The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-08-29


own house and had written to inform ii
father Of what had happened, when she read
In . newspaper that, in skirmish, Major
Marmaduke Stanley bad been killed. She
then opened letter he hsd left with her on
his departure, and found that he had be-
queAthed his small fortune Of four thousand
pounds to Mrs. Montgomery, that she might
settle 1t properly on the mother OF his child
If she survived. il not, upon the infant
The iniaLt orphan was christened Helen
Eyre, after its mother, who, frall a. she had
been, there was no need that her child, at
least, should ever discwn. No one wished
to have the baby that now belonged to none.
And this excellent lady, from no whims no
caprice, no enthusiasm, but touched at the
heart with its utter and forlorn helplessness,
by sorrow for its poor mothers transgres-
sion and early fate, and by something of
maternal affection for It's dead father, re-
solved to adopt Helen Eyre rs her own child,
and to educate her in q woman's accomplish
men,s, and Christians faith. Some smiled
some disdained-and a few even blamed,
the disinterested kindness that could res
cue q poor orphan from an orphans
fate. Many, too, wondered, they knew not
why, when it was known that Major Stanley
had left all his fortune 20 Mrs Montgomery
Cor behoof of the child. But in few months
it was felt by every one, whatever they might
choose to acknowledge; that the brave sol
dier had had good heart, and that he had
committed the interests Of his orphan, even
before she was born, TO one whose character
was summed up in that word-a Christian.
Ii often seems as If those children Who
have fewest to love them in the world, grow
up the most worthy Of love. Here was an
orpha. horn in sin, IN shame and ia sorrow,
aud now left alone on the earth who grew
up beautiful TO all eyes, and captivating TO
all hearts. Before five summer had shone
upon her blue eyes, the child was noticeable
among all other children. Her mother had
been lovely and there was q time, too, it
was said, when her presence had been well
come in the halls even Of the noble, who had
visited her parents in their pleasant dwelling
beside their own church. Her father, how
ever deficient in more solid worth, had been
t E ornament Of polished life and ID seemed
as if nature preserved in this small and beau
tiful and graceful image the united at.rac-
tons Of both the unfortunate dead The
very loneliness Of the sweet child, without
natural home in the world, could not but in
terest every good heart but her exceeding
Of love even upon the heartless and "Eag-
lish Helen"-so she was familiarity called 70
distinguish her from another child Of the
same Christian name at school was favor
ite with all. Besides, she was the adopted
daughter Of Mrs. Montgomery, and that add
ed n charm even TO her beauty, her sweet |
ne 8, and her innocence.
The heart Of Helen Eyre expanded, month |
aff in h. los yofs ~
felt the holy. voice of its nature whispering
10 its new feelings Of love an affection. The |
children with whom she played had fathers |
and mothers, brothers and sisters, and many
other friends. She had none She loved |
The lady who was so good to her, and by
whose bed she had slept at night on her own |
small couch But she knew that it was not
her mother with whom she lived. She had |
been told that both father and mother were |
dead and sometimes the sweet child wept
for those she had never seen, and Of whom
she knew nothing but that they had both |
been buried long ago. Something sad aad
melancholy, therefore, mixed itself with
youths native gladness, and corresponding
expression settled itself about her eyes, and
often smoothed the dimples on her smiling
cheeks. English Helen's" own heart told
her what she had often heard her childish
companions say, that she Was an orphal
but she knew that though that vas some
IhIng mournful, il could not be wicked, and
that, therefore, people would pity her more
and not love her less-because her father
had been killed in the wars, and her mother
DAD died soon after she was born of . broken
heart.
One day Helen Eyre had wandered with
soma NJ har rnrnnanInna info the 4hurrh.
yard, near the Old Tower, and attracted by
the nurmuring blossoms Of shady horse
chestnut tree, taat hung its branches over
several tombs AID grave-stones, in q corner
near the river side, she tripp d into the
shade, ana letting fall her eyes upon a gray
sa5, she read there her ovn name, :le in
scriptlon ON her mothers grave. She went
home drowned in tears, and asked her guar
dian If that was not the stone under which
her mother was buried. The goo1 old lady
went with her 70 the cnurch-y ard, and they
sat down together upon that stone. Helen
was now ten years old and perhaps had
heard, although she scarcely knew that she
had, some dim intlmat:vns in the language
Of her playLnates, which they themselves had
not understood, that she Was "a natural
child" Mrs. Montgomery spoke OF her
weeping eyes fixed upon her face, as enc
spoke IN bewildered aud perplexlng grief
\ sue came TO know Z. last that ner mother
nad been guilty Of u great sin, DuI mad been
| forgiven " God anu had d,ed happy. The
child was told, TOO, altnougn she could
scarcely believe, that some might love her
seal less Tor that reason; but that the truly
good would love her tbs more, If she con-
"A 49,
sweet-lempered, and obedient to Gods holy
laws.
"Your mother. Helen, was kind, gentle,
anu religious creature; and You must AWAY n
think % when you weep for her :; here oe-
side her grave, VI elsewhere when you are
olaer will tell you iuor" about her and
about your birth. But, NY beloved, my
good, and my beautiful Child, for do moi
fear 10 cali Ii ,e 50, even 70 thy sweet iace
/, be not ashamed hold up your head, tiel-
en-, among your COMPANIONS, aud my hands
! as long ss | live, will dress for thee thai
gulleless bosom, and tend The flowing Of
. that glossy nair. am your mother nov,
heien are YOU not willing TO be my loving
! cnild Z"
!, The orphan could make no reply, for hel
! htlle heart was full almost " breaking; Ind
1 she could only kiss sne hand that took nsr',
gently into it, aud bssne is with happy and
/. affsctionate- tears. they lefs the charcn
q yard; and bsiore they reached the sweet cot
4 | Iage ON the rlver's side, Helen was gaxinl
1 wiLh delight on the queen butterflies, y
: they for q moment expanded their rich
|. brvwn motIled, and scarlet wings, On th
4 yellow iustre Of the laburnums, and thel
4 glanced, careering away over the lruil-tree'
INTO other gardsns, or up into the sunshln
d Of the open day.
/ In Scotland there prevails, it i believed
y strong feeling Of an iadehnits kind toward
q those whose birth had been such e thar Z
, poor Helen Eyre. This feeling is digsren
Il in different minds; but, Perhaps, in yer
3 lsw, such a. seem recoBcileable with tru
m Chrlstian spirit. Scorn and aversion toxard