Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1867-02-07
rAR7HUR, YNToy COUNTY OHIO THURSDAY FEBRUARY 1867

DottwishIher tosfeel that l had OOurtei
her society out Of curiosity. When she
chose she might tell me who she was il
satisfied me, at present, to know her name
was Lucy. Ncr yal
How her eyes frightened, when she
glanced around my room at the books
and pictures She forgot that her hands
were idle, Nor that there was any neees,
sity for exertion. She seemed TO be in q
kind Of dream. D5
I AsI watched her, il gradually dawned
upon my soul that Providence had led
me to work outside Of myself. Here
was young, immortal mind, hungry for
food too long denied. What if / under
took to train it Z; to strengthen and direct
it's capabilities; to mould and shape tho
plastic clayi Ishould strengthen my
own soul with the food gave to another.
1t would he pleasant work. as
With me, deeds followed quickly on
thoughts. Lucy Reynolds came to be
more than a companion to me; aud ]
was 'abundantly repaid for any act Of
kindness or extra exertion, by her warm
affection for me, her desire to learn, and
the marked improvement each day deyelN
oped. She was an orphan, like myself.
Her aunt, with whom she lived, was o
dressmaker, and seldom at home any day,
except Sunday. The fatigue consequent
upon her labors prevented her from at
tending TO any thing more than the ply.
sical wants of her nice. @s-
! am inclined to think that Lucy't
notes were not altogether indicative of Q
happy heart but, like the Gagged bird
she sang to keep herself from thinking
Of all she pined for, Do you wonder
that she blessed me for bet freedOm2
/ e3 10 gs PART H. a..
FIVE years slipped by. Five years
and they made no such great change in
me, after all. Tire face Was as smooth
the eye as clear, the hair as brown, and
ny heart never forgot its song of youth
or hope. Lucy and had our vacations;
days that we're given over to'freedom Of
thought and action. How we did enjoy
those days in the solitude of the woods,
by the margin of brook, whore none
but the birds came to interrupt US! How
short they seemed; and how sorry We
we're when the setting sun reminded US
} that it was time to be getting back to the
, NOISY old town! @ sb
1t was just at twilight one September
afternoon; the fitting closs to golden
day, that l sat rocking back and forth
thinking Of the years that we're past
and more than all Of Fairhaven.
| / never could think what possessed me
to Seep DWELLING upon that theme. More
than ever hateful itseened; yet l could
not Keep my thoughts from constantly
reverting to il. Finally 1 reused myself
|by'a great effort, and began making pre-
parations for supper. ap. @
It'was while thus engaged that l heard
voices outside my door. udl
This room, if you please, SIR Il
was I.ucy's voice; but whom could she
be addresSing9 aaaaot 70 ..j
was slightly alarmed; and gave .
not very cordial Come in to the timid
bnocE. iaa3a a.3 n
! Il was Edward ~ 1a
| I did not suppose l should ever be
glad to see him; but I was. sG
And hep Why,I don'tthiuE he took
his eyes off me during the whole of his
stay sGf a9e g'.
had SO many questions to ask, and be
to answer, that it was after ten O'Clock
before l thought Of any thing to eat
Edward reminded me that | had had nc
supper, and urged me to prepare the meal
as speedily as possible, that he nigh
partake. Which / did.
| This was his story:
Julia Wordef had Tilted him on Che
evening of his mothers death. After
wandering about to recover from depres.
sion Of spirits, he came home to pour
his troubles in his mothers ear, and com
fort her with the assurance that hereaf'
ter, while she lived, no love but herr
should fill his heart. That ear was deaf
that heart cold /, and, feeling like one
accursed, he fed out Of sight and hear
ling Of all that had caused such q weigh
of agony, a,
! He lay ON the beach till morning, ho-
ping the tide would carry him away
Then he wandered, he scarcely. knew il
what direction, but ever keeping near tht
shore, until *alking was impossible, &c
weak had he become for want Of food
and then he lay down to die.
He was picked up by some sailors, anG
taken on board vessel bound to Cali
lfornia. As soon as he was able, he be.
tgan to maize himself useful, and by th,
time they reached the golden lsn1,' hat
won the respect and confidence Of all ol
board. .s 8.
| One night he made his escape an,
u found his way to tho mining district,
Here good Fortune seemed to atten
him and the discovery Of q yaluabl
nugget, iwhicn put him, beyond the fed
Of poverty, fol, a while at least, inspire
him With ! desire to visit his form,