The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-06-27

Some forty years since, in tho in.
terror OF my beautiful native state,
New York, lived the father of my
heroine, an honest, respectable farm
er. He had but two childron-Lu-
cy, noble girl of nineteen, and e.
len. a year or two younger.
The frat named was winningly,
rather than s,rikingly, beautiful
Under q manner observable for its
SERIOUSNESS and sunlight serenity,
were concealed an inpassioned ma.
turc, and heart Of the deepest ca
pacity for loving. She was remark
abe from her earliest childhood, for
voice OF thrilling and haunting
sweetness.
Ellen Dutton was tho beautiful
antipode of her sister, a "born beau
ty," whose prerogative Of prettincss
was to have her irresponsible own
way in all things, and at all times
An indulgent father, a weak moth.
er, and an idolizing sister had all
unconsc,ously contributed to the
ruin of n nature not at first remark
able for the strength OF generosity.
Where, in all Gods creatures is
hesr,lcssness so seemingly unnatur'
al, or setishness so detestable, as in
a beautiful woman?
Lucy possessed fine intellect,
and as | or parents were well rear, d
New Englanders, she and her sister
were lar better educated than other
girls OF her situation, in the halt set
tied portion Of fthe country. In tho. o
days many were engaged ip school
teaching, for the honor and pleasure
which it aft rded rather than from
necessity. Thus few months pre-.
vious to the commencement of this
sketch, Lucy Dnttou left Tor the first
time the ireside circle, to take
charge OF school somo twenty
miles from her native town. For
some time her letters home we're
expressive only of the happy con
tentment which sprang from the
consciousness OF active usefulness,
of receiving while imparting good.
But anon there came a change;
then were these records from home
characterized by fitful dreams Of
dreary sadresS; indefnable hopes
and fears seemed etriving for su-
premacy in the writer's troubled
heart. Lucy loved, but scarcely ac-
knowledgod 1t to herself while she
knew that she was loved. So, for a
long timo that second birth of wo.
mans nature was like a warm sun
rise struggling with the mist OF
morning. Bnt one day borught q
letter which could not soon be for.
gotten in the home of tho absent
one--s letter traced by a hand that
trembled in sympathy with a heart
tremulous with happiness. Lucy
had been wooed and won, and she
but awaited her parents approval OF
her choice to become the betrothed
OF Edwin W, a man OF excel
lent family and standing, in the
town where she had been teaching
The parents recorded their sanction
with many blessings, and Lucy's
next letter promised speedy visit
from the lovers.
To such nature as Lucy's, what
an absorbing, aud what a revealing
of self is a first passion - what a
prodigality OF grieving, what an in.
calculable wealth OF receiving -
what a breakup is there OF the deep
waters Of the soul, and how Heaven
desends in a sudden start upon life.
IL there 10 q season when an angel
may look with Intense and fearful
interest upon her mortal sister, tits
when she beholds her heart pass
from the bud-like innocence and
freshness of girlhood, and taking tc
ito very core the very light of love
glow and crimson into beautiful wo,
manhood.
At last the plighted lovers came
and Welcomes and feativities avait