Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-07-25
SELECTED STORY.
GRACE BROWN.

Grace Brown was the pet of the vii
lage-prety. lively, and, like other pets.
very self-willod; but the effects of this
latter duality were softened down and
rendered quite loseable by her open, gen.
erous disposition, which would not allow
her to ipjure another, even SO to CRAFTY
that ruling passion. Some said that
Grace thought herself sufficiently haud-
some, aud termed.it vanity. True per-
haps, when each Sabbath morning found
her ready decked for the sunny walk to
she parish church on the hillside. or the
weeks day evening saw her in her little
chamber window plying her needle yes,
perhaps then, as she caught sideloug
glance at herself in the mirror, she might
think it no such great wonder that the
young men gazed as they passed by, or
that they looked 50 curiously at bow-pots
and flowing geraniums petched on the Gill
OF her casement-perhaps. too, she might
cast glance beyond. But this was van
ity? Nc; Grace was as free Of that hate
full quality as the bird which carrolled so
joyouslv in MS bright cage on the cottage
wall Vanity cannot be justly attributed
to those who are only conscious of possess
sing the qualities which are theirs in real
ity, but to those alone who boast to them
selves of Projections which they can new
err hope 10 possess. Such was the case
with those who termed Grace vain.
One fine autumn evening she sat as
usual, beside her geraniums, over VIII ch
was hung her little bird pet; but the
leaves of the former hung droopingly, as
though to ask of their sweet mistress the
usual drop of spring water, and poor pet
chirruped and hoped from perch to
perch, and rufhed his yellow feathers to
attract her at,en ton. but in vain. No
cooling drop greeted the sickly leaf--no
tiny finger placed q bit of sugar between
Pets cage wires. And how was this :?
Was Grace i'll? No; but her thoughts
were wandering, and her eyes were fixed
full on poor Pet and his companion plants
she saw neither one nor the other And
whittier were her thoughts wandering !?
Only into peighboring lane. up which
she strolled VIXEN the sun was beginning
to dip his bright head meath tie blue
tops Of the neighboring hill. 1t was
very pleasant lane, but as its sides were
bounded by high hawthorn and wild rose
bushes, it may be supposed that Grace
did not 60 there for the sake of any beau
tiful prospects for her whole height was
not more than the top o'the bank on which
the bushes. grew. For what, then, could i
it be ? In truth it was that there gener-
ally accompanied her ,hither very pleas.
ant compsnion-not, her mothor-not
one of her neighbours daughters No;
but a young man. the son of farmer
rot, far distant,
Yeo, the truth may as we'll be told.
Grace had given, or thought she had
given, her little heart to the cempan ion
Of her strolls. and, indeed, any one to look
Oh him, might imagine better choice
was not to be made. Tall, handsome and
athletic be was, and his eye beamcd
when he looked on her. But they who
knew linn better than GRACE, said he was
vild and tickle. Neither did they scru-
pie to warn her of that knowledge. But
Grace would not believe. How could
she. when she saw that, although they
spoke against him, they were always ready
to welcome him to their homes? Besides
there was an eloquence far more power
full to the heart and understanding Of
Grace eloquent, more easily be-
leved than aught they could litter. Yes,
the eye and tongue Of William Clively
were the monitors most eagerly sought,
and most willingly listened to when found
How could she think lie was deceiving
her Z There was no falsehood in bis
deep gaze on her-no harshness in his
soft voice. But there was one who did
not like him, to whom Grace had ever
yet been accustomed to pay the most pro-
found submission, because that humility
had never been forced, but ever won from
her by love. That being was her moth
er. sh IA
She had nov been sitting in this deep
reverie some ten minutes. from which she
was reused by light hand being laid On
her shoulder. The blood mounted to
her temples and cheek, for she kpew,
without raising her eyes, that it vas her
mother and she felt conscious that, her
mothei's eve was reading her inerlnost
heart. She also knew she had nought to |
fear, for though at this moment her little