The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-12-05
SELECTED STORY.
tFrom Moorei Rusai Now Yorker.I
A sketch of Early Days.
by NELLIE LINDEN,

eshoo' eH', thofo WcIeSctne5 ahu lnclQents
which in old age come througiug back to
memory and 6ll my heart with pleasing
sensations s--rsmemhrances OF the happy
past which, while I muse upon, seem TO
live all o'er agaiu. At the age Of fifteen
was sent from my childhood homo to a
distant city to attend a young ladies'
boarding school. Those who have passed
tho trying ordeal Of "first day" at new
school can imagine my feelings when l
was usbered into room where were
seated abou: siSty young ladies, varying
In age from nine to twenty years. No
smile ofrecognition me, my eye, for was
ali utter stranger to all lsave, the Precepttess.
1t was lonely day to me, aud glad indeed
was when the hour Of retiring c,me, for
longed to indulge in thoughts Of the
happy home aud kind friends had left,
"psr: from the gaze Of my stranger
.sohoel mates. y Z. ;.|
-'f was assigned a room with q young
! gHl apparently about my own age. She
~SaaSilAsedia dsepss. mourning, and her
features wore a saddened expression, which,
associated with her dress, led me TO
conjecture tha. she had lost near and
dear friend. But being a stranger, I
wisely retained my thoughts, and we wen,
70 rest indulging in but little conversation
The next day psrticslarly noticed that
che WAS q faverite with all from the
kindness with which she was treated, and
the manner In which she was lopxed 10
Tor advice aud Assistance even by those
older, than herself. Lizzie Montgomery
was not what the worE calls beautiful,
bat "her soul spoke in her eyes," and her
kindly smile and ready willingness to do
coed in every place, had SO won the
hearts Of those around her that il would
IhSva seemed a Dissertation 70 call her
tAught than lovely. She was one to win
thesrt's best sfecticns. and csll ort tbe
arrsst feelings o, the soy.
About three months after my entrance
IN school, as We we're one evening seated
an she parlor appropriated to our use, one
ofthe young ladies handed Lizzie volume
'of Mrs. lIemsn's poems-sud requested
der 70 read q piece Of her own selection.
In . clear and silvsry voice she read that
.'noss beautiful poem, The Bride Of the
Greek Isls." but scarcely had she finished
~ersevsry voice~ssrsised to plead for one
more. She selse,ej The Messenger
.bnd;' but her eyes grew dim With tears
,as she proceeded, until al the fourth verse
she paused, closed the book and left the
room. ] quickly followed. for had
'bscoms deeply interested in her sadness
and determined, IL possible. to dispel the
gloom which dayksned her young spirit.
II paused at the door OF our room and
'bsheld Lizzie weeping eonvulsivsiy. Her
long. tIack tresses hung around her pale
checks, and the soft wind OF summer
.svsning p!Syed gently round her brow.
seemingly to soothe her troubled spirit
'butin vain. Che would raise her eyes to
Tho starry sky, but its calm and placid
beauty sootbed not her heart. entered
the room'nnd knseling by her side strove
10. calm her wild emotion. Like a weary
child she listened. until spoke Of Heaven
and its giories, when she exclaimed, "Oh,
'hsllie, my only hope h there; shall not
long remain to suffer here-my Heavenly
Father is kind and he will take me to
himself You have often ask ed the cause
of my deep dejectiou--you shall know
all.
1.-TWO years. ago I was the child OF
wealthy psrsnts--lovsd, csresssd and most
happy. II evN Angel spirits dwell on
earth in human form, believe mother
WAS one. Oh, how loved to set at her
feet and listen as she told me Of tha. home
beyond the sky where she was soon going,
and her Lizzie would then have 90 mother.
Since my earliest recollection she was
feeble and delicate. But my father would
not, could no, believe ths, she would
brighten his pathway in life 40 short q
time, and fade forever from his sndearing
sight. All that medical skill could suggest
~" promptly executed but all to no avail.
Two years ago to day they laid her In the
cold bosom Of the earth, 10 sleep her last,
long sleep. One year after her death |
srtered this school. The kindness Of Mrs.
Arlington, our precsptress, rendered this
home, rest to my weary heart after
that mournful event, aud as seemed
more content here than. elsewhere, my
father consented that I should remain
NATL I had Gn;.laJ ~, stnI;n. n.