Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-12-24
Adelaide Proctor.

Will tIc F1eilS VI .ttcluiuc itStoi
will be delighted to read the following
sketch of two scenes il her fathers
hOuse-one scene wien she was bat a
child. though precocious one, and
the other when she rested on her death
bed. \ picture taken from the early
pages Of adelaide proctor's history
stands out clear and bright before us.
\ loved and honored guest is expect
cd in the house in Bedford Square to-
day; we can read this in the quiet Joy
that sits cnthroned On Barry Cornwall's
brow; in the eager, earnest movements
of the mistress as she hastens hither
md thilher; i'll the important looks and
meaning smiles of the servants. They
even strive to make little Adelaide q
thought prettier than usual, if that is
possible, 10y putting on her fresher
and fairer frock than common.
At length the door bell rings, the
master hurrics out with words OF glad,
yet reverent welcome; Il minute after, a
tall, spare. elderly man, with brow
that looks AZ if it were the native pal
ace ef genius, with eyes that turn i'll
deep tenderness on the most common
place things il Gods creation, Il. though
they could pierce to an inward and
spiritual beauty in each, was standing
i'll Mrs. proctor's drawing-rooDl.
The sympathetic talk rolls on from
theme to theme, now grave, now gay,
chungotul as the lights and shadows on
the sea i'll spring time, until by and by
the trio, host, hostess and guest, are
disturbed by soft tap at the door.
In an instant, little figure is gliding
up the room; her movements are very
nOiselcRs, as though she were treaiing
IN cons"crated place; there is awe IL
her face as she turns it toward the
stranger, and yet there is great won
drous light in her eyes.
The guest stretches out his hand
kindly, but ut first she takes it very
shyly, and stunis with downcast eyes
and blushing checks; bat gradually his
voice and looks draw her closer and
closer, until at length she is sitting on
his kuee, telling him III simple, child
ish phrase that she does SO love some of
his poems, and can repeat such and
auch ono by heart
As he listens, Ii presclence OF what
she is one day to be- rises up within
him, and William Wordsworth SPEAKS
words of steadfast yet tender teaching,
that to her dang day will not be for
gotten by Adelaide Proctor.
At length the music, that had been
long slumberlug III her nature, woke
up ana found its way Into verse. She
continued to write poetry that made iIs
way with power aud sweetness into
Euglish brains aud hearts, but she did
not give mp her life to literature alone !;
she did other and noble work for her
fellow mea. Her graceful form and
sympathetic voice brought light AMI
music to the wards of mnuy u hospital;
the children in the ragged looked
up into her face to see ut once the moth
er ard the play fellow IN her eyes; tn.
sick ANA dying, IN chill, gloomy garrets.
knew and blessed the ministry of her
gentle hand.
Yet with all this far-spreading work
which was ceuseess in its uuwearyi ing
effort, and with all her devotion to her
art as poetess, devotion which il
proved by the tuneful sweetness of
every line she wrote, Adelaide Proctor
never gave herself the airs of a woman
of business, who had no time to give
to friendly intercourse in general soci
ETY.. There WAS no more popular guest
in London drawing rooms th9n she, her
manners were so modest aud gracious,
her wit was at once SO playful and 30
brisk. Her old girlish readiness Of
tongue never forsook her, and her
quickness in lively repartee shone often
like the harmless flashes of summer
In her home she was still
the sunny fairy she had been in her
early youth.
1t was life rich in many sided work
for God and man, but 1t was a life
which could not fail sooner or later to
wear ont the body in which the loving,
eager, active spirit dwelt.
For year and quarter she lay on
her bed, sweetening and Frightening
the heavy time for herself and all
around her by words OF faith in God
and words of love to man.
There was never sound of complaint
in that sick room; there was no lnvalid's
seltishness there to cast shadow; it
was all one long unbroken strain OF pa
tience and cheerfulness.
I10r llVeIy INTEREST III tue Boou VI
others did not flag, her smile made
still sunshine for those who loved and
watched her; the playful words of days
of health were still often upon her
lips.
AT length, when she was thirty nine,
the angel came to bear her up to God.
Softly she babe her mother raise her,
and the loved arms, that had been her
refuge in every childish sorrow, were
around her neck.
Then. with the brightness Of heaven
already in her face, she whispered y
word of farewell. and went to her
Father above.
A SUsrICIoUsL LOOKING GLAss.--A
young, smartlooking Scotch clergy
man was preaching i'll u strange country
church. Fearing that his hair was not
properly parted in the middle, or, per-
hups, that he might have smudge on
his nose, he quietly and significantly
said to the beadle, there being no mir
ror in the vestry:
",John, could you get me glass p
John disappeared, and after a few
minutes returned with something under
-. 80, a, - 8