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Portland
BY GOULD & ELWELL,
Office 80 Middle, near Corner of Exchange
St.
Cranscivt,
$1,50 PER YEAR.
One paar for Eight Months, in advance .
AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY JOURNAL OF LITERATURE, NAWS, &e.
PORTLAND, SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1851.
VOLUME XV.
an 7
POETRY.
SONNET.
BY ARTHUR HENRY HALLAM.
Oh, blessing and delight of my young heart,
~ Maiden, who wast so lovely and so pure,
I know not in what region now thon art,
Or whom thy gentle eyes in joy
Not the old hills on which we sored t toreter,
Not the old faces which we both did lov
Not the old books whence knowledge v we ea gather
Not these, but others now thy fan
I would I knew thy present hopes nad fears,
All thy companions with their pleasant talk,
- And the clear aspect which thy dwelling rears
‘0, though in body absent, I might
With thee in thought and feeling, till ty n00d
Did sanctify my own to peerless good.
MAY.
BY MARTLEY COLERIDGE.
A lovely morn, go still, so very still,
It hardly seems a growing day of Spring,
‘Though all the odorous buds are bloss
‘And the small matin Dirge were glad end sean
Some hours ago; w the woodlan
Murmurs atong, the oly vocal thing,
Save when the wee wren flits with seat wing,
~ And cons by fits and bits ber evening trill.
Lovers might sit on such a morn as this
An hour together looking at the sky 5
Nor dare to break the silence with a kiss,
Long listening for the signal of a sigh ;
“And the sweet Nun, diffused in yoiceless prayer,
- Feel her own soul through all the brooding air.
~ ORIGINAL TALE,
{Written for the Transcript.}
THE ORPHAN’S CHOICE.
BY CONNIE CARTER,
iture of the room in which our story opens,
and the room itself, though not large,was
yet the largest of a small house, situated in one of
our New England towns; but withal there shone
out through this appearance of limited means num-
berless evidences of a refined and cultivated taste,
The only occupant of this room at present was a
man of about forty years,who, habited in a dressing
gown, was seated in a large arm-chair neAr the fire.
A glance at the invalid would have proved that he
must once have been eminently handsome, for he
was still noble looking. But sickness aud sorrow
had been at work upon him, as the thin, sallow
cheek and seamed forehead plainly denoted.. He
had evidently just been reading, as a Bible lay open
upon the table near him, but now appeared in mo-
mentary expectation of some one, which expecta-
tation seemed answered when the door softly opened
and a young girl, almost a child in appearance, en-
tered.
The face of the new comer, though unlike in fea-
ture and complexion to that of the gentleman, re
sembled his in that indefinable something which of
ten marks members of one family even when there
seems no definite point of resemblance. A casual
observer would have thought the dark blue eyes,
delicately shaded complexion,and bright, brown hair
with its slight, golden tinge, of Isabelle Holden, a
pretty tout ensemble, but to one who looked deeper,
. there was more than that—there was the perfection
of feminine beauty.
” As Isabelle advanced toward her father, her face
was bright with pleasure, and she said as she ap-
proached—What do you wish, of all things in the
world, papa? Speak quick, and on the faith of a
good fairy, as Iam at this moment, I will give it
you, even unto the half of my kingdom.”
“And ifI should wish that my Bella might be-
come all even that Madame Durenne could wish
her, what then 4”
“Oh, papa ! but you are making light of my pow:
er, for that is certainly not a true wish. Sixteen is
soon enough to be a woman ; but to prove to you
that I can read wishes as well as grant them, what
gay you toa letter from Uncle Osgood ?”
“That if your skill in divining was as great at all
times, as you have proved it now, Bella, you might
be a dangerous companion sometimes,” answered
Mr. Holden, a flush of jay passing over his face as
he took the proffer letter. But the look of joy
passed to one of disappointment, as his eye fell up-
on the date ; aud when he had read the letter, the
expression of his face was so unusually sad that Is-
abelle could not forbear asking her father if her un-
cle’s letter contained bad news.
Mr. Holden paused a few moments, as if in un-
certainty, and then said—“Sit by me, Bella, I have
something to tell you.”
Isabelle obeyed by drawing a low ottoman to her
father’s side ; and as she seated hersclf, she took
his hand in hers. The act and the look of earnest-
ness with which she regarded her husband. seemed
to render what he had to say more difficult ; for as
he laid his hand caressingly upon her head, and
looked into her loving eyes,his own filled with tears
at the theughts of the great sorrow that was in store
for her. At length he said—
“Youdo not know, Bella, the reason why you
have never seen your mother’s family, for though,
as youhave been told, they did reside at some dis-
tance from us, that would not have prevented our
seeing them occasionally, had they been so dispos-
ed. Why they were not, some papers which you
may sometime read will inform you. Of their nu-
merous family all have died save one, your dear
mother’s oldest brother, besides whom there is but
one other person in the world,to whom yon are con-
nected hy the ties of relationship. Several years
ago your uncle Edward wrote to your mother offer-
ing to adopt one of our children. There was then
with us neither the desire nor necessity for such a
step. But now your uncle Osgood is still abroad
where my last letter failed to reach him, and so the
home that has been offered must soon be yours, my
child ; for though wishing to spare you pain, I have
not before told you, yet it is true that I_ must soon
leave you.”
“Leave me, papa ! how ? where ?”
“For that land where none returns, Bella.”
“Oh, dear papa! you surely cannot mean what
you say ; God is merciful—IIe would not take you
me.”
“And if Ie should, my child, would you arraign
the mercy of the Most High ? For your sake, my
darling, I could have wished to remain here yet a
little longer, though there is much to call me away;
but He who has ever shown Himself a loving father
has seen fit to order it otherwise. Will you not try,
Bella, to bear whatever He may please to send upon
ou 2”
“I would bear all but that, dear papa, and even
that if I could but go too ; but to be all alone, oh,
papa, you know not what you ask of me.”
As Isabelle said these words she laid her hand
upon the arm of her father’s chair, and was silent,
the shocks that shook her frame alone giving evi-
idence of her deep 801
“My poor child,” said Mr. Tlolden, with a falter-
ing voice, “let us pray for strength from on high ;”
and so their prayers ascended to that throne where
not even the humblest petitionis disregarded, and
the father felt that they would be answered.
Lewis olden, when but a young man, from hay-
ing great expectations found himself suddenly de-
prived of all except a few hundred dollars, yet with
the profession of a lawyer, with health and ability
to follow it. As yet there was no one dependent
upon him for support, for his brother, his only sur-
viving relative,whose property had shared the same
fate as his own, was now in a fair way of obtaining
for himself an honorable subsistence.' But while he
was still looking forward to the time, when by his
exertions, he might have a comfortable home to of-
fer one who was dearer to him than all the world
beside, the lovely Isabelle Norton, the anger of the
young lady’s father, that her love for a poor, mis-
erable barrister (as he styled him) should indace
her to refuse some of the wealthiest offers in the city,
having rendered her home wretched, Lewis felt ob-
liged to do what his high sense of honor would not
have sanctioned under any other circumstances,
namely, to make use of Isabelle’s love for him, to
persuade her to leave her father’s home without his
consent.
nful marriage was theirs, and one remem-
“peréd by Isabelle always with something of sorrow,
for though her hand’ was clasped by the chosen of
her heart, the anger of her father weighed heavily on
her, and the tears which she shed upon her hus-
band’s shoulder, were bitter tears for a young bride.
Shortly afterwards, Mr, Norton left the city, with
his family, entirely, and from the time of her mar-
\t
riage, Mrs, [olden never saw either her father or
her oldest brother,and though her younger brothers
eich in turn visited her, it was without the knowl-
edge of their father,and bringing no world of recon-
ciliation. The talents of Mr. Holden soon placed
them in a state of ease, and as years passed on one
child after another gladdened the hearts of its pa-
rents, until four were clustered around their pleas-
ant hearth; but when the little Isabelle, or Bella (as
she was called by her father, to distinguish her from
her mother) had attained her tenth year, the failure
of afirm in which Mr. Holden had invested the
greater part of his property, left him again a poor man
with little beside the house which they occupied,
and the furniture it contained. gketthe loss fell up-
on hearts incapable, at first, of appreciating its ex-
tent, for it came to them when they had laid the
turf upon the forms of one of their bright-eyed boys,
and his fair haired baby sister; and when they felt
that another of their little household must soon fol-
low, and so indeed when a’ few more days of anx-
ious watching had passed by the bedside of their
little Tenry,a bright,beautiful smile like that which
his face had worn of old lit up, for a moment his
dark eyes, and with the names of those who loved
him so well upon his lips, he too passed ' away, and
it seemed to them as if then the sunlight passed too.
Over the grave of his children, though’ his heart
was heavy within him, the father could lose no time
in fruitless lamentation,for he saw that his Isabelle’s
stop was growing fecble, and that Bella’s cheek had
lost its bloom. Change of air and scene was advis-
ed by their physician, and from the sale of their
house and furniture, a sufficient sum was realized
to enable Mr. Holden to purchase a small house in
a distant and healthy town, still reserving means
for commencing the world anew. Thither they
soon removed, taking with them a long-tried and
faithful domestic, one who had accompanied , Mrs.
Molden from her father’s house ; but the cup of Mr.
TIolden’s sorrow was yet to be filled, for scarcely
had they become domesticated in their new abode,
than the beloved partner of his joys and sorrows
died, with his hand clasped in hers,and murmuring
blessed words of consolation. ‘The bitterness of this
stroke Mr. Holden felt in all its force, hut he did not
forget that he had still a duty to perform ; and tho’
for years the vivacity of his spirit, which time and
pecuniary losses had possessed no power to subdue,
seemed to have utterly forsaken him, yet he never
tora moment lost sight of the true interests and
happiness of his daughter. oping that associa-
tion with others of her own age, might preserve her
from that melancholy which he feared constant at-
tendance upon himself would produce, Mri [olden’
placed his daughter at school in the neighborhood,
which had been highly recommended to him; but
finding that tae design of the institution was to re
press all the natural inclinations of childhood, sub-
he took upon himself the charge of her instruction’
exerting himself with true parental solicitude, to
please and amuse as well as instruct his daughter.
Thus had time passed on with Isabelle, until now
she was fifteen. Frequent attacks of illness from
which her father had suffered, and from which he
had recovered, had deceived her with’ regard
to his danger; but after the conversation mentioncd
at the commencement of our story, Isabelle retired
to rest with a sense of fearful oppression, yet still
hoping that her father might have been mistaken.
The next day her hopes were bright, for in answer
to her earnest enquiry her father replied that he felt
better, and Isabelle observed that his manncr was
animated. During the afternoon herfather asked
her to read to him, and seated near him Isabelle
commenced ; but soon, as the snow with which the
air out of doors was filled rendered the room dark,
she left her seat for one nearer the window,whence,
although his face was concealed from her view, she
could yet observe his motions... As she read on the
thonght had just occurred to her that her father did
not as usual comment upon her reading, when he
called hername. In a moment Isabelle was at his
side, but only in time for one pressure of the hand,
one look of love from those dear eyes,when the pure
spirit left the clay that had fettered it, and Isabelle
Ifolden was an orphan.
‘The bereaved girl bad shed bitter tears years be-
fore, a8 one after another,the beloved of their house-
{hold,passed away;but now she ultimately saw herfear
stituting in their place artificial manners and tastes» | «
confirmed with an a unmoistenog eye, », though with a
check as pale as that of the form before her, and not
until the faithfal and affectionate Martha had ex~
hausted every means in her power, could the over-
burdened heart of the orphan find relief in tears.
Letters had been written by Mr, Holden some
time previous to his death, of which one was to his
daughter, another to his absent brother, and anoth-
er to the brother of his wife. The latter was for-
warded immediately by their kind physician, who
acted as Isabelle's temporary guardian, and a week
from that event which had left her fatherless, hay-
ing bidden a sorrowful adiew to the kind Martha,
and her few other friends, Isabelle departed for her
new home, escorted by the servant sent by her un-
cle.
‘The reception of Isabelle at her uncle's home was
not caleulated to inspire her with much confidence
in the love of its inmates. » Mr. Norton had inherit-
ed all the unbending pride, and narrow prejudices
of his father, and spite of the high. character which
his sister’s husband had acquired as an able lawyer,
and better still, as a man, having determined to dis-
like him from the first, he persevered in his resolve,
and possessed an aversion to Isabelle forher fath-
er’s sake, although the living likeness of his. dead
and only sister.» ‘True, he had offered her a home,
but that, perhaps, was on account of his father’s last
words, which, incoherent as they were, appeared to
indicate repentance for the course he had pursued
with regard to his daughter. Mrs. Norton was an
amiable but indolent woman, and as long as she
herself treated Isabelle with kindness, did not think.
it incumbent upon herself to sce that others did the
same. She woald not, indeed, have allowed her
children, when in her presence, to have behaved to~
wards their cousin with other than politeness ; but,
accustomed as she was,to leave them entirely to the
guidance of their governess, without informing her-
self as to the fitness for such an office, of the person
to whose charge she committed them. She was not
aware thather two eldest daughters, Charlotte and
Cecilia, of whom one was older, the other younger
than Isabelle, were becoming vain, haughty, and ut-
terly regardless of the feelings of others, so that the
owners of those feclings were not persons to be
feared. The governess, Misa Nowel, was not. one
to correct those faults, for with her they were pre-
eminent. There were no sons in the family, and be-
side the two already mentioned, but one litue girl
of seven years, the little Clara, whose naturalsweet-
ness of disposition, yet nacorrupted, consoled Isa-
belle sometimes for the coldness of the others. ‘
Anxious to gain the affection of her uncle’s fam-
ily, for existence without love was not life to her,
Isabella did all in het power.to please those with
whom her lot seemed cast, and with her aunt and
*| the little Clara succeeded, but her uncle’was still
the same cold and’ reserved being. Miss Nowel,
jealous that one so unpretending should excel ber
pupils, as did Isabella in most of the studies which
they pursued together, regarded her with little love,
while her cousins themselves used toward her the
same deportment as to their maid, at one time treat-
ing her with familiarity, and again with bratal rade-
ness, What wonder, then, if, as week after week
passed on, and still she felt herself an unloved in-
trader, from the beauty and magnificence of herun-
cle’s noble home, the poor girl should look back
to the humble dwelling th that had been hers, as to a
lost paradise ¢ Lt
“What a sweet expression !” said Isabelle one
day, as, standing before the portrait which she knew
to be that of her grandmother, and which so much
resembled her mother, she regarded it intently, “If
for my dear mother’s sake she could only have lived
a little longer”
The words. were spoken partly | to herself and
partly to her oldest cousin who was present, “Isa-
belle had, unconsciously, mortified’ Charlotte that
afternoon by performing: before her uncle, at her:
aunt's request, a difficult piece of music in whick
the latter, attempting afterw: vards failed,and so think~
ing to mortify Isabella in her turn she replicd—
“You think the face beautiful, no doubt, because:
you have heard it said that it so mach resembles.
yours. Ihave the bad taste myself, howerer, not tor
detect the beauty.”
The pettishness of the tone in which the ‘words.
were uttered provoked @ smile from Isabelle, atsee~
ing which the irritated Charlotte proceeded :
