The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-02-13
tarnish. nor death itself DESTROY.

perishes not in death. it will mat
ter but little, dear daughter con
tinued Mrs. Meredith, when yor
come to take your last farewell o
earth, whether you were invested
with all the tabled charms O
Venus, or whether you were th,
thomeliest of the homely; but i
will be worth more than earthly
glory, to have that purity Of heart
that meekness of spirit, which
adorns and beauties the Soul, anG
prepares it for endless felicity
The most beautiful women the
world has ever produced have all
been robbed of their charms, soon.
er or later, but the beauty of the
Soul never fades In this way Mrs.
Meredith succeeded, after long and
earnest expostulation and admoni-
ton, in reconciling her daughter
to her lot. She was robbed Of her
beauty-that was beyond dispute.
Not a vestige of her former charms
remained, excepting her brilliant
blue eyes, and they looked CLASSY
and watery. Her beautiful ring
lets were shorn off, and her face
and neck were all blotched with
unseemly seams and scars. Oh, it
was sad to look upon the wreck of
so much beauty and loveliness.-
She had been down to deaths
door, and so terrible did the
thought Of losing her beauty seem
to her, that she preferred to die
rather survive the destruction Of
her charms. But she had a mis-
sion to perform, and her extraor-
dinary personal beauty was an
obstruction in the way Of its execu-
ton. Her good mother had often
endeavored to lead her into the
discharge of high and holy duties,
reminding her that their wealth
was only a trust to be used for the
benefit of others, as we'll as fer
themselves; but Laura's mind was
influenced by her aristocratic IA
ther. She was fond of gay society.
Having never felt the need of
assistance or sympathy herself, she
could not see or appreciate what a
blessing it would be to render it to
others but now that her idol was
destroyed, she began to listen to
the connsels Of her mother, and
gradually became reconciled to her
lot. One day when she was sitting
up in bed, she requested her moth
er to bring her mirror in which to
take a look at herself. Mrs. Mer-
edith, apprehending that no good
results would be likely to come of
it, begged Laura to defer the mat
ter for few days, until she should
begin to improve a little in ap-
pearance. Laura felt strong and
resolute enough to endure the
sight with perfect resignation
The glass was brought and handed
her but, poor girl! she had mis-
calculated her own strength. A
thousand times had she, while
fondiy surveying herself in that
same mirror, caressed and kissed
her own image; but now, at the
sight of the poor, feeble, wan, pox-
marked skeleton which met her
gaze, she turns away with disgust,
and uttering a piteous moan, falls
back in a swoon. Her mother was
promptly at her side, administer
ing restoratives, and whispering
atfectionately in her ear. When
restored to consciousness again,
she gave way to o passionate burst
of griet, and Bobbed upon her
mothers bosom as if her heart
would break.
ooh motherP she would exclaim,
my punishment is more than I can
bear. l have been proud and
giddy, it is true, but this is more
than death. Oh, mother, pray for
me, that i may be enabled to en-
dure this afiiction,'
The pious mother, whose own
heart was almost crushed with the
afiiction which had been weigh
ing it down for weeks, repressed
her own emotions, and prayed for
her child with fervent devotion,
and thus by her prayers and coun-
sells gradually led Laura along into
the path of duty. 1t was terrible
struggle. The entire remuneration
of the gay world of fashion and
pleasure, together with the loss of
the most peerless beauty, was like
tearing the flesh from the bones,
so tenacious is the grasp with
which we cling to vain and worldly
pleasures, when we have once Civ
en- ourselves up to their pursuit.
But hard as it was to renounce
them all, Laura Meredith came out
OF the furnace a new creature.
Scathed she was, but what she lost
in external appearance. she doubly
gained in the internal development
Of the most refined and exalted