Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-08-23
TOW ANDA
Thursday Morning, August 23, 1860,
HUMAN JU D G M E N T
A Story tie Ponder Over.
PART FIRST.

,.nt and secusion. We children numbered
era e,, Of whom | was the eldest, and our dear
r,s,rness completed the circle. AT the time
55L;ob I write, Miss Norman had been year
" D,r onr family. Previous to her coming, we
S,J a. Al bopn taught at a little school in the Will
.,To nr but it was much more pleasant to have
ssbooI at home, and great comfort to our
a,otbor TO have kind ard judcous assistant
= orr supervison ont of school hours. We
.o,o learned to love our gentle teacher, not that
,bo was weak and lax of government Miss
yorman was firm in the maintenance of author
ftr and strict in requiring due attention to
s,rdv. but her rules observed, her wishes
obayed with no milder or more indulgeut
Guardian was plastic childhood favored Nor
ia she fulfil her trust merely from sense of
s,,r her heart was in her task she was ten
Isrir interested in Our welfare and, for her
.roche her time and care, she felt fully re-
mrnerated in our improvement. Upon her
first appearauce among US, there was much
,rauatfon as to the impression she would
make upon the young men of the nelGhbor-
b,od but her utter Indifference to them soon
ba,,me apparent She was cheerful in society
smeiucs even gay and playful, and the gen
,lsnag she treated With easy uDCOncern, so that
tbe ygnest could see they he'd nc place IN her
boprbts 1t was evident Miss Norman's
/ heart was in no danger amongst our rural
54agy Nv rrother ioked her about being
cI,eslg engaged. She biushed and looked
grave bnt made No denial her disincIination
.,ronyerse rpou the Subject was manifest, and
/. voe mentioned no more But the tacit ad-
mission was not withdrawn, though no further
s4vpIation was made Sven the name Of her
oypr the coy maiden concealed, going herself
N the yillarc when letter. were 10 be mailed
ghosp snuerscrptiOn we were not 70 see
Whatever the caase cf The lady'S reserve, her
secret was respected 50 tha: at the end of the
wear we knew no more pf .hG affair Of her
heart than we had kueeu at the beginning
B7t Oh we had learned to know her loving,
fjhuIuuwcrldy natere,tc measure the depth
c'ber affection Tor this cherished idol, and to
i wish earnestly that he might prove worthy Of
= 50 rga treasure.
hi Though Miss Norman was naturally Of
cheerful Nmpcrameut, her cOnntcuauce some
lines nla'eI care and sadness; q; but what
# rge- Der late trouble was, it never marrei
tie era kindness Of her disposition. Oar
sympathy Tas therefore, unmingled with any
M a1 pctulancc in the school room, when one
-gung, she took her seat at the breakfast
III as her dear face bearing unmistakabie
MI rags of a disturbed mind The previous even
\ g,he had received letter, which she had
e-ied to her chamber TO read and my sister
nj !. who occupied the adjoining room heard
her sippercd foot pacing the floor long after
We had retired st length it ceased, and |
'n1ious to know if she had lain dcwni arose,
sole to her door, and cpcred K softly, peeped
in hut her bed was vacant, while low On her
knees in weeping murmuring prayer, the poor
girl was bowed | returned to ny pillow and
Tie sleep Of childhood soon sealed my eyes
but Miss Norman looked next morning As if
her wrestling prayer had laStec all night. A
sabdued air was over onr little school that day.
Aunam,mons determination to save our below
cd teacher any annoyance made rs dlIhgent in
n studies and careful in our manners and
'svere amply rewarded in seeing the calm
u-l TO her troubled brow, the love glance to
.seye while her sweet voice pronounced US
iii :a.cajIdren, and tender Kiss to each, &C
o-aled by a whispered blessing concluded
a oNraaOOn exercises.
l11ag the hour of recess, as we played on
y '74Ea, a carriage drove to the door, from
"&ea gentleman descended and sOCn after
We saw the carriage turn and drive away
elg79,ng it was some visitor to father we took
N ~ iiTtaer notice until we returned to the house
'1en we were met by mother, who informed rs
.,5 would be no afternoon school, as friend
=" Mss Norman's had called upon her. and she
vas engaged with him in the parlOr. There
.sned no need of speculation as to what this
''ena might be and my mothers hosptabe
,1'ngS towards him were mingled with the
-'eaa leaSt his visit should have for its object
,1S uePFiFing Us Of our incompatible COVER
D'5s, ana herself Of her invaluable companion
p'oneFlour arrived, and the cordial invita-
,o- 10 take a seat at our table was politely
- s-sr's' Oy the stranger and all were glad
an opportunity to see and make the ac-
t-ou'alce oil one round whom so much mystery
az. ~. 9Uattan-for so Miss Norman introduc-
1.a nN--.@as dark and melancholy looking
c,,1- y !o'dgn air and naughty maaneT. In
l-52!''SaI'on (. .5!1I'o with ny father. during dinner
G5SP,d!cd a rchiy-endowed mind and vast
ms5S i' VI information : yet the impression he
,ar:. -a'-s was not the most happy His attention
~ ~, as 0etrothed lacked the warmth and ten
rs,5s ,5ss' winch their long separation would have
r. W1sIed eGcusable, even in presence of others.
Wa cared he did not love her as she deserved.
,,,.5 ~, &c rose to take leave, my father pro-
Il. h.. ~, ordering carriage to convey him to
mr. s,S'Ion Gt but this be declined, saying that
,5,.s norman had promised 10 accompany him
sIo. I,as', and they most preferred walking. "It's
ana ume since we have had a walk together
mo ,s Ge added with faint smile, and she tells
MIL pleasant path through the woods by
h '4 is:- we can go. A sylvan ramble in a treat
rsri. '-i' society. You will therefore accept nv
aT rG3 u; 10 'oF the offer of your carriage and do
.s,o'a 'I'aA 'aat | appreciate it the less that