Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-07-25
heart had been rebcling. her parents
nh id;no was ever one ~ non tlanesa

! lost his last bit OF crimson IN the deep
| grey. Come, love, you have been sew
ing all day. Just throw your scarf around
you and walk in our garden.
II would rather not mama" answered
Grace in low tone, turning her head
still more from her parent; and then fer
the first time, casting her eyes on the
dropping plants and now sulky little Pet
But she quickly added, Il will water my
trees and chirrup to Pet little for be
seems Quiet to have the mopes.'
'.'Aud how comes it that he has the
mopcs, love 2" again spoke her mama.
''Ah see, mama" retorted the now
half-tear iul. half-smiiing maiden Il
see you have been reading my heart, and
thu. it is useless 10 keep anything from
you. But though you have seen part
that was passing there. you cannot tell
all !"
'sDut I can guess. Grace; and that.
perchance, Will d as WE'LL I doubt not
you thought me very cruel, very inconsider
ate in not allowing you to have quite your
own way; and I doubt not you thought I
knew very little about it; but sit down,
and will tell you a little passage in my
own life, and after that will have you
| to judge for yourself, only first assuring
you that have every proofthat " illiam
Clively is very wild, and his father quite
unable to support him in his present ez
travagance See here, love, I have
brought my knitting; SO take up your
work from the window sill and thus,
! VIII lie we are quite Industrious, I will
proceed to tell you that my sketch COM
meuces whea l was about twolvemonths
older than you are now. At that time,
Grace, l was circumstanc.d too, some
what as you are. You understand me.
love - Grace hlushed and smiled. 81
bad rebelllous heart, TOO, and there
was one for whom Is was reboll ious-one
whom i. had set UP as the idol Of its idol
AIRY, and one whom unfortunately, Meth
er OF my parents approved. But yet,
Grace, own that thought my knowl-
edge of his habits far exceeded theirs; and
all lslew Of him vas fair aud omen.
Things continued thus for above eighteen
months. at the end Of which time nv
eyes we're fully opened by his vices-he
committed a forgery and ebsconded j.,
though It is probable, had be staid, no
injury would have awaited him. for his
friends who were wealthy ana powerful.
made up the sum for which he had risked
so much, and paid it. Grace, it was
some time even then totofe ] could wean
my heart from its idolatry ;but it has seen
it error, aud my mind was made up to
overcome such perversity, aud | did. Yes
Grace, | knew what it was to have cher
ished affections warring against my own
convictions of right. You will perhaps
say that he had deserted me, aud it might
be that pride rose superior to negle ct
and slight, but not SO. He did not de-
sert me-hc did not Sigh. ne; for
though all others - ignorant Of his
destination. knew whittier he had fed.
and from thence received letter full OF
affection and repentance for all past fol.
lies. But. Grace, had I forgiven, or
rather overlooked his vice I for I did not
forgive), l never could have placed con
idence in him again. So I wrote him
once, but that once was to discard him
forever. From that timesI busted myself
in work, in tending to my garden, in as
sistine my neighbors. and, indeed. in
various ways of which I had not thought
before, saw that people approved my
conduct, too; every eye greeted me, ev-
cry tongue welcomed me in joyous tones;
and in time my own heart grew Joyous,
and felt ligttpess it had never known
till then, even in its widest moments of
affection for the now unworthy. Bat I
did not know the fullness of the happiness
| was to reap from that one era Of my
life till five years had elapsed During
that period, lsve, your dear father had
wooed me, and knowing from all that he
was beloved and respected, he won nc.
although nota fftieth part SO handsome
or so engaging in his manner as he of
whom have been speaking. But be
soon taught me to love him-I do not
mean with the girlish wildness I had
loved before-but with an affection which
might last through sorrow. sickness,
death as it has doue, dear Grace"
The tears started to the sweet eyes of
Grace, and fell Tricky upou the little
border on which she was so busily play
ing her needle. as the thought OF her
fond father passed across her heart and
smote it for its rebelli against her will
to whose care he had SO solemnly en,rast-
ed her on his death bed. The mother
was also silent for few moments.
CIV ell, love-" she at length resumed.
you were but q fow months old when
one day, l was sitting with you in a small
arbor in the garden of the dwelling where
we then resided On sudden heard
the latch Of the garden gate raised, aud
a poor .emacisted- looking man toiled up
the sunny walk He appeared in the
last stage Of wretchedness, and sickness
seemed to add its heavy load of misery
where already there appeared to be az
accumulation Of ills. rose With ar 4
intention of inquiring into bis condition,
and relieving him as far as my means
would permit; and, taking you in my
arms, l stood before him. But, Grace,
| suppose that time had not SO changed
me as it had done him for DO instantly
calculated my maiden namel Yes, love,
you may well drop your work and raise
your eyes. 1t was indeed no. whom | /
had loved. and persisted in loving, in
opposition to my parents judgment.
At that moment your father appeared at
the door, and when | looked on you and
him, con,rss.ed with the wretched mass
Of 6lsh that shrupk before me, my heart
leaned With gratitude to God for teacb-