The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1861-10-24
g Goo0 STORY.
LOST AND FOUND.
rCoNcLrnEn !

| one was entering into sphere in which
fur capes were not in the ascendant.
Il am afraid that you will thidk me
very severe" continued Miss Willard,
with a sweet smile; "but I feel very deep
ly on this subject On coming home
aud looking at things in the light of a
great sorrow, I long to be a preacher Of
faith"
"Of faith, echoed Julia.
"Yos Of faith in something nobler
and more satisfying than self and this
outward world Of faith in a heavenly
Father who gives to each his peculiar
lot and his peculiar duties. Why not
take cheerfully what He gives us, with
out grasping at what Tie gives to
others? Why not be satisfied with His
choice for thom and for ourselves2 We
are spelling the beauty and variety of
His plan by this rubbing down of our
individual life, and shaping ourselves by
others"
Aud this is the visit for which a sable
cape was so necessary
We will not say that Julia's feelings
we're not to be cnvied; for the FIRST awak-
ing of the soul to its own degradation,
its own wants, to the Consciousness Of
being so far off from what is most desir.
able-surely this is infinitely better
than self-complacent blindnessl
Here was a lady, young and gifted
with all the means of selEenjoyment
and self.aggrandizemont one who could
turn upon herself the admiring and en-
vying eyes of all the throng of fashion.
yet spurning fashion and luxury beneath
her feet Sorrow had added new weight
to tho injunctions Of her dying father,
that she should spend the wealth he left
her not for herself but for others. Her
pure and simple tastes were gratifcd at
little expense. She shrank from every
thing which attracted attention to her.
self Her free and loving spirit gave
herself forth to cheer, to comfort, and
TO help others And when she met this
young girl, in whom she knew that her
brother felt a deep interest, and saw
with pain that the spoiler had entered
her soul and was eating up its treasures,
her heart warmed with pity and sorrow
Her brother had spoken Of Julia as
modest aud unpretcnding; unlike most
girls in her simple naturaness. Little
did Julia know the mischief that the
cape and tho desire for the cape had
done. Little did she think the first time
she wore It, when she entered the lee
tuTe room, that Mr.. Willard companion
whispered to him as she passed, "Tf
had seen that cape yesterday, perhaps
{ should not have been so leuient to
Mr.. Lane when he came to beg a further
extension OF our firm. I am really SOP
ry; I thought he had more principle,
aHd that she had more sense"
After this George Willard avoided
Julia; and for t9is even the fur cape was
not sufficient consolation.
But tho good work was begun. The
cape had failed Of ts great ohiect-the
gaining the good opinion Of Miss VIII
lard. Disappointed vanity had taught
a hard but useful lesson. In the morti-
fcation, the elfdissatisfaction, the al.
most hopeless longing, Julia was enter.
ing the narrow gate Of nobler life
Miss Willard was quick to see it; and
not by rcproachos or contempt, but by
opening new sources Of enjoyment, new
spheres Of action--by leading her to
feel what is true and noble in books and
in liie--she led her young friend, step
by step, out Of the bondage into the
freedom Of life forgetting herself, and
and aspiring to what is highest.
"But you are out to-day without your
FUR cape Arc you not imprudent, dear
Julia?'
The question was asked by Miss vii.
lard one morning. when Julia came for
her to visit a poor family, wearing the
old mink victorine.
"Can you wait a few minutes, Anna?'
"Certainly. For what?"
"While tell you about that cape. ~
Julia gave its history, exteuuating
naught. "Now, Anna, do YOU wonder
that do not wish to wear it again"
Miss Willard listened with deep in
terest. "I am glad to hear this, julia
more glad than you can imagine" she
said. 81 thought the cape was not suit
able for you
"And TO think that my strongest rea-
son for desiring it was that might gain
your favor. What a rebuke your sim,
pie dress was to me-
"l like to see people we'll dressed, "
replied Miss Willard, smiling "but I
have resolved for myself that there shall
be nothing in my appearance to remind
any one Of the poor stuff which some.
times separates friends OIL Julia, was
not the way in which 1 acquired IL
enough to teach me how little it is
worth2 In inheriting it inherited or.
! phanage and sorrowl Death gave it to
me-a death which showed me more
than anything else has ever done, how
worthless are the vanities Of this life
how great and real are the things which
| lie beyond it,"
81 am ashamed to tell you Of one
feeling I had, but 1 will. l thought,
she can afford not to dress we'll"
"And so | can, said Miss Willard
smiling; "ond so can anybody who has
anything in herself which makes her in.
different to the opinions Of Others. For
my part I consider great thoughts and
great objects, a great joy, a great hope,
a great sorrow, quite as ennobing as a
great fortune"
"But my dear Julia, she continued,
"theFe Is no harm in your wearing the
cape since you have done worsbiping