The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-06-28
Rossetti.

For there my soul this hour has breathed
An air inyiolate.
i -Rossetti
LAURA MARVIN.
One Of the pleasantest places in the
world to me when a child was in the
vicinity of an old weather-colored house
under the almost overhanging hills.
Now it has passed into other hands and
l go there but seldom. When | do
there comes over me feeling of pro-
prietorship toward the crooked Virginia
worm fences, the stately trees and wood
paths, which alone time has not changed.
Far back from the travelled road, it is
approached by gate opening into a
pasture fragrant with sweet fern and
odorous pines over well-Worn plank
across the school house brook, past a
knoll where the first spring violets open
and through another gate you reach the
little old house. Among my earliest
recollections are the happy hours spent
with Laura Marvin--out by the brook
catching minnows; on the hillside
above the stream searching for the first
arbutus. What tremors we had for
fear of snakes; never daring to men
ton them, for as all country children
know, if you speak of snakes you will
surely see one.
Laura was delicate, slender girl, six
years my senior. How | worshiped her
sweet, sunny face, large, brown eyes
and clustering curls! Then she had
such tiny white hands that nothing ever
seemed to soil. Even then l used to
wonder how she could belong to such
parents, and imagined many thrilling
fairy tale in which Laura figured as the
beautiful princess stolen in infancy and
her mother as the dreadful old witch
who spirited her away. Mrs. Marvin
was tall. thin, Yankee" all angles
and seemingly aggressive to the, last de-
gree. Her black eyes always frightened
while they also fascinated me so that I
could never avoid watching her every
motion. Her husband was small man,
with rather low voice, his Individual
ty entirely merged in that of his wife,
who ruled everything within her reach
with a rod of iron. He was very ig-
norant but a naturally kind-hearted
man, solely devoted to his "critters"
and "garden sas," intent upon keeping
one from reaching the other through
his tumble-down fences. One often
sees girls like Laura in New England,
and wonders from what long buried an
cestor they derived such dainty ways so
much at variance with their surround |
ings.
l was fiery, impulsive child, and it |
must have required all Laura sweet
ness of disposition to keep me within
bounds. She was not favorite at the
district school. Always different from the
other children, she did not care to min
gle in their plays, and her quiet dignity
aroused their jealousy. After the worlds
fashion they scorned and laughed at
what they could not understand. Many
a pitched battle have l fought for my
friend. One time in particular, heard
some one at home say, Laura was
growing dreamy and sentimental.
Thinking sentimentality must be a
desirable quality from the length of the
word, | answered the next challenge
with "Uncle John says Laura's grow
ing sentimental, and how dare you say
anything about girl who is all that,
Mary Sampson ?" 1t was some time
before l understood why the teacher
laughed as she rung the bell.
think Mrs. Marvin meant to be kind,
but could not rid myself of the idea
that l was in her way in the house, sc
we took long walks together, and
would sit for hours watching Laura
sketch trees and flowers in a manner
which | thought truly wonderful-per-
haps the sketches were so, though in
way from my estimate. She
had "taste for nature" as he mother
said do not think she had much tai
ent, but a good eye for outline and col
or, which had it been cultivated might
have been a source of much pleasure.
Her mother said: ''Such nonsense
I never see Better be a-doin' some
thin some kinder use. When | was
a gal l had to work" But her an
swer to Laura's proffered assistance inva-
riably was: ''No, you go long, cost
more more'n it comes to. 'Druther do
it myself" She loved her with all the
love of which she was capable, but she
had no conception of how the girl
craved some outward sign of the affee-
ton that only showed itself in keeping
her "slicked up" and with plenty to
eat and drink. Ny mother was the
only person who really appreciated
Laura
One night when she staid with me
after mother had gone out, she said,
Does your mother kiss you every
night?"
ssYes, of course doesn't yours 2"
s'No-I suppose she doesn't think
Oh how many mothers ''don't think.
They forgot how much children need
this " comprising with sweet observan-
ces !" how they need some one to talk
freely and lovingly with in those sweet
talks which only girls with
mothers car enjoy. Its not always the
mothers, sometimes it is the girls who
neglect these precious opportunities. O
mothers and daughters, there is so much
you can be to each other. Never in
after years is there anything that God
gives you that rivals the memory of
those twilight talks.
In our long walks together we made
many childish plans. The favorite one
vas always how We would 60 away to
school together, If only her mother was
willing. No one ever thought of con-
sulting Mr.. Marvin. One bright spring
II r IL