Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-09-25
llnperis1lable Beauty.

lmperishable Beauty.
It was a very plain face. My eye rested
upon it, for q moment or two, and then wan
dered away to the countenance of another
maiden, whose beauty ravished the eyes OF
every beholder; and as gazed, with feel
ing delight, upon its transcending loneliness
an impulse of thsnkfulness stirred in my
heart-thankfulness to the Creator Of beauty.
The first maiden sat alone around the other
stood a group of admirers. So marked q
contrast between the two, as well in features,
as in the impression made therby, excited,
first, something like pity for her whom ma
ture had endowed so poorly; and turned
to look at her again with a kinder feeling IN
my heart.
There she sat, all alone. Yes, her face
was very. very plain but 1t did not strike
me as repulsive. The mouth. which had MOTH
ing of the ripe fullness that gave such an
enamoring grace to the other maiden, was
placid; and though not encircled by per.
pctual wreath of smiles, calmly enthroned
The gentle spirit of content. Her eyes were
small, the lashes thin, and the arch above
them family visible. Arch? l can scarcely
give it that graceful designation. l had not
vet seen the expression Of those eyes. As
looked toward her, with that strange consci-
BUSINESS of observation which all have re-
marked. but which few can explain. she
turned her eyes from another part OF the
room and looked at me. They did not flash
brilliantly, nor strike me, at the first glance,
as having in them anything peculiar They
we're the common eye we meet at every turn
no soul in them. give my first impress
sion NV second was different, had turn
ed nv eyes away but something | had seen
caused them almost involuntarily to wonder
hack to the maiden's face. A friend whom
T highly regarded-a young man OF more
than common worth-had crossed the room,
and was standing before her. She had hit
ed her ewes to his face, and there was new
light in them--not dazzling, but soft,
winning light that purity and love made
almost beautiful.
They were converslng, and watcned' lot
some time, the play of that unattractiVe
countenance unattractive no longer.
"Ah" said |, ''there is a beautiful soul
within that casket"
Ard as spoke, thus, in the silence of my
own thoughts, l LOO ked towards the other
maiden. who was still surrounded by crowd
vi duuttOho.
"Her beauty is wonderful ~ 1 could not
HELM the utterance of this tribute to her
charms. Yet scarcely had / spoken the
words when she turned to one of the group
which had gathered about her. slight curl
Of unlovely scorn upon her lips, and threw
at him an arrowy word that wounded as 1t
struck. She saw that it hurt, and CLEAN
of pleasure went forth from her brilliant eyes.
hot and
that countenance, which little while be-
fore had shone upon me with loneliness
thai was absolutely enchanting. l turned
gain to the other maiden. My friend still
stood before her, and her eyes were lifted to
his face. She was uttering some sentiments
what, did not hear-but they must have
been good and beautiful in conception, to
have filled every lineamen! with such win
"A6R! p said I, the real truth dawning up
on my mind, "here is the inner, imperish,
able beauty. The beauty, which, instead OF
losing its spring time freshness, forever ad-
vances towards eternal youth"
A few weeks later, and my friend com
municated to me the intelligence that his
heart had been won by the charms OF this
unattractive maiden. Once he had been
worsb;nper at the other shrine-the shrine
of beauty: and I knew that, only few
months before, hand and heart were ready
to be offered Accepted they would have
been, for he had personal beauty. attractive
manners, wealth, and above all, a manly, hon
orabe spirit. =.
For ali had seen, was not prepared for
this. The maiden might be good did not
question that-but she was so homely and
this LONELINESS would be only the more ap-
pa, ent in contrast with his elegant exterior
It was almost on my lip to remonstrate-fo
suggest this thought to his mind. But !
prudently forebore. -,
"You know her well, hope" l could
not help the utterance of this caution.
.'She is not thought to be beautiful" he
replied, seeming to perceive my thoughts,
indeed, as to features, she is plain; yet, in
person, she is TALL graceful, dignitied, and
with carriage that queen might envy
This was true to the letter. l had not
thought of it before Nature had gwen at
least this compensation.
"Brt the higher beauty" he added, us Of
the soul. All else is soon dimmed. Scarce
~ has the blushing girl stepped forward
througe the opening door of womanhood,
ere we see the lustre of her poisoning cheek
beginning to tarnish in the social atmosphere
or to pale from hideous disease. But the
souls beauty dims not, wares not, dies
not. 1t is as imperisbable as the soul itself.
Our bodies die, but the soul is immortal"
"If she possesses this beauty"
81 know that she possesses it, i" he answered,
warmly. 81 have seen it looking forth from
her eyes, wreathing about her lips, and Civ
ing to every liueament heavenly CHARM
1t is musical in every tone Of her voice.
Goodness alone is beautiful" l said.
"And she is good" he replied. 1 never
met one who so rarely spoke OF herself, or
who seemed to take so loving an interest in
humanity.
"That is God-lke.''
Is not God the source of all beauty To
be God-llke, then is to be beautiful. "Ah! "
he added, 81 have found, indeed treasure
Mcrning and evening thank the good Civ
er, that he opened my eyes to see deeper than
the unalluring surface. l was dazzled once,
by glittering exterior; but have clear
vision now"
"W;n her and wear, her then," replied,
land may she be to you all your fancy pic
lures"
"She is won," he answered, land I shall
wear her proudly in the eyes Of all men,"
There was a world of surprise when it be-
came known that my handsome friend was
about leading his chosen bride to the altar.
"How could he throw himself away upon
such an ugly creature?" said one, coarsely.
s'He might have taken his choice from the
loveliest," remarked another.
HE will tire of that face IN month. All
the gold of Ophir would not bride me to sit
opposite to it for year."
And so the changes rung.
But my friend knew what he was doing
I was present at the wedding.
eff she were not so honely," heard a