The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-10-20


were bright, butsthe brightness, repelled
rather than attracted. After awhil !.
wondering at the change, drew nea,
and eatered into conversation with her.
The music of her voice remembered
There was nc II rsic in it now; at least
noae for MY ears. 2 "A certain abruptness
lin her manners, born of pride. or super
cllIousness, vas to me particularly often.
slre. 1 tired her on various subjects in
order to bring out some better aspects Of
her character. The Swedish Nightin-
gale had just been here. and had sung to
my heart as no living man or woman had
ever sung-I spoke of her,. "Toe artif,
cial, y was the reply, with an air of crit
ical vanity, that gave to my feelings rip
pie of Indignation. / referred to a new
poem, admirable for its purity of STYLE +;
she coldly remarked with depreciation on
some of its special beauties, merely re-
peating, as / knew, certain captious re-
viewer. | was in doubt whether she had
read even a page of the book. Then |
spoke OF lady present. She tossed her
head, and arched her lip, saying, "She's
TOO fond of gen!lemen's attentions"
/ varied still my efforts, but to no good
purpose. The more conversed with her.
the less beautiful became her face, for the
unloyeliness Of her true character was
perpetuaily cleaning through and spoil
ing the already sadly-marred features. I
left her side, on the first g cd opportuni-
ty, glad to get away. Ten years ago, in
all companies, she was the cynosure of
every eye. The praise of her beauty was
on every lip. But SO changed was she
now, that none bent to do her reverence.
| noticed her sitting alone, with discon-
tented look, long after ] had left my place
By her side. Her husband, for ali the
attentions he paid her during the evening,
might have been unconscious of her pres
ence.
But there was another lady in the room,
who, was, all the while, the centre of an
admirlng circle. None, perhaps, consid-
cred her face beautiful yet to every one
who looked Wpon it, came perception of
beauty that associated itself with her in
divlduaIlty. In repose, her features were
plain, yet not repulslve In the slightest
particular But, when thought and feel
ing flowed into them, every eye was
charmed. There was nameess grace
in her manner that gaze additional pow
or to the attractions of her eountenance.
] was half doubt, at first, Of her lden-
tity, as | gazed upon her from distant
part of the room she looked, in my eyes,
so really beautiful. But the presence of
my old friend IN the group, my old friend
who had been wise enough to prefer beau
ty of soul to beauty of face, removed all
questions, and passing over, | added an
other TO the circle which had gathered
around her .
There was nothing obtrusiYe in her
conversation; nothing of conscious pride
but calm, and, at times, earnest utter
ance of true sentiments. Not opee dur
ing the evening did / hear word from
her lips that Jared the better feelings.
1.-The good are beautiful !" Many
times did this sentiment find spontaneous
utterance in my thoughts as l looked up
on her; and then turned my eyes to the
dseontentcd face Of another, who, few
years before, carried off, in every compa-
ny, the palm of Ioveliness.
Yes, here was the imperishable beauty!
Maiden ! would You end this beauty?
No matter if your features were not cast
in classic mould, this higher, truer beauty
may be yours if you will seek for it in the
denial of sel6sL Lness, and the repression of
discomfort "The good are beautiful"
Lay that up in your thoughts. Treasure
it as the most sublime wisdom.
Gather into the store-house of YOUR
minds sentiments of regard for others
and let your hands engage in gentle char
tiles To do good and to communicate
forget not. attempted to murmur, think
of your many blessings if to repne, of
the thousands that are sick and in suffer-
ing. BE humble, gentle, forgiving, and
above all-useful. These are the graees
that shine through the outer coverings of
the soul, and reveal themselves iu light
and loveliness to all eyes.
The good never grow homely as they
grow old. The outer eye may become
dim, and the cheek loose its freshness,
but in the place of earthly charms will
come spiritual beauty, unfading as
eternity.
A. Short Sermon.