Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-05-24
Mnrar Dart.
THREE SEASONS
IN ALICE LANSING'S LIFE.

IN ALICE LANSING'S LIFE.
BIT ksorA.
Alice Lansing was idle; so her moth
er said. There was basket of work
by her side, with the needle ready pla
ced in hem, while a book, held open
by the scissors, lay in the chair be-
fore her but her eyes were turned out
OF doors, though it was not question
whether or not she saw anything
there. Her face was flushed with the
close air of the room, and the vexed
mind within, as she questioned ques,
tioned,as some girls Of sixteen will.
By-and-by the shadow of a frown pas
sed away from her face, as her atten-
ton was arrested by spot of pure
snow banking brightly the circle of
faded grass around the trunk of the
locust tree, and contrasting with the
rich, messy bark. 1t looked so glad,
so peaceful, that, unconsciously, it
calmed her and she let her eyes rest
there, until, unfortunately, she became
conscious that a rose bush bristling
with thorns was thrusting itself be-
tween her and the snow. In her state
of mind, the sight hurt her worse than
the touch would have done and drop
ping her thimble, she rose hastily, and
throwing a shawl around her shoulders,
went out into the air
She passed through the open gate
into the field, walking rapidly and
without purpose, making a devious
path in the thin crust of snow,
hardly thinking, but with a vague
wish to escape from something-from
herself, perhaps. The air and exercise
cooled her brain and stilled the tumult
a little, and soon she began to walk
more slowly and think more contented-
ly. "lt's OF no use," she thought al
must give up one or the other.' All my
study at home doesn't amount to any
thing it only hurries me. | neither
study nor work properly, and feel as
though everything attempted was on
ly half done. 1t frets mother; she is
tired of seeing so many books around,
and it is impossible to have any order
about things, so that | am sure Of hav-
ing fifteen minutes to myself there
is company Or some unexpected work
to do. wonder why it is so! Nellie
Hale has all the time and money she
wants, but she wont go to school, or
read anything but novels when she is
at home. If our folks could only get
along two or three years longer, then
| could help myself, and them, too, per-
haps. They must ! | can't give it up !!
If do, everything will be lost. Butt
and she walked more slowly, I" in three
years, father and mother may both die.
Mother is never well, and fathers hair
is almost white. They have worked so
hard, and if go to school they must
work harder. | can't go.
Then there arose before her the course
of study marked out before her,-the
new fields of thought and knowledge
lying before her-the last examination
when teachers and friends smiled ap
probation, and the committee showered
enconiums upon her and her heart
beat fast as shes remembered the ap-
plause that followed the reading of her
essay, and-perhaps the respect and
admiration spoken by two dark eyes
as she looked up into manly face.
The future was before her-could she
but think Of the place that might be
hers in the world, of good she might
do with education and position. But"
she thought on, II shall do no good
then, if | stihe my convictions of duty
now and the highest honor cannot be
given 10y the world. What shall do p
and she looked up as though out of the
silence she would be answered.
God never leaves us quite alone
when we are seeking for the path, and
to-day lie made the hills and woods
messengers to Alice Lansing. Her eye
caught the pale blue of the far off
woods-the deep, strong purple of the
nearer ones-and, just beyond, the hill
over which the shadow of cloud was
passing, the rich brown of the old, old
trees she loved. The yellow willows
by the brook seemed to hold summer
in their grasp. How warm the red ber.
ries looked, crowning like coral the
brown twigs in the swamp and al.
though the snow was on the ground,
there was a sweet, gentle twitter OF
birds coming up from the bushes as
though the berries had taken voice.
There was 10 vision-no thunder
ings and lightnings in the giving OF
this law-but a still small voice spoke
to the young girl in the sounds she
heard. There were no tables of stone
but the commandments were written
anew for her, in the sweet colors o
earth. ~ will stay" she spoke aloud
while the tears gushed from her eyes
and all for moment was dark bu
the light soon came to eye and heart
1t wasn't much only girl deci
ding between home and school. d.
you think SO? Did not her decision
embrace girls future, and bury /
girls hopes! And only woman
knows what they may be Was it no
the best gift laid upon the alter ?-th'
beginning of sacrifices, not one of whicl
God ever forgets And so, was it no
the beginning of glory ?-the first Q
victories for which she should hereai
ter receive throne! Oh, think no
lightly Of the workings of one youn,
heart Approach the youngest sou
reverently and with unshod feet, 70
the place whereon thou standest is he
ly ground. Ta.1 r.7~t 4
| Alice walked home slowly. She coul
enjoy the light and beauty now, an
nothing escaped her notice. Even tn
caterpillar which lay in her path like
coil Of velvet, received her sympathy
and for its sake she wished for warme
breezes. She sang too-sang softly
and the praises sung upon the hills {
earth, mingled with those of angels b.
: fore the throne. She entered the hons
with face little pale perhaps, br
~ Ia T. 4