The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-03-07
@riginal Storg.
For the esprit"
THE CHILD MESSENGER.
"She had . grief to hide"

"She had grief to hide"
Twas autumu-that season when the
skies are full of soft ethereal mist, and the
red and russet leaves come sddying down
iE the delicious solitudes of wood and
glen, when asters and golden reed and
pale flowers bend solemnly over the quiet
dow of murmuring streams, and the beau.
tiful sunsets fame along the far-of hills
like the smouldering ashes of some great
condagration, all FIRE aud crimson, and
deepening purple glories.
In tho deepest shade Of ir.tree grove
sat pale widow, her hands clasped, and
her eyes dropping tears like rain. Pluag-
ed seemingly in tho deepest afaictiou, con-
vulsive sobs shook her delicate frame, and
she trembled like tho quivering leaf Of the
aspen tree.
And whyl Why this bitter, overwhslm.
ing griefi Why should she wander away
alone frem her little cottage home, to the
silent solitude of the grove, that she might
give way in secret to the pent up emo
tions Of her troubled souli
Aye "thereby hangs tale"
As tho gentle widow sat sobbing and
moaning Is if her very heart would break,
she felt that foreboding at her breast,
which is little less than prophecy, whis.
pering to her that her own frail form
would drift into the silent tomb with the
fall of the last bright leavss-there to
fud q resting place frem the cares and
sorrows of this unfrisndly world. Aud
she tried to think what would become of
little Ella, when she was laid in the cold
damp chambers Of the grave-and then
her thoughts wandered back to the time
when her only brother, wealthy banker,
had cast her off from his heart and home
because she had welded poor man,
against his wishes. She remembered the
many years of coldness and bitter feeling
which had separated them, until they had
become total strangers, and longed to
hear his voice promising little Ella home,
until the yearning turned almost to heart
sickness. Her own life time of poverty,
hardship and self-denial seemed as nothing
to her, but she could not bear to think ol
leaving little Ella penniless and friendles.
in the hard and cruel world. As these
thoughts weighed down her spirit, the
child's voice, sweet and musical as the
silvery fall of mountain brooks, fell on bel
ear, and Ella came bounding through 9
copse close by.
"See mamma! all these nuts!" cried tn,
little girl holding up her basket full o
shining brown chesnuts, and the mothe
looked, not at the glossy treasures, bu
at the lovely face flushed with soft pinl
bloom like the heart of an early rose, ant
the glorious hazel eyes, curtained by long
curved lashes, with the brown cu:ls, blow
all about the pure white forehead by tn
fresh aatumnal brsezes. A pretty sigh
it was-and no wonder that it brough
q pang, half joy-half sadness, to Mrs
1 Mayvills's heart.
"And now, mamma" said tho child
with grave care and thought beyond he
years, II shall take these nuts to the cit
and sell them, and you shall have some
thing nice. Wouldn't You like some tes
mamma, dear2
And Ella threw her round arms sbou
her mothers neck aad laid her fresh cheel
yet fragrant with the invigorating touch {
spicy forest winds against the widow
pale and hollow cheek. 4 thought, sud
!; don and doubtful, crossed Mrs. Msyville
= heart-she would make one last effort
subdue her brothers obdurate resolution
She looked ct Elias lovely. radiant fac
could she doubt its magicl
"Ella," said she, putting aside the SUI
ny curls. and gazing earnestly into tt
deep, liquid eyes, "there is lady wh
lives on Franklin square-she is sick, an
I think she will purchase your little bask'
of chestnuts. And wish you to ask f
her husband, and give him this little ring
with your own hands, Ella, dear"
She drew from her attenusted finger
plain gold circlet, marked with the simp
name of "Ella"-s gift her brother hs
placed there years ago. In this one ta
Iisman and the wondrous likeness Of b.
lchild to herself as she had been in tho
palmy days, the widow placed her who
trust.
Ella wondered little az this stranl
missive, but she was accustomed to OBJ
her mothers 5ehests without question
doubt, so she slipped the ring on her ov
pretty finger, tied on little gipsey bo
net, coarse and cheap, but exquisitely b
coming, and tripped away down the ro'
with the basket of woed-trophies on b
arm-glittering chestnuts tipped wi
silver down, and spots Of fragrant mo
and brown rustling leaves, gathered und
No the vast canopy of grand old trees whs
y only the twitter of glancing birds q
'p the sound of falling nuts and singing ri
70, ulets disturbed the psrfamsd golden
o. lence!
y. The wealthy banker sat in his velv
10 cushioned chair, looking over his pile
40 letters by the soft light that stream
= through the stained glass windows of
=: library. The gilded ceiling above, I
ot auDArb Oaken furniture carved in 1Otl