The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-09-13
The Umbrella Girl and the Benevolent
Quaker.

The Umbrella Girl and the Benevolent
Quaker.
A young girl, the only daughter Of a
poor widow, removed from the country
TO Philadelphia 10 earn her living by
covering umbrellas. She was very
handsome, with glossy black hair, large
beaming eyes, and clips like wet coral"
She was just at that susceptible age
when youth is ripening into woman
hOod,-when the soul begins 10 be per-
vaded by "that restless principle which
impels poor humans to seek perfection
in union"
At a hotel, near the store for which
she worked, an English traveller, called
Lord Henry Stuart, had taken lodgings
He was a strikingly handsome man,
and Of pTincely carriage, As this dis
tinguished stranger passed TO and from
the hotel, he encountered the umbrella
girl, and he was attracted by her un-
common beauty. He easily traced her
10 the store, where he soon after went
to purchase an umbrella. This was fol-
lowed up by presents of flowers, chats
by the wayside, and invitations TO walk
or ride, all of which were gratefully nc
cepted by the unsuspecting rustic; for
she was as ignorant of the dangers Of q
city as We're the squirrels Of her native
fields. He was merely playing a game
for temporary excitement She, with
head full Of romance, and a heart melt
ing under the influence of love, was un-
consciously endangering the happiness
of her whole life.
Lord Henry invited her to visit the
public gardens on the Fourth of July.
In the simplicity of her heart she be-
Heved all his fiattering professions, and
considered herself his bride elect: she
therefore accepted his invitations with
innocent frankness. But she had no
dress fit 10 wear on sucn q public occa-
sion, with a gentleman of high rank.
whom she really supposed TO be her des-
tined husband. With these thoughts
revolving III her mind, her eye was un-
fortunately attracted by n beautiful
piece OF silk belonging TO her employer.
Could she take il, without being seen.
and pay for it secretly when she b.
earned money enough? The temlf> -.
conquered her in a moment of " alto
She concealed the silk, and q eaknes.
TO her lodgings. 1t was . Jnveyed
she mad ever stolen, ne hrsl Ihlh
back, but she d. ould nave carried
was not sure eaded discovery. 81
met in q spi- .Ier repentance would
On to .rit Of forgiveness.
came = eventful Fourth OF July 81
oor out in her new dress. Lord Hem
-hplimented her upon her elegant n
pearance, but she was not happy. {
their way to the gardens, he talked
her in a manner she did cOmprehen
Perceivingt this he spoke more explicit
The guileless young creature stOppe
looked in his face with a mournful J
prOach, and burst into tears. The n
bleman took her hand kindly, and sal
ssATy dear, are You an innocent girl ?''
81 am, ! am - she exclaimed, wi
eOnvulsive sobs. ooh, what have
ever done, or said that you should a
me such a strange question ~
The evident sincerity of her wor
stirred the deep fountains Of his bett
nature. "If you are innocent said
'God forbid. that l should make y
otherwise. But you accepted my i'm
tations and presents so readily, tha
supposed you understood me-"
hWhat could understand said 81
"except that you intended, in go
faith, to make me your wifeg
Though reared amid the prOudest d
tinctions of rank, he felt no inclinati
10 smile be blushed and was silel
The heartless conYentiOnalities of {
world stood rebuked in the presence
affectionate simplicity. He convey
her to her humble home, and bade h
farewell with a thankful consciOusnG
that he had done no irretrievable iniu
10 her future prospects. The remei
brance of her would be TO him rs {
recollection OF last years butterfiil
With her, the wound was deep. In I
solitude of her chamber she wept
bitterness of heart over ner ruined a
castles. And that dress, which she h
stolen TO make an appearance befttil
a bridel OH what if she should be q
covered ? Would not the heart Of b
poor widowed mother break if s.
should ever know that her child was
thief?
Alas! her wretched foreboding prov
too true. The silk was traced TO he
she was arrested on her way to the stoi
and dragged to prison. There she 7
fused all nourishment and wept ince
sanity. On the fourth day, the keep
called on Isaac 7. Hopper, and informs
MN that there was n young girl
prison who appeared to be utterly frien
tssi and determined to die bv starv
dias., doH. lhe kind-hearted Friend imm
fony3y went to her assistance. /
v,itj, 1iIr 1i.er lying on the floor Of her 90
bing as II - I,eogfi buried in her hands, so
triad = y her heart would break I
answer. ' OUT could obtain
LEA Leave IN. Us alone,n said 10 - .,
if er there is ne beFnaps she viii speak &c to n y
were left alone torafbor When tn
the hair from her temples la;, ae put ha
kindly on her beautiful boai.9I MS har
in soothing tones: "AIy cbiId an,l-s ana So
me rs thy father. Tell me aiI ,eonsio
done. If thou hast taken - s'iou M
me know all about IL. | vro,,l5 Il5k 5h
thee as ! would for my own dan0I',
and I doubt not that / can helm the
of this difficulty
After a long time spent in affecti
ate entreaty, she leaned her Young h
gently on his friendly shoulder.
sobbed out: "Ohi / wish ] was do
What will my poor mother saw NJ
she knows Of my disgrace ~
Perhaps we can manage that
never shall know il" replied he.