separates fact and fancy.
A few days after, she was picking up some
chips in the door-yard, her deep sun-bonnet
pulled over her face and her thoughts with Lady
Glare, voice at her side startled her by saying,
"Geod evening"
She looked up hastily, and saw Mr.. Brown
low. The "good evening" was returned and
then the gentleman, taking a book from his
pocket, said. "My uncle says you are fond OF
reading, and as was coming this way thought
l would bring you something new"
"0h! am 50 glad was the eager, joyous cry;
and Hester let fall the chip-bssket, and taking
the book, seemed completely absorbed in its con-
tents. a
Mr.. Brownlow smiled. He did not know
what to make of this young girl; but being q
patient man, he seated himself upon log and
looked at her.
Thirty-fVe years had passed over Paul Brown
lows head-years in which he had enjoyed
more than most men do in lifetime Inherit
ing alarge fortune, be had not known single
ungrati6ed want until few months before, when
he had trnsted his property in speculation that
failed and ruined him-ifa man can be ruined
by losing his money. But he was no weak boy
10 shrink and shiver at what life gave him; so he
entered lawyers office, worked hard, and the
/ week he was at his unsle's saw him admitted to
the bar-beginning at so late an hour the Strug-
! gle for fame and livelihood which many men
/ earn, if they earn it at all, before that time.
When he was a rich man many mothers had
paraded their daughters before him, and rumol
had many times coupled his name with that o.
the reigning belle; but none of these women had
power TO move him. Indeed, he had sometimes
distrusted his own ability to love He had look
ed around his quiet, luxurions library, with ite
old books, its fine paintings, and beautiful stat
ues fevery one of which his own taste had co..
Iected in his foreign tours), and said that one
room had more charms for him than any woman's
face, however beautiful, or wJman's heart how
ever loving. If he mad thought so when ease
and luxury were his, how much more when toll
and poverty stared him in the facel
/ He was not great man, but he had good
heart and that strong viii and patient perSs
verance which mean almost genius One guiei
month he had resolved to pass at his uncle's
after that he would count each day as lost thai
did not advance him long way upon his up
ward road. --ss
fi : fCOacluded ko.zaorrear l ID. B.. -,t-.