Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-04-24

persisted in addressing her by--Amelie
Rivers. On this OCCASION, as read the play
aloud, she sat opposite, the merest slip of q
girl, with her bright hair loose about her
face, regaliDg herself with q large slice of
bread and butter thickly spread with straw
berry jam, which she had ordered for her
afternoon rejection.
| looked up from time to time and could
scarcely believe it possible that that chill
dish creature had had such great ideas and
expressed them with such fiery strength.
She was rather deprecating and apologetic
on the subject herself. for, as l showed here
and there my sense of wonderment, she
would say
"Really, 1 had forgotten it. 1t didn't
know how good it was. That is good, ISM {
| it?'' 4
"Goodp' 1 replied. aWhy, the ther-
mometer is at ninety, aud I'm cold with
excitement"
$50 am l, she responded, delightedIy.
.It must be powerful Il isp'
The bread ana jam had disappeared, aG
with them tie careless mood. As the
drama approached its climax, the girls
eyes glowed and her checks flushed. She
listened as if to something new. and thrill
ed to the sound of her own words. At last
when the end came and I threw down the
manuscript speechless, she met my look
with a smile of childish delight, and ex-
claimed aloud, "Amelia Rivels, you little
monkeyW apostrophizing herself as if half
incredulous of her own work.
MARVELLOUS FACILITY IN COMPOSITION.
The facility with which she writes is
something marvellous. l have seen her,
for instance, write five sonnets in an even
ing, not OF e of which ever needed single
aftertouch. These unpublished sonnets
are, by the way, among the most perfect
things she has done, and they came forth
from her heart as easily as bird sings.
Once l had had occasion to remind her sew
eral times of promise she had given to
write some words to lullaby already COM
posed, and at last, being prodded for the
fourth or fifth time. she exclaimed, swell,
hand me a sheet of paper and I'll do it
now, before dinnerp' and in halt an hour
she had written a bit of verse that would
have to be seen before this statement have
made could be appreciated.
1t was very peculiar and difficult tune
that it was to go to, and both as to mechan-
ism and sentiment they harmonizsd abso-
lutely. These are but two instances of the
rapid working of her thoughts and pen, of
which l could give any number.
Upon the moral quality of Amelie Rives'
work do not pretend to pass sentence. 1t
would, perhaps, be impossible for me to
speak impartially, but for the very reason
that there exists a strong friendship be-
tween us, and that / know her we'll and
intimately, l recall the divine wisdom of
these words, "a good tree cannot bring
forth corrupt fruit"
1t has been we'll said that a writer,
before he can be properly understood, must
create his own atmosphere, and this is what
Amslie Rives is slowly but steadily doing.
The atmosphere which will surround her
when men and women shall have come to
understand her is pure element of love-
And when they shall bring to bear in
judging her the great-hearted tolerance
the charity that thiDketh no evil, with
which she invariably judges others, even
those at whose hands she has suffered most
cruelly-perhaps they will have need to say
for themselves the prayer that is always in
her most gentle heart for them, that they
may be forgiven IS those who know not
what they do.
FRIENDLY SYMPATHIZERs.
Through all her unhsppiness at the wills
misconstruction which has been put upon
her she has had the supreme comfort of the
absolute sympathy and support of those
DEAREST aDQ dearest TO ner- ner nuSDanQ,
parents, sisters and few close friends
people who knew she might be uUconven-
tional, rash, impTudent, but could never be
coarse or impure; aud this knowledge has |
consOled her for the faltering faith of one or
two who were her ardent admirers in pros |
psrity, but who had not the courage to be |
called the friend of publicans and sinners
for this, as she knows, is what the world, |
for while at least, considered her
"We can bear our worst sorrows but |
once" it bas been said, and this is true Of
criticism as well as of life, and for the
tenderly nurtured girl who has endured
such brutality at the hands Of . merciless
public the worst is over. She carries with |
her into her new life beyond the ocean
quiet heart, the Outgrowth of clean con-
scsnce, and certainly she may confidently
lay clam to the blessing promised in this |
world and tho next to those who, however |
and with whatever human |
gatherings, have, in epite of all, and above |
all, hearty love for God and for their
nejghbOr.