The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-03-29

sEEgery things" said George. earnestly. Ssh
can talk French better than monsieur, and
| 1eLie Italian tongue-oh, how sweet it is t.
| hear her read and sing it | tell you, Uncl
Herbert, she knows the most OF any woman
ever saw, and if you was knight of oldei
tunes, you'd do battle for her beauty, AM
rescue her from the slavery OF that old despot
poverty !" and the boys eyes flashed, and h,
drew himself proudly up, as though he woalC
have grown man ti4at moment and ahowi
his proves.
'Bravo, George :" exclaimed bis uncle
She needs no more valiant knight than he
youthful page promises to be. Should you
right arm ever be wounded in the defence o
your queen of beauty, advise me Of it, and III
rush to the rescue" The words We're lightly
spoken, but there was a meaning deeper ans
more divine involved in them than the speaker
would have then cared to own, even to HIM
self.
The boy went to his lonely lessons, tie fFoa
door closed on Ellen, little Nell was snug in
the snowy couch whittier the maid had borne
her with kisses and music tones, and then ihir
and Mis-. Summers and the brother went forth
to the brilliant ballroom. But with all its tight
splendor and galety, it had no fascina'ions fol
Uncle Herbert His thonghts were with thai
beautiful girl, who had come SO like an angel
to the household of his sister, and when at an
early hour he withdrew, aud gaining his couch
threw himselfupon ii, it was only to dream oi
tournaments and visored knights and queens Of
beauty, and the ovliest of fthem all, and the one
that crowned his brow with the uniatihg
laurel, wore The same peerless face as did Eilea
the housemaid.
Mrs. Summers had tightly conleciured the
reason one so gifted had become meDial
though not fog many weeks did she learn
the whole story 1t was briefly this The
father ofEllen, Mr.. Seymour, bad been a
prosperous merchant in neigh5oring city
WeGded TO lovely woman, wealth flowing IN
upon hun with heavy current, a beautiful
child to sport on his hea7thstone, life for some
years glided by ike an airg dream. All the
riches of his own and you.er~ft-'s heart were
lavished upon Ellen, aud ds she grew up lovler
in person than even her infancy had promised,
so she grew beautiful in mind aud soul the idoi
OF the family altar.
She was IN he eighteenth year when the
first blow struck them-the long and fearful
illness Of the husband and father. A mere
wreck of himself, PHYSICALLY and .mentally, rs
was at length pronounced conyalescent, though
perfect health, the physician said, could b9
barteTed for sunnier clITe.
They satteu al once Tor Haiy. Il yeaf uGt
been passed in that beautiful land, delicious
and exhiirating one 10 them all, for the step
of the invalid lad grown steadier each mo-
ment, his eye wore its wonled brightness, his
cheeks their glow, aud the pride OF mind sat
again enthroneG upon the noble brow, when,
like 4 thunderboit from a cloudless heaven,
there lell the second blow. The mercantile
house, IA which he was head partner, had fail
ed--av, and failed in such way that, though
innocent as 4 babe, his name was covered with
intamy 1t was too much for the spirit not yet
strong. Poverty it could have borue, but dis
grace shivered it entirely. He lay for some
months in hopeless unacy, never raving, out
only signing and moaning, growing each day
paler and weaker. But be passed not SO away.
When the last hour OF life drew near, his
darkened soul was light again, and he Itenderly
counseled the two dear ones who had hung
over him 50 faithfully, and bade them 10 be OF
good cheer, for though wealth was gone, the
unspotted honor OF the husband and father
should be vet shown 10 the world. Then com
mending them to the All Father, with a hand
clasped by each, :heiT sweet voices blended 20
holy hymns, he passed away. grave was
followed out for him on CHASING ground, and
the snowy marble wreathed with affections
chapl4ts few. times, and then sadly the mOuI-
ners turned away, proud ship bearing them
to their native land.
Where we're the crowds that had focked
about them as thev left its shores ? Alas the
If bar
Alone, and unaded, they were lett to stem the
torrent OF adversely. Theirs was trIte story.
One and another thing they tried to 60, but
the obIoquy that rested on the dead mans
grave followed his living darlngs, TIL poverty,
in most cruel sense, pressed heavily upon
them.
eLet us 60 where we are unknown" said
Ellen, passionately, yet nlouTnfully, one even
ing, as, after futile search for employment,
she returned to their humble lodgings, and
buried her weeping face IN her mothers bosom.
"TheY'll kill me with their cold, proud looks.
I'd rather beg my bread OF strangers than ask
honest employment Of these scornful ones, who
tranple 50 iendishly upon our sacred g"iefs."
And they gathered up the remnants OF thet
treasures, and silently, secretly, lest the shame
should fly before them, went to lonely home
in the city, where We find theE,. There they
readily procured needlework, and all they
could do for their fingers beautiful every gar
ment that passed through their hands. But
the song OF the shirt was soon the only one
they could sing. Night brought no rest to the
weary day, and though twenty, instead OF the
spwelve hours'' of the Bible were spent IN toll,
the were famished and frozen.
"Mother," said Ellen, one evening, as the
hour of midnight found them still at work,
"thIs is too much for woman. shall sew nc
longer"
"But what wlIliyou do darling % and Mrs.