Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Gem.
young nobility lavished their treasure . Poets praised her in their verse , and statesmen sought her converse . " " Was she , too , unhappy ? " asked the attentive listener . " Miserable ! " answered the Spirit . "I have seen her quit the crowded circle of admirers , to weep her shame in the solitude of her chamber . Ambition had destroyed her ; adulation was the food on which she lived . She had paid the price with honour anclwhen too
; , late , bitterly mourned the sacrifice . As age approached ancl beauty decayed , Cecilia lost her friends . < , ' ne after one they fell from her , and want reigned where luxury had reared her shrine . 1 was at last sacrificed to the rapacity of a ruffian lictor , who had been commanded to drive her from the Eternal City . " For years was I hoarded , " continued the Spirit of the G em , in the greasy garment of a Jewfrom which ignoble lace I was released b
, p y the prying fingers of an officer of the imperial guard , who sold me to a Christian missionary , with whom I first visited England , and was purchased of him by Edward , called hy his countrymen the Confessor , and placed by him in his crown , where I remained until the civil war let loose the hands of ruffian violence , and the regalia of England was broken and sold by the Puritans . " 'Twere useless , " continued the Spirit , " to trace the history of
those into whose hands I fell . Sufficient to say that I have been the alternate property of the rich and worthless ; the good and noble . Now bartered as the reward of a court favor , or given as the price ofthe smile of beauty . At last I became the prize of Henry Arden . " " Of Henry Arden ! " exclaimed Walter . " The cousin of my Helen ! What am I to learn ? " " That he , and he alone was beloved by her . Thebrightand beautiful being whom you adored , was in the retirement of her home a brokenhearted blighted flower . "
"' W hat have I heard ? " said the agitated hearer . " Is it a poison , or a wholesome bitter that shall purge my soul to health ? But if so wretched , so devoted to another , why was I accepted ? Why—who cheated me into a belief of happiness ? " " Thy earthly state . Thy wealth made thee desirable to the ambitious mother . Her child ' s tears and prayers were bartered for the hope—the pride of seeing her thy wife . "
" What a page hast thou unfolded to me ! " sighed the agitated young man . " For years have I mourned the destruction of au affection that was never mutual ; wept over blighted hopes , whose realization had been misery , for Helen never loved me . " " Never ! " coldly ejaculated the Spirit . " But then her parting agony ! The look she gave , as with impassioned sighs and choking with emotionshe placed this gem upon my
, finger . False Spirit . ' thou hast deceived me . 1 have wronged her by my doubts . Death is at least ingenuous!—Her struggling vow !" " Coulcl she—she would have entreated thee to bear thy cherished ring—the pledge of hc-r supposed affection—to Henry Arden !—to the only one her young heart ever loved ! Such was her thought—Death checked its utterance . Farewell ! I have reason to believe the lesson
1 have given thee will not be thrown away . Seek not on earth for happiness . Be satisfied with content !" The Spirit faded as she spoke , ancl gradually became invisible to Walter , who returned to the Casa Doria , and the circle he had left , a wiser , ancl though not happy—A CONTENTED MAN .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Gem.
young nobility lavished their treasure . Poets praised her in their verse , and statesmen sought her converse . " " Was she , too , unhappy ? " asked the attentive listener . " Miserable ! " answered the Spirit . "I have seen her quit the crowded circle of admirers , to weep her shame in the solitude of her chamber . Ambition had destroyed her ; adulation was the food on which she lived . She had paid the price with honour anclwhen too
; , late , bitterly mourned the sacrifice . As age approached ancl beauty decayed , Cecilia lost her friends . < , ' ne after one they fell from her , and want reigned where luxury had reared her shrine . 1 was at last sacrificed to the rapacity of a ruffian lictor , who had been commanded to drive her from the Eternal City . " For years was I hoarded , " continued the Spirit of the G em , in the greasy garment of a Jewfrom which ignoble lace I was released b
, p y the prying fingers of an officer of the imperial guard , who sold me to a Christian missionary , with whom I first visited England , and was purchased of him by Edward , called hy his countrymen the Confessor , and placed by him in his crown , where I remained until the civil war let loose the hands of ruffian violence , and the regalia of England was broken and sold by the Puritans . " 'Twere useless , " continued the Spirit , " to trace the history of
those into whose hands I fell . Sufficient to say that I have been the alternate property of the rich and worthless ; the good and noble . Now bartered as the reward of a court favor , or given as the price ofthe smile of beauty . At last I became the prize of Henry Arden . " " Of Henry Arden ! " exclaimed Walter . " The cousin of my Helen ! What am I to learn ? " " That he , and he alone was beloved by her . Thebrightand beautiful being whom you adored , was in the retirement of her home a brokenhearted blighted flower . "
"' W hat have I heard ? " said the agitated hearer . " Is it a poison , or a wholesome bitter that shall purge my soul to health ? But if so wretched , so devoted to another , why was I accepted ? Why—who cheated me into a belief of happiness ? " " Thy earthly state . Thy wealth made thee desirable to the ambitious mother . Her child ' s tears and prayers were bartered for the hope—the pride of seeing her thy wife . "
" What a page hast thou unfolded to me ! " sighed the agitated young man . " For years have I mourned the destruction of au affection that was never mutual ; wept over blighted hopes , whose realization had been misery , for Helen never loved me . " " Never ! " coldly ejaculated the Spirit . " But then her parting agony ! The look she gave , as with impassioned sighs and choking with emotionshe placed this gem upon my
, finger . False Spirit . ' thou hast deceived me . 1 have wronged her by my doubts . Death is at least ingenuous!—Her struggling vow !" " Coulcl she—she would have entreated thee to bear thy cherished ring—the pledge of hc-r supposed affection—to Henry Arden !—to the only one her young heart ever loved ! Such was her thought—Death checked its utterance . Farewell ! I have reason to believe the lesson
1 have given thee will not be thrown away . Seek not on earth for happiness . Be satisfied with content !" The Spirit faded as she spoke , ancl gradually became invisible to Walter , who returned to the Casa Doria , and the circle he had left , a wiser , ancl though not happy—A CONTENTED MAN .