Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-11-26


.Goodnes, alone is beautiful I said.
And she is good he replied. Il
never met one who so rarely spoke OF
herself or who seemed to take so loving
an interest in humanity
This is God. like
is not God the source Of all beauty
To be God-like, then, is to be beautiful
All y he added, L have found, indeed,
a treasure |! Morning and evening L
thank the good Giver that he opened my
eyes to see deeper than the unalluring
surface. was dazzled once by gilt
tcring exterior: but l have a clearer
vision now.'
win her and wear her, then,' ] re-
piled, 'and may she be to you all your
fancy pictures
She is won,' he answered, and L
shall wear her proudly in the eyes OF all
men,
There was world of surprise when
it became known that my handsome
friend was about leading bis chosen
bride to the altar.
How could he throw himself away
upon such a homely creature ? said one,
coarsely.
He might have taken his choice from
the ioveliest,' remarked another.
He will tire of that face in month.
All the gold of Ophir would not bribe
me to sit opposite to it for a year.
And so the changes rung.
But my friend knew what he was do
ing. I was present at the wedding.
If she were not so homely,' l heard
a lady remark, as she stood beside her
handsome young husband. What can
he see in her to love?'
turned and looked at the speaker -
Nature had been kind in giving her an
attractive face but the slight curl of
contempt that was on her lip msrrcd
everything. glanced back to the
Young brides countenance but her pure
soul WAS shining through it, like light
through veil. To me she seemed at
that moment more beautiful than the
other, and far more worthy to be loved.
The brilliantly beautiful maiden of
whom have spoken, gave her hand in
marriage about the same time. Her
husband was q young man OF good
character, kind feelings, and with sufi-
cient income to enable them to live in q
style of imposing elegance. A series Of
gay parties was the social welcome given
to the loyal bride. But such honor did
not attend the nuptials of he: palmer
sister.
A few years later and til e moral quail
tiles of each were more apparent in their
faces. I remember meeting both, in
company ten years after their marriage.
I was standing at one end of the room,
when an over-dress woman. with snowy
face, came in accompanied by gentle
man whom I knew, not as an acquain-
tance, but as a man of business and the
husband of the beauty / should scarce
ly have recognized the latter, but for
him. What a change was there. Alta
distance the face struck you as still beau
tiful, but on a closer view the illusion
vanished. The mouth had grown sem
sual, reevish and ilI-natured, the eyes
were bright but the brightness repelled
rather than attracted. After q while,
wondering at the change, drew near
and entered into conversation with her.
The music of her voice l remembered
There was no music in it now at least
none for my cars. A certain abruptness
in her manner, born of pride or super
ciliousness, was to me particularly often
sive. tried her on various subjects
in order to bring out some better aspect
in her character. The Swedish Night
ingale had just been here, and had sung
to my heart as no living man or woman
had ever sung. spoke of her. TOO
artificial, was the reply, with an air of
critical vanity, that gave to my feelings
a ripple Of Indignation. l referred to a
new poem, remarkable for its purity of
style; she coldly remarked with deprc-
citation on some of its special beauties,
merely repeating, as I know, certain
captious reviewer. was in doubt
whether she had read even a page Of the
book. Then I spoke of lady present.
She tossed her head and arched her lip,
She's too fond Of the gentlo-
mems attentions
varied still my efforts, but to no
good purpose. The more 1 conversed
with her the less beautiful became her
face, for the unloveliness of her true
character was perpetually cleaning