Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-30

4 nAtOn, alarmed lest her cries shOult at
tract attention, seized the child in hi
angry grasp and frightened her into sub
mission. They carefully avoided The
public roads, and hating in forest, pre-
pared to rest their jaded animal and seeb
the repose they SO much needed. Fol
days they journeyed on, while Lily, awed
into quIetness by Anton's scowling looks.
grew pale and wan, pining for thai
mother from whom she was 80 cruelty
separated.
After journeying week, they deemed
1t prudent TO stop at city they were ap-
preaching. They would not venture into
the town with the child as yet, but left
her in the wagon with boy of the COM
| pany, with instructions TO watch her
| closely. Left to themselves, the boy
amused himself with the child. He took
her from the wagon, and seating her un
der spreading oak, read her wonderful
stories from book in his possession.
Gradually his stories became drowsy, and
st last ceased altogether, for sleep had
stolen on him unawares. Lily, miss
ing the sound of his voice, started up,
and meeting with no restraint, began
playing amongst the fallen leaves that had
strewed the ground. She gradually ram
bled further and further, now chasing
some gaudy butterfly, anon stopping to
rest upon the green turf until at last she
reached large gate, standing ajar. With
the freedom of childhood, she entered in
and sported amongst the beautiful flowers
in the enclosure, until, fatigued by her
wanderings she sank upon a flight of
stone steps leading up to spacious man
sion, and the tired lids, heavy and weep
ing, were soon closed in the blessed re-
lief of slumber. Some hours after, she
was found by a portly, good-natured old
lady, who took her in her arms, and bore
her into the house amid the astonished
EXPLANATIONS of the servants. She dis
robed the little dust-stained form, and
bsthed the hot face of the child, who had
awakened, and begged piteously for
Mamma
'sPoor, little one! Where is YOUR
mother, darlingG" but only sobs and
means for mamma" was the reply.
The kind old lady lulled the wearied
child to rest in her arms, and gently laid
her upon downy couch, keeping silent
vigil DER the beauteous sleeper.
"What will you do with her, Mrs. Nor
ris9" inquired the servants of the house
keeper, as she proved to be; 'Master is
away and will be goae for some time,
and what shall we dog"
'tDoG" said Mrs. Morris, "Why keep
her, certainly, until she is claimed by her
parents, and if they are never found your
master is not q hsrd-hearted man, as you
well know, and he will see that the little
creature does not suffer. In the mean
time be kind and gentle with her, and
make inquiries in the neighborhood as to
who has sustained such loss.n
When Lily awoke, exhausted nature
had given way in q violent fever. She
grew gradually worse, and the family
physician was summoned. For weeks
her life hung by a thread, but nature,
aided by skilful physician and faithful
nursing, triumphed. and Lily was re-
stored, frail and delicate as the flower
whose name she bore. She could give no
clue as to her former home and associa-
tons, but in piteous tones she would beg
for 'Lily" to be taken to "mamma" and
''pspa-"
With the fear that guilt ever lends, her
captors, on discovering her loss, would
make no open inquiries, but fingered sew
eral days in the hopes of seeing her, but
at last gave up the search, and vented
their indignation upon the unfortunate
lad in whose charge she hsd been left.
They finally lid that section of country
of their company.
After an absence of several weeks, the
master of Oakland, as the place was
styled, returned, to find this little, fragile
flower domesticated in his household. At
sight of her strange pang shot through
his heart, for gazing into the large liquid
blue orbs upturned to his, he recalled the
light of eyes which had once lu-ed him
to bitter grief. In him, gentle reader,
you will recognize an old acquaintance,
Clarence Everton, though changed by
time and keen suffering. His heart had
been stepped in bitterness towards his
kind since his cruel rejection, and strange
fatality, it was the child of Lillian Somers
who was destined to turn this feeling into
love for Creator and created. With the
natural esgerness of childhood, which
ever longs for something to love, Lillian
soon chung with passionate fondness to
Clarence, who unbent from his stern dig
nifty TO receive the love of the little child.
Mrs. Morris came in for large share Of
her affection and gratitude, but she was
never happier than when engaged in some
office of love for ''Clary,n as she termed
him. Her artless demonstrations aroused
the dormant feelings of his better nature,
and LILY becams as necessary to his hap
piness as he was to hers. He inserted
advertisements in the papers as to the
child's whereabouts; but as time sd-
vanced, and no one came TO claim the
child, he considered himself her proper
guardian. In walks and drives she was
ever his companion, and from his richly
stored mind, she CLEANED lessons of wis
dom. The best of teachers were en-
ployed for her, and no expense was
spared to make her an ornament in that
society in which she was destined to
move. She was easily taught of Di-
vine guidance, and, as time passed on,
love of the Supreme Being animated every
fibre of her being, and to Him she ever
turned in thaukfulness for all the bless
ings laVished upon her. Her example
had a salutaTy effect upon her guardian.
His once dresTy mansion was now thrown
open to his long negiected friends, and
right glad were they to welcome back in
their midst one 80 respected, with the ad-
diti)n of lovely, attractive maiden. The
pangs of the old love had lost their sting
in the care bestowed upon this new OBJ
ject of affection, and he became again
the genial, thoughtful host. And thus it
ever is, in soothing the sorrows of 9TH
ers we forget our OWL.
When Lily had attained her seven
teenth year, she had had suitOrs, TO none
of whom she gave favorable response;
in fact she did not know the exact state
of her own feelings. But no such
thoughts troubled the happy girl. The
approval and regard OF her guardian was
worth more to her than the honor con-
ferred upon her by the many who would
fain call her their Gwl.
Clarence observed these alterations with
much concern, for he had transferred the
wealth Of manhood's earnest devotion to
this fair young being fate had SO strange
ly cast in his pathway. But his was no
selfish love; upon her he had lavished all the
good in his power to bestow, giving his
untsrnished name to the unknown child;
4 -.