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AH B DEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. TERMS, TWO DOLLARS PIR AK5UM j - - . . . . J-T ; . mtDoizif to all te tevtste of Elje Sottflj, itatw;6fruc atton, icultu; 3eis, jc Jatfeets, &c. TOLL IV, KO. 17. WHOLE KO. 172 RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 185. WILEIAM D. COOKE, pOPRIETOB. D SELECT POETRY. - v From the Knickerbocker. V " . . f THE FOREST WALK. The autumn woos were all it-glow, As itbwn a mossy path I strayed ; A gentpe form was at my side, A fair white arm on mine was laid. A perfumed haze filled all the air tf-pragttTftLytaA V nnfcji trte-C '55f Waving their boughs, like outstretched arms, And spreading incense on the breeze. The gentle breeze moved through the wood, And' shook sweet musie softly round : And faint upon our charmed ears Felltthc young brooklet's tinkling sound. t Upon this brooklet's grassy bank, . Where fringed-gentians bent and smiled, We paused and talked in -those low tones Thefsiillness from our lips beguiled. We talked of days and years gone by;. Vimt friends had said, what some had done ; And then our voices -grew, more low, And softly spoke of dear ones gone. Her vj ice was still, as stopped by tears, AnU silence filled the forest gay, . : Save 'when the brook'et's limpid stream Broke" o'er the pebbles on its way : ." Save, when the manycolored leaves . : AVrere rustled by the sibling breeze, And'low-toned whispers seemed to sound Deep among the columned trees. I said, ' I would iiiy autumn days Would turn my life-long deeds to gold ; Th if, like the sun, some well-known face Would brighten mine when I am old. That like this lightly-moving breeze, Soft hands would wander o'er my brow ; And Weet-eyed faces smile in mine, As'thcse wild-flowers are smiling now.' I saw her turn her head awiy, I saw the red flush on her face ; I took her trembling hand in minp, Arid turned toward me her tearful gaze. And shall yours be that well-known face?' I sid, while joy. leaped in my breast: ' What autumn-days shall rival ours ' Her head was leaning on that breast. 0, autumn-leaves! that burned and glowed; O, brooklet! singing on your way, O, fringed gentian J decked with smiles, Jdow I recall that autumn day ! SELECTED STORIES. . j I : From Blackwood's Edinburg Magazine. ! THE JEW. A TALE FROM THE Kt'SSIAX. I ' as at Vienna a few years ago. After try ing federal .ta bless-cPiote, I established myself a a liote in' the Judo'nstrasse, frequented by select ?oc.iett. Dr. Mu'.ler, master of this establishment, did it4 honors1 with '."thorough German gravity. -Perfeijt order, extreme and conscientious cleanli ness rjigned throughout the house. One might pass through theiservants room and even through the kitchen, without meeting with anvthing by which! the sight was in the least off ,-nded. The eellarjwas well arranged as a book-case, and the regulations' of the : house, as . regarded both the service and the hours of meals, were as punctu- ally o' iuary. but te bserved as they could have been in a Sem- If a guest -came in late, though it were 1 minutes, he was served"' apart, in an ad- I joining room, that the comfort of all might not be sac ificed to the con venience of one. In tlie conversation at this tabh-d'hote there prevai neithe ed a tone bfgood society which excluded ease nor pleasantry ; but a caustic or in- delicaffi ; expression would have jarred on the ear like a a'se note in a well-executed concert. The countenance of Mrs. Mulier, in which dignity was blended with benevolence, was the barome ter byiwhioh the young men regulated them selves when the influence of Rhine wine or Stettir beer might lead them a little too far. ihen Irs. Mulier .assumed an air of reserve ; by a few (words; she atdroitly broke off the conver sauonTand turned it into another channel ; and she srlinced JrraVefv. at her dauo-hter'. whr. with- -- - o . v 3 r-" 7 nonjoxpauiing, kepk-h. eyes fixed on le plate until the end of the nXsaL IMv Mulier was; the type of those beautiful C-rnrfn faces which the French call col l, be- cause they know, not how to read them ; she happy mixture of the Saxon and Hano- verian' of-inei c'aaracters." A pure and open brow, eyes expressible softness, lips habitually closed wh 'iiai'denly reserve, a transparent complex ion, ujhose chnrming blushes ea;h moment pro tested; against the 'immobility of her bearing auburn hair, whose rich and silken curls admira bly h jrmonised with the serenity of her features; graceful and flexible -form just expanding into vrnijnhood ; such was Ellen Mulier. A Councillor of the Court, Hotrath Baron on Konh, who had resigned his functions in onsetju,nee of an injustice that had been done him, several students, whose parents had recom rnen,,4 tiaem t0 th , vigilance of Mr' Mulier, t lew . merchants fnmnnspH t.liA mhirvritw nf tlv ...V.:.. , T "J """ LHIPRIS. I !i nnrrv vn tiwnnont Itr guests.. I j y eu oy travellers, literary men, and artists.. i ' nnor' piiilosophv, politics, or literature, Mr Mn lltr a man of extensive acquirements 1 1 ' and prLac So-l S Tise, took part, with a choice pf etp ... o aim an elevation oi views mat jv'finc wl " 1 .-' A - .1 . i iave astonished me in a man of his sta- t v. u..uy uul vjrtjrmany. Jmetiines Ellen would sit down to the niano .aud sinj o some of those simple and beautiful melixjies in which the ttnderness, the gravity, andj the piety of the Gernkn national character seem to ming'e. Then conversation ceased ; ev- y I countenance expressed! profound attention ; and; each listener, as if he were assisting at a religious service, transjatedthe accents of that universal language according to his sympathies, bis jassociations, and the hsb tual direction of his ideas.. wr-oj umg-rii percexvnrgtliat North and a young student named Werter were particularly sensible to Ellen's charms and mer it. In the baron, a middle-aged man, there was a njnxture of dignity and eagerness which be trayed an almost constant struggle between pride an the energy of a strong passion. It is be tween the ages of thirty and forty that the pas sions have most empire over us. At that period of life the character is completely formed ; and as we well know what we desire, so do we strive to jittain our end with all the energy of a per fect organization. Werter was little more than nineteen years old. He was tallfair, and melancholy. I am persuaded that love had revealed itself to the yojing student by the intermediation of the mu sical sense. I had more than once watched him when Ellen sang. A sort of fever agitated him; h.eiisolated himself in a corner of the room, and here in a mute ecstacy, the poor boy inhaled the poison of love. The pretensions of Ellen's two admirers man ifested themselves by attentions of ' very different kiijds, and in which were displayed their differ ent natures. The baron brought Mrs. Mulier tickets for. concerts and theatres. Often at the dessert, he would send for delicious Hungarian wine, in which he drank the heajth of the ladies, slightly inclining his head to Ellen, as if Le would have said I bow to you alone. Werter would stealthily pla$e upon-the piano a new balftid, or ajvolume of poetry; and when the young girl tdok it up, his face flushed and brightened as if tlie blood were about to burst from it. Ellen siiniled modestly at the baron, or gracefully thanked the student ; but she seemed not to suspect that which neither of them dared to tell Ik r. j An attentive observer of all that passed, I did my utmost to read Ellen's heart, and to decide as to the future chances of t.h baron's or the student's loves. She was passionately fond of narratives of adventure, aud, thanks to the wan dering life I had led, I was able to gratify this taste. I noticed .that traits of generosity and ijioble devotion produced an extraordinary effect ljipon her. Her eyes sparkled as though she would fain have distinguished, through time and sjpace, the hero of a noble action ; then tears moistened her beautiful lashes, as reflection re tailed her to the realities of life. 1 understood that neither the Baron nor Werter was the man to win .her heart ; they were neither of them qual to her. Had I been ten j-ears younger, I think I should have been vain enough to enter the lists. But another person, whom none would at first have taken for a man capable of feeling and inspiring a strong passion, v as destined to Carry off the prize. ' One night that we were assembled in the drawing-room, one of the habitual visitors to the house presented to us a Jew, who hd just arri ved from Lemberg, and whom business was to jdetain for some months at Vienna. In a few words, Mr. Mulier made the strangeracquainted -with the rules and customs of the house. The jJew replied by monosyllables, as if he disdained to expend more words and intelligence upon de rails so entirely material. He bowed politely to the ladies, glanced sm'lingly at the furniture of the room, round which he twice walked, as if in token of taking possession, and then installed ihimself in the arm-chair. This pantonine might 'have been translated thus : 4 There if am : look I - lat me once for all, and then heed me no more.' Mr. Malthus that was the Jew's name had a decided limp in his gait ; he was a man of the middle height, and of decent bearing; his hair was neglected ; but- a phrenologist would have read a world of things in the magnificent devel bpment of his forehead. V The conversation became general. Mr. Mal thus spoke little, but as soon & hk opened his mouth everybody was silent.' This apparent eference proceeded- perhaps as much from a de- ire to discover his weak points, as from polite ness towards the new-comer, j The Jew ha,d one of those penetrating and onorous voices, whose tones seem to reach the rery soul, and which impart the words and in flexions not less varied than the firms of thought, lie summed up the discussion-logically and lu- bidly ; but it was easy to see that, out of consid eration for his interlocutors, he abstained from putting forth his whole strength. The conversation was intentionally led to re ligious prejudices: at the first words spoken on !this subject, the Jew's countenance assumed a sublime expression. He rose at once to the most elevated consideration : it was easy to see that ;his imagination found itself in a familiar sphere. He wound up with so pathetic and powerful a peroration, that Ellen, yielding to a sympathetic impulse, made an abrupt movement towards him. Their two souls had met, and were destined mu tually to eomplete each other. I said to myself, that Jew will be Ellen's hus band. V Then I armlied mvsplf 1 TTTt ,- -k r mm j - i4i mum lauenuveiv. vv nen Mr. Ma thn waa nnt ctn j moved and animated, nevertheless, by the ex- ; pession ot His dyes, wtiica seemed to look with- fa himself, one conld discern that b w tT,t- Vfaally pre-occupied with some of those lofty thoughts identified with superior minds. Some celebrated authors were spoken of ; he remained silent. Baron Von North leant over towards me and said, in a low voice, 4 It seems that our new acquaintance is not literary.' 44 I should not be surprised at that," I replied, "and, what is more, I would lay -a wager that be is musical." The baron drew back with a reu-taSfen t&Ziag-BmalsllllDgr ntrfTnosirSurprfBtf. , amiable girl begged him to excuse her, but with out putting forth any of those small pretexts which most young ladies would have invented on the instant. Her mother's authority was needed to vanquish her instinctive resistance. Her prelude testiged to some unwonted agita tion ; its first notes roused the Jew from his reverie ; soon she recovered herself, and her vis ible emotion did but add a fresh charm to the habitual expression of her singing. Suddenly she stopped short, declaring that her memory failed her. Then, to our great astonishment, a rich and harmonious voice was heard, and Ellen continu ed, accompanied by the finest tenor I ever lis tened to in my life. The baron bit his lips ; Werter was pa'e with surprise. v armest applause toliowed tne con clusion of the beautiful duet. Malthus had risen from his chair, and seemed entirely under the spell of harmony.. He gave some advice to Ellen, who listened to him with avidity ; he even made hsr repeat a passage, which she afterwards sang with admirable ex pression. He took her hand, almost with enthu siam, and exclaimed, " I thank you !"' " Very odd indeed," said the baron. Toor Werter said nothing,,but went and sat himself down, very pensive, at the further end of the drawing-room. Mrs. Mulier was radiant at her daughter's success. As to Eilen, she merely said, in a low voice ' . "If I had instruction, I should perhaps be able to make something of music." "With your mother's permission," rejoined Malthus, " I shall have pleasure in sometimes accompanying you." Mrs. Mulier cast a scrutenizing glance at the Jew, whose countenance, which had resumed its habitual calmness, showed nothing that could excite ner suspicions, sue iudged tiiat such a man was not at all dangerous, and ac cepted his offer. Malthus bowed with cold dig nity doubtless appreciating the motives of this confidence and Ellen struck a few notes, to divert attention from her embarrassment. I The baron, who sought a vent for his ill-humor, said to the young girl, pointing to the Jew's stiek . "Jf anything shoull halt in the accompani ment, there is what will restore the measure. Ellen rose, cast a look at the baron, which meant, "One maeis people like you eveiywheie," and left the room. Malthus took up a news paper, and read until we separated fur the night. The Jew led the regular life of a man who knows the value of time, lie worked until noon, paid or received a few visits, went upon Change about two o'clock, then shut himself up in his apartment and was visible to nobody, and at precisely four o'clock entered Mrs. Mul ter'a room, where Elleu awaited him at the pi ano. It was easy to see that he daily assumed a greater ascendancy over the mind of his pu pil, whose progress was rapid. When. Malthus smiled, Eilen's charming countenance assumed an indiscribable expression of satisfaction ; but as so'on as he relapsed into his habitual thoughtful mood, the poor girl's soul appeared suspended in a sympathetic me dium ; she saw nothing, answered nobody ; in a word, she instinctively assimilated herself to the mysterious being whose influence govern ed her when Malthus leaned on his cane in walking, Ellen seemed to say, "My aim would support him so well !" The Jew, however, did not Imp disagreeably; his left leg was well formed, and the disturbance in its harmony appears to have been the result of accident. He had the appearance of having long become reconciled to his infirmity, like a soldier who considers his "wounds a glorious ev idence of his devotion to his country. I had more than once felt tempted to ask Malthus the history of his lameness ; but he eLuded, with so much care, every approach to the object that I deemed myself obliged to respect his secret. . Two months passed thus, and I had opportu nity of appreciating all the right mindedness, generosity, and enlightenment that dwelt in the accessible part of that extraordinary soul. In presence of this dangerous rival, who tri umphed without a struggle, the baron became almost tender. .His self love cruelly suffered to see preferied to him a lame merchant, with a fine voice. He sometimes attempted to quize him ; but Malthus confounded him so complete ly by the aptness of his retorts, that the laugh ters were never on the side of the baron . One night that the family party was assem bled, Werter approached Mr. Mulier with a sup pliant air, and delivered to him a letter from his father. The poor young man's agitation made me suspect that the letter contained a proposal. Mr. Mulier read it with attention and handed it to hia wife, who rapidly glanced over it and cast a scrutinizing glance at her daughter, to make sure whether or no she was forewarned of this step. A mother's pride is -always flattered under such circumstances, and the first impulse is generally favorable lo the I man who has singled out the object of her dearest affections; but the 3nd" thought is one of prudence; a separatici, jjfee many risks of the future, soon check tlejjgj! active satisfac tion of the maternal heart, : )i thousand mo tives concur to arrest the tJsjtiT consent.,; " It were, well," she saioMfrlit tt knowwhat Ellen thinks.". - V -The word w"" 'T " r P to the 44 Besides, he is very young, added Mrs. Mul ier, loud enough for fiie baron to hear. Werter's position was painful ; he stammered a few words, became embarrassad, and abruptly left the room. 44 A mere child," quodi the baron, 44 who should be sent back to his books." Malthus, who had observed all that passed, rested his two hands on his stick, like a man disposed to argue the point, and warmly de fended the student. " 44 It cannot be denied," he said, in conclusion, 44 that the young man's choice pleads in his fa vor ; and his embarrassment, which, at thatage, is not unbecoming, proves, in my opinion, that, whilst aspiring to so great a happiness, he has sufficient modesty to admit himself unworthy of it." 44 If a declaration were a sufficient proof of merit," interrupted the Councillor, "I know one man who would not hesitate." " And who is that?" inquired Mrs. Mulier, with ill concealed curiosity. 44 Myself, madam," replied the Councillor Baron Von Xorth." . By the way in which this was spoken, the dissyllable 44 myself " appeared lengthened by all the importance of the personage. 44 At my age men do not change," continued the baron ; 44 and the present is a guarantee for the future." Ellen was really to be pitted. When Mal thus took Weter's part, I saw that she was on the point of fainting. Her countenance, natu rally s.) gentle, was overshadowed by an expres sion of vexation and displeasure. She had ta ken the Jew's benevo'ent defence of the student for a mark of indifference. 'Whilst still under the influence of this painful impression, the ba ron's declaration came to add to her agitation ; she cast a reproachful gh? nee at Mn-Uhus, sank back' in lieV "cliaTr and worieofa wayT- Tlie Jew sprang forward, took hr in his arm, laid her on a sofa, and knelt down beside her. " You have not uuJerstood me, then ?" he exclaimed. Ellen opened her eyes, and beheld at her feet the man whom her heart bad selected ; and, absorbed in her passion, unconscious of the pre sence of those who stood around, she murmur ed, in a feeble voice 44 Youis ! youis alone ! ever ydnrs !' "Sir," snid Malthus to Mr. Mulier, '4my pro- posal comes rather late ; but l nope you wid i -i. -ii be so good as to take it into consideration." In the Jew's manner there was the dignity of a man in a position to dictate conditions. Ellen had recovered herself. As to Mr. Mulier, there had not been time for his habitual phlegm to become disturbed ; but his wife could not re strain a smile at this dramatic compilation, whose denoument remained in suspense, 44 Mr. Y." said she to me, somewhat malicious ly, 44 do you not feel the effect of example ? " 44 Perhaps I m;ght Lave be?ri- unable to re sist," I replied, 44 had not Mr. Malthus declared himself before me." - Ellen blushed, and the Jew pressed my hand. Just then Werter re-entered the room, pale and downcast, like a man who comes to hear sen tence passed upon him. There was profound silence which lasted several minutes, or at least seemed to me to be so. At last Mr. Mulier broke it. 44 Gentlemen," he said, 44 1 am much flattered by the honor you have done me." He paused, and seemed to be recalling past events to the mind. During this short silence Werter gazed at us in turn with an air of as tonishment, and I doubt not that he included me in the number of his rivals. 44 1 have something to tJl jou," continued Mr. Mulier, 44 which wilpTnbdify your present intentions. About ten years ago I had to visit Berlin, where my father had just died. The winding up of his affairs proved complica ted and troublesome, and I was obliged to place my interests in the hands of a lawyer who had been recommenned to me as extremely skilful. The business at last settled, I found myself enti tled to about forty thousand florins, which I proposed to embark in trade. I was happily married, and Ellen w3S seven years old. Our little fortune had been greatly impaired by a succession of losses, for which this inheritance would compensate. r 44 One day I went to my lawyer to receive the money. He had disappeared, taking it with him. Despair took possession of me ; I dared hot impart the fatal news to my wife, and I con fess it with shame, I determined on suicide. All that day I rambled about the country, and at nightfall I approached the banks of the Spree. Climbing upon the parapet of a high bridge, I gazed with gloomy delight into the dark waters that rolled beneath. On my knees upon the stone, I offered up a short but fervent prayer to Hirn who wounds and "heals ; I commended my wife and daughter to his mercy, and precipitat ed myself from the bridge. I was struggling instinctively against death, when I felt myself seized by a vigorous arm. A man swam near me, and drew me towards the shore, which we both reached. . " It was so 'dark that I could not distinguish the features of my preserver. But the tones of his voice made an impression upon me which has not yet been effaced, and I have met but one mail whose voice has reminded me of that of the generous unknown. He compelled me to go home with him, questioned me as to my motives for so desperate an act, and, to my ex taming forty - thousand .florins on the express condition that I should take no steps to find him out I entreated him to accept my mar riage ring, at the sight of which promised to repay the loan, as soon as it should be possible for me to do so. He took the rino and I left him, my heart brimful of gratitude. " I will not attempt to describe to you the joy with which I once more embraced my wife and daughter. God alone can repay my bene factor all the good he did us. I arranged my affairs, and we set out for Vienna, where I form ed this establishment, of which I cannot consid er myself as more than the temporary possessor. iou perceive, jrentlemen. that Ellen b Tin dowry to expectT and that we may at any mo ment be reduced to a very precarious position." Jt,nen s lace was hidden by her hands. When Mr. Mulier ceased speaking, we still listened. Presently the Jew broke silence. "I have but lit le," he said, 44 to add to your imiiauou : me man wno was so tortuuate as to render you a service remained a cripple for the rest of his days. When he plunged into the Spree, he struck against a stone, and since then he limps, as you perceive." W e were all motionless with surprise. Then Malthus drew a ring from his finger and han ed it to Mr. Mulier. The countenance of the latter, generally so cold in its expression, was suddenly extraordinarily agitated ; tears started to his eyes, and he threw himself into his pre server's arms. 44 All that I possess belongs to yon," he cried, and I have the happiness to inform you that your capital has doubled. 44 Of all that you possess," replied Malthus. 44 1 ask but one thing, to which I have no rMit." The worthy German took the hand of his daughter, who trembled with happiness and surprise, and, placing it in that of the Jew "Sjr," he said, .addressing himself to me, you avEo have leen tile world, and who are disinterested in this question, do you think that could do belter." SCEOOL-DAY STRUGGLES. VIRGIXIA'S CHRISTMAS GIFT TO HER cuuas. BT MARV IRVIX " Trifles njakc up the sum of human joy or woe." 4 A letter f. jt Virginia !' cried a gay boarding- school sprite, as she burst into the hall where a group of her comrades were chatting of the Christmas holiday just at band. 4 My own dear father's hand !' cried Virginia D'Arcy, its beautiful claimant, springing up to reach her treasure the dearer for its longjour- ney from a far Southern land. She broke the seal with an impatient dash of her white, jew elled fingers, and let an inclosure fall to her feet. Hetty Carlton, the bearer of the letter, sprang nimbly to seize ii ; and, waving it aloft between two fingers, displayed to the admiring gaze of her schoolmates a fifty dollar bill. Virginia was in no haste to reclaim her prop erty. Negligently, but gracefully, leaning upon the trellised balcony, with bright curls sweeping her cheeks as she bent, she was reading the few hasty words that accompanied it. Having finished the letter, she crumpled H into her pocket, and looked up with a smile. 4 Yes ; vou know this is to be my last Christ mas here, and I sent to my father for an extra allowance upon the occasion. Now,-girls, we are all friends together, in this hall ; give me your advice and counsel, aslMiss Butler says. Shall I scatter a universal treat of cakes and bon-bons among little friends and large, or shall I chalk a circle within a circle, and give my teachers and my best friends some present worthy their keeping V . 4 O, the last, by all means, exclaimed Hetty, 4 always taking it for granted that I am one of the particular 4 best friends,' she added archly. 4 Present company always excepted,' miss Well, I like that plan best myself. Now, then help me to choose. Let's see, a gold thimble for Laura ; a port-monnaie for Ella Marsden ; a ring for good Miss Butler, I wish I could buy one with a diamond in it ! Dear me ! fifty dol lars will do so little !' And it may do so much !' spoke a soft, rich voice close at her ear. She looked up into the sweet, plain face of her sensible and loving room mate. 4 O, Marion ! just the one for my prime minis ter ! I Come with me, and let us hold a counci f state over this weierhtv matter!' Catching her by the waist, she whirled her away to their room. 4 Now, sit down on that cushion, and counse me, my 4 nymph Egeria !' What shall I give vou as a remembrancer of your unworthy chum A writing desk, or a work-box ? Nothing less useful would win a smile from the sage eyes of Marion. And O ! I must not forget little Nelly Grey, who has been so kind to us. What can I give her that will please hera book in gilt and red morocco !' 4 1 can tell you, Virginia, what to give her,' said Marion, seriously, though rather timidly. 4 give her her tuition for the next quarter I Viroinia arched her fine eyebrows, and stared in blank astonishment at her counsellor ; then, with a laugh, exclaimed : 4 What! throw a Christmas gift into the clarity fund! That is carrying your Northern idea of utility a little too far, Marion.' O, Virginia, you have been reared in luxury, and you know nothing about the struggles of - - - . one jwhohas to earn step . bljtepyerj inch of upward ! You don't know the value of money and never will, while it flows in at your nod, as freely as a river to the sea !' 4 Why, Marion, you speak as earnestly' ss though you were a poverty-stricken charity scholar ? How happened you to find out the value of money, little one V The color came and went in Marion's brown cheeks, and she heaved a sigh before she ans wered. 4 1 am not rich, as you knpw, Virginia ; and yet I have nothing to complain of now; nothing to ask. But I was poorer once. Shall I tell you a story from my life ? O, do!' cried Virginia, dropping upon the carpet at her side, and throwing her arm over Marion's sholder. 4 1 am delighted to make you talk about yourself ; for you never have shown me any of the secrets buried in that deep well of your experience !' 4 1 have no secrets, Virginia ; that is, none of the sort school girls delight in ; but I will give you a little sketch.' 4 There was once (is not that a classical be ginning ?) a little girl who lived in a country farm-house, on the borders of a great woodland. Now, it is not of fairies or giants that my story deals, though the scene for their operations has been so well laid. Only the giant of Ignorance ruled over the region with almost undisputed sway. There was not a school-house within six miles; and the nearest one, at that distance, was a mere apology for its title ; a cross bet ween a barn and a log cabin, with a teacher to match, during five months out of the twelve. Well ; to return to this little girl. She was the youngest but once a boisterous, unruly, neglect ed band of thirteen motherless children, scolded beysnd the door steps by a crose-faced aunt re gularly, every hour of the day, who returned as regularly to renew the uproar. Baby was served more humanly than the others for his babyhood's sake. But the youngest girl, the next in size, was the foot-ball aud scape-goat of the house hold pack. She could not even find a corner of the house to cry in peaceably, when she had run the gauntlet of her wild brothers and selfish sis ters. So she used to steal away across a cow pasture that joined the woodland, and, glided ike a squirrel among the pines and owr the rustling dead leaves, find her favorite nook in the midst of the forest. There was a break in tbe woods there, and the sunlight streamed down over an age-bowed hemlock, on whose arm she used to seat herself, and swing ; and sometimes, poor child wish that she had never been born ! One day, when she had fled from persecution, to indulge insome such unchildlike meditations, she was surprised in her solitude by a party of village children, 4 out chestnutting.' Half fright ened and half curious, and kept her perch, eye ing the strange boys and girls, suspiciously from under her ragged sun-bonnet. The children, in return, passed their com ments upon her ; one rude boy proposing to 4 start her off the roost' with a stone a motion, happily, not seconded. The elder girls gathered around the tree beneath her, and questioned her, as girls will, wfib have an impression of their own superiority. Her uttr ignorance s-cmed to afford them great merriment ; and their shouts were caught up by the boys, who vociferated : . 4 1 say ! here's a bright one ! Nine years old, and doesn't know her letters !' 4 O, pooh ! what better could you expect ? She is out of, that heathen corner, away on the Poor Section, where they never see a school master nor a Sunday.' The children went their way ; but the words they had spoken lived in heart of th neglected child, and awoke there the first definite desire to become something anything better than she seemed born for. She surprised her father, not long after, by a request t6 be allowed to go to school a thing unthought of by even her near- y grown brothers. With an incredulous laugh, e told her 4 yes; if she would foot it six miles every day, she was welcome; he didn't care how many of them kept out of the way. Her aunt railed and taunted her; her sisters, as usual, laughed at her ; and her brothers pro posed to trundle her to the village in the old wheelbarrow. But the purpose of the child had taken root, and was not so easily to be shaken. She walked the whole distance, having left home before half the family were up, and presented herself before the astonished teacher in her rag ged frock and bonnet, without a book, pencil, or penny towards buying either. AH she could say was, 4 1 want to learn to read !' And she kdid learn to read thanks to that good old man's kindness, and her own untiring persever ance ; for she walked a child of nine years old, remember that distance of six miles, twice daily, during two-thirds of that season, carrying ber dinner and spellirig-book in a little calico satachel across her shoulder. When the gate of knowledge had thus once been opened to her, nothing could hinder her. She read of those who had overcome great obsta- cles to win their ends. She knew very well what end she purposed to herself to gain an education though she very poorly comprehend- ed what was meant by that inspiring pjrase. She looked about her for some means of earning 5 a little money to supply iherself with books. Though disappointed many times, she clung to the principle of her favorite Jittle song, 4 Try, try again,' and at last founA the long sought resource in the braiding of coarse palm- leaf hats for ihe village shop-keeper He gave hef, too, a fiace 'in 'hia feinily, for iter Wfpi;' than eparin her the time Rpea laa hertong ' young life. - - syTX. " So she grew up to tall girlhood in the village braiding, delving, sewings and scouring, to earn the scantry bits of knowledge which she . could pick up during a few months of each year. At last she resolved to hoard her earning until they should be sufficient to support her for a year at an academy in a neighboring town. Then she could perhaps be trusted by some com mittee to keep a country school, and gain far more than in the braiding line. 4 So but no matter how enough, that 6he accumulated the money at last, and with a proud heart, and a very small trunk, presented herself among the pupils of Walton Academy She obtained board at a cheap rate, in consider- ! ation of some services to be Tendered, and of j her claiming no fire in her scantily furnished room. v hen she had paid her tuition, and pur chased the indespensable books which made cruel inroads upon her cherished treasure she numbered over 'the dollars that were left, one by one, "as a mother might count her children, and calculated how exactly they would meet ber expenses for the season. She studied how she studied that Winter ! You rich boarding-school girls know nothing about it ! With a bed-blanket wrapped about her shivering shoulders, and a bit of candle in an old tin dipper unsnuffed, that it might burn more slowly she used to sit, night after night, till the twice-heard cock-crowing told her that day was almost too near for sleep. Saturdays the play-days of her school-fellows brought no recreation to her. Here was a dress to be patch ed and fitted together out of mere shreds ; here was a pair of shoes to be painfully cobbled ; or a lesson to be learned for the next week, from some borrowed school-book, "too costly for her to purchase. 4 She was diligent, and she reaped the reward of diligence. Her name watupon the list of the 4 prized scholars,' when the yearly examination drew near. All the pupils, according to custom, I from time immemorial, were to dress in white j on that grand occasion, with blue 6ashes and trimmings. Especially was this uniform consider ed indispensable to the; prize takers, who were to atand out so conspiciously before the large audience. . 4 You may wonder, with your well-filled ward robe, how such a thing could be ; but the truth 'is she but one presentable Summer-dress, and that was, fortunately, a white muslin. She had worked long and patietJy to bring it into a fitting shape, and though obliged to wear it be fore that all -important occasion, kept tbe sash intended to adorn it, which she had purchased with the last half dollar of her school money, safely rolled in her trunk. ' On Fridpy evening, when dire necessity had clothed her in this precious robe, the Principal called her into his study, to confer with ber t bout her composition. In the course of the con versation, as he reached his arm across the table to a dictionary, he indvertently over-turned a full ink-bottle, whose Stygian contents flowed far and wide over the lap of the poor scholar, ruin ing, how many hopes he litt'e knew. 4 O, I am very sorry ! Will it spoil your dri's V was his courteous query ; and he thoughtr no more of it. 4 She forced back the tears that were crowd ing to her swollen eyes? and tried to hear calm ly what he had to say of examination matters ; all the while feeling that it could be no use to her ! How could she face that crowd of eyes in a faded calico wrapper V 4 A soon as she could excuse herself, she hur ried home to relieve her heart by crying. It seems a trifle we can smile at it no but trifles make us'all 'what we are ; and this cost : me 'tis well to change the person now as ever the darkest hour of my lifa7 , ' - - , 4 Was it really you, Marion !' (jnquired Vir ginia, in an incredulous tone. 4 Yes andno! My personal indentity, of course, I cannot doubt; but often in looking back to those days, I ask myself involuntarily the same question, 4 Was it myself V or some other being, mysteriously substituted for mine ? 4 But to return ; It was not only grief at being obliged to absent myself from examination, and miss the prizes, that darkened my spirit to heavily ; more than that was at stake. How could I offer myself as a teacher, with anyTiope of success, thought I, if unexcused, I absented myself from examination falling, so to keep the standing I had gained f And what excuse could I offer to my teachers for such a course t I would sooner have died- so proud was I than to have told the truth in the case ; and I would have died a thousand times before inventing a falsehood. Bobbins', the rraver-bell runsr. i - o . , 0 . : o Hastily donning a large apron, so as partlj to condteal my misfortunate, I hurried with my tear swollen face to the chapel. r 'Perhaps the lady teacher noticed my dis tress. I never dared, ask her how much she , read of my trouble in irjr countenance. But, at j we walked together, toward her : bonding-place, j"8he called me into her parlor. . j r , j j 4 1 have noticed, said she, ' that you are quick ? at your needle,' and ready in fitting. I need a little assistance m making this dressing-gown,
Southern Weekly Post (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 24, 1855, edition 1
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