Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1867-12-26
From The National Froemason.
THE sooTHsAYER'S MALE
DICTION.
BY MISS c. W. BARBER.

AANh ~ - p1AhAbN bNAhS' 'EA'N
times we find him gifted and noble,
but without, it would seem, the pow
er Of resisting temptation, and con.
sequently he becomes debased like
the brute. Edward Arthur was a
young lawyer. He graduated at an
institution in the North, where he
took the highest honors, and on his
return to his native village was re-
ceiVed by his friends with every
f mark of appreciation and esteem.
But during his college life his social
disposition led him tc contract con-
viyial habits, and long before he
was aware Of himself he was in the
broad road to ruin. He loved the
wine cup---he loved the song-the
revelry which borders on madness,
and the party which tarries long at
the board.
"Where is Arthur? We cannot
have "a wake up without him."
were expressions that were often
heard from young men of his own
age whose characters were not the
most irreproachable in the world.
But these things remained for a long
time hidden from the public gaze.
Arthur was everywhere spoken of
as young man ofgreat talents-of
extraordinary promise. Parlors
were readily thrown open to him.
Prudent mammas smiled approving
ly upon him, and gay girls boosted
TO each other of tokens of esteem
the kindly glance-the delicate at
tention, or the little flower won
from him at public and private par
ties.
But there was one pale faced, gen
tie young being who never men
toned his name, although she met
him frequently, and had learned to
blush at his approach. She was the
clergyman's daughter, and was the
fairest of all the village maidens.
But although the young lawyers
name seldom came to Gertrude
Atherton's lips, his image, never
theless, dwelt continually in her
heart, and many a little token of
his regard was carefully laid away
from prying, inquisitive eyes by her
hands, There was between the leaves
of one of her choicest books with
cred rose -bud-in another faded
sprig of arbor cite, and she repeat
ed to herself, again and again, the |
sentiment which she found written
on a small strip of paper attached
to the evergreen's stem when she
received IL from his hand-'I HUe
for Mee! "Is that the language
of mere compliment9" she queried,
mentally, cor does one so noble
and gifted bow at my feet and sue
for smile ?" Then she sat down
and dreamed those dreams which a
young and ardent imagination can
color so highly.
She was thus engaged one even
ing, when she was startled by foot
step; she looked up and7saw an old
woman-one whom she well knew
to be struggling, gipsy-like for
tune teller, standing directly in the
path before her. She started to ller
feet, and a feeling akin to fear crept
to her heart; ''what do you want
with me, mother Agnes2" she said,
hastily; "what do you want with
me?
The old woman took short pipe
from between her lips and bent an
eye Of snaky blachness upon the
maiden's face. a6a q
"Kou want me-" she said at last,
"instead Of me wanting you. You ,
want your fortune toldP' Il
"Indeed, mother, | do not" she
replied-''my father, you well know,
disapproyes of your occupation,
and would be very angry with me
we're Ito listen to any Of your rev.
elations. l do not want my fortune
told. What God has hidden deep
in the future / do not care to scan.
must not listen to you Excuse
me, mother Agnes, must CO."
"Godr' said the old woman,
without needing the last remark,
and she held up her long, bony fin
ger and shook it violently to and
fro. sis there q God2 Do you
believe in the existence of such a
being? If so, where is he, and
why does he live so unmindful Of
the creatures he has made !? / used
to believe in him once, but do not
now -...a M
Gertrude trembled, for the old
w0man's vehemence frightened her.
She however summoned resolution J
to reply another Agnes" she
said, solemnly, "yeu are yourself
an immortal being, endowed with
cver-expanding capacities for good {
or evil. Do not talk thus How !
dare you talk in that way?"
"How dare II" said the old crone t
"How dare / tell the trnth2 Prove |
to me that / am immortall Prove
to me that there is a God! Prove |
to me that l am not the offspring |
of chance, and the plaything Of {
events p ifIs[ T. NJ
II cannot reason upon such {
points, said Gertrude timidly; "but {
if you will go into the house, my {
father, who is in his study, will take {
pleasure in pointing out to you the !
of Hhris4ianitv PRAY y