New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-15
ADELAIDE PROCTOR.
From The ir00sy

From IN, Aroosy
On the 3Oth OF October. 1872 tne n,s, s ..n -
baby gIrl was heard in house m bediorI SILL,
/. was little wonder that the tiny maiden, WHO'S"
sali feet were soon trotiing about TIE pn"t hv',
grew 10 have a taste for liieratnre Ter la'p Nv
murmurod hal polished lines ~ sue sis ~ w.
l,mre: her moi her discussed new book a. abe Dent
to re her darlng's sash men. whose names WI"
known all over Europe. strok.d her pretty cu'i.'
and her willing slaves ana pAyiIg', n,',,,,"
many a merry game. Such taste she dih h'qlno
as easily and iusensihly other children acquire u
liking FOR using their tongues ard limbs ,....
When Adelaide entered the schoo-room she so"h
sbowed a remarkable brightness and quicknes- ~
all her intellectual faculties. The moment sho "e,
gan 10 take IN hand any branch Oi learning hrf min"
went straight into the heart OF it Win nr"'I"
like sharpness and precision that often rnip',s"a
her teachers. Directly one new requirement WI,
made her restless l'tle brain AZ one" l'uHeh 70 rs
an ,o another, Her memory was strong ahd chpf-
cious nothing that she read ana learned seemed 'y
come pmiss TO be stored away IN ~ u took ~ ahn
retained with equal e0sc. The nrst books 81 bn,Iu,
and the as sprlRbtly shred OF verse she pieked up
from the PAGES OF her favorite annual
No laugh was mefrier IA It's clear music OF ThWns
gladless than hcrsi 10 loot bounded moro n.Nls
and lightly across the grass, when DER parents '"'N
her Tor long happy expeditions on golden Huun'f
DAYS into the country no Saucv' tl,hN bili-n
tongue was more ready Win piaNiul ble"Ihn ~
fun Her presence at this period IA her nome was
for the " aoe household. one ray OF sunshine ana
cadence of CHEEKY melody. 80,
aIdc Procteis history stands out clear and hriHht
before us A loved and IGNORED guest u rNp'ct"'i
a ~
this ~ the quiet JOY that sits entlroned on baIlb
Cornwall, brow m the eager, earnest movements
a. The mistress as she hasen- hither md thihrr M
the important looks aud meaning smiles oi IN" 81
wants: they even strive to make hlue Aheia"1 a
thought pretic than usual, u mat ~ P"s'lo'' w
putting on her hesher aud fairer li"ck l"hh vun'
mon. AZ ichgih tr door bell rings tbe lh'H'' JUL
res out with word. Of glad, Vet r"Ncrent W'ic"m'
u minute after a tall, spare, elderly man WIN
brow mat looks ~ II u were ths nhi'e PlIa'' W
genius. with eyes that turn IN deep teho'r"e,s on
tnc mos, commonplace things 10 bois crctilph' q,
thou lh they could pierce 10 an iuWtrl ana ,ritl"d
hpaufy each, was standing 80 MIS- ii"'''i
Ihe sympathetic talk rolls from theme 10
ihcinp, now grave. now gly, chan2eiu a. ~" hRhl'
and shadows on the -ea M -punR bm', untl bN-llu-
by the ro host. hostess and guest are AZ 'nr Nv
% soft tap al thc door. la an instant niue ugnlc
il gliding mp the room her movements are very
UOsrlcs- ~ though she were iirtuhH ~ " ''N''
cr1e; place there n awe IA her lace ms Sh' turns u
toward the stranger and vet ther" u great, WON
drous light IA hcf eyes.
frst she takrs n very shyy. aud stands WIN down
east eyes and blu.hing 'he'k-; bit gradually has
volco and looks draw her closer ana cin,ri nhli "t
length she o., sitiing on ms Knee trhhg hm h SIN
pie childish phrase that ~hs doe 80 love SOME or
has po,Ins and can repeat such and shcn one ~
heart. As he listens. presclencr OF Mhii niif a.
one day ~ be- rises M wighn him. and " Ilam
Words worth speaks words of stradtast Yet trtder
teachinu that to her dying day VIII not be- iolgp-
ten by Adelaide Proctor.
Her religious feel ng- and convictions had always
been very earnest, bringing thcmsei'c. INTO ne
of her daily lie, ana wiring themselves
there In acts OF scitdsryug love ana n'ict her
brilliant Imagination and starry ialth had always
made her inclined toward the gorgeous ami rich ~
tward form of worship. She had q iaV0rte aunt
who was A Roman Catholic and when sh' was
about twenty-five she joined the h"mlsh com
inuuipn, OF which ~bc was hTm aud reVerut MEM
Der TIL the end Of her earthly lie.
At length the music. that had been long s'umher-
ing ia her nature. woke up and found rs way INTO
verse. She continued 10 write poetry, ina, mAdr iis
way with power md sweetness INTO Euglish brains
and hearts Int she did not give mp her life e icr-
allure alone size dId other and noble work tor her
fellow men. Her graceful form ana sNlnpiihetc
voice brought light ana music to the wards at many
n hospital the children IN the ragged hool looked
M INTO her face 10 nj once the mother and The
layieloW III her eves the sex ana 9vihs. III cum;
gloomy gauets. knew and blessed the ministry OF
| her gentle hand.
Yet with all this far-sprrading work, which was
ceaseless IN H. unwearyuR effort, anu with all her
devotion 10 her art as poeteS.. devotion which ~
proved by the tunefl sweetness OF every IN" she
wrote. Adelaide Proctor never gave herself The airs
| 81 a woman of business. who had no tim" 10 give
| to friendly intercourse IN general society; there
was no more popular guest lH London drawtug-
rooms than she. har manners were SO mod ana
gracious her wit was NJ once So piaviui and :"
| bright Her Old girish readiness of tongue never
| forsOok her and her quickness IN lively repartte
| shouc often like the narmcss HaShc. 81 summer
| lightning In her home she was stil the sammy
fairy she had been IN her early youth
IL WAS a life rich m many-~ided work for God aud
| man but II was life winch could rot i1il sooner or
| later 10 wear Our the body ~ which the loving
eager. active splrit dweit.
For a wear ana "a quarter NlN itN 'n Nti "'uf
sweetening and bughteulng the heavy time tor her
self AID All around her BY words of futh ~ G.
and words If love 70 man. There was never %
sound of complaint in that SICK room; There WAS ro
uyaiids scliishuc-s there to cas- asIaaoN; o. was
all one long unhroken strain o patience anal cacrf-
fitness Her lively interest i'm The good OF others
did not Gag her smile made sll sunshine for those
who loved and watched her; the playful. woi Is Of
DAYS If health were stlll often upon her lips.
At length, when she was thlrtl-uine. the angel
came to bear her up "a Got. ~0tfly Size babe hcI
mother ras her. and tie loved arms tllt had been
her refuge m every childish sorrow. were ar una
her neck Then with the brightness OF heaven al
ready IN her face she whispered word of iar, well
ana went Ia her Father above.
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