The Factory Girl | Page 7

to paint the sunbeams. Here the bee roved from flower
to flower, in pursuit of the dulcet morsel, and in his untiring industry,
showed to man a lesson of value, and the golden-plumed humming-bird,
darting with lightning-like rapidity, sported in happi ness, as he sipped
the pearly dew-drop from its chalice. Here was an acceptable home to
the devotional mind, in the rural retreat, than which, no place on earth
offers more real beauties to our admiration.
Such was the location of the home of Calliste's early years. Here had
the sunny days of child hood been passed, among the beauties of the va
riegated expanse of Nature, and, up to the present time, life was
rendered sweet from day to day, by those countless charms which home
furnishes, especially in the moral seclusion of such a residence.
The worthy parents were not blest with an abundance of wealth, yet

they were able, by in dustry and frugality, to gain a comfortable support
for themselves and their small family. They were pious and devoted
Christians, and in the enjoy ment of the blessings of a munificent
providence, with grateful and contented hearts, they were happy. Two
children, the subject of our narrative, and her brother, were the objects
of their affectionate care and solicitude, and from their earliest
moments, had these highly favored children been the subjects of many
prayers, and in structions and precepts, which are the greatest blessings
that childhood can experience. Constantly had the precepts of virtue
and religion been instilled into their young and tender minds, and the
result of those lessons will be seen in the life of one of them, at least, as
we proceed. How salutary, indeed, such influences when early
impressed upon the mind! More valuable is the single impression,
according to the rule of virtue, early, indelibly fixed upon the mind,
than the gem from the mountain; and of infinitely more importance is it.
that first impressions be right, than that Fortune should lavish her
bounties in future life. What, indeed, is genius without the guidance of
moral principle? A source of much evil. Indeed, the youth whose mind
is armed with the panoply of virtue, even though as poor as Lazarus,
shall prove a blessing to the world, while the child of affluence, without
this shield, lives unknown, and retires to the dust unlamented and
forgotten. Far more to be desired, is the humble, virtuous mind, than
the proud spirit of inglorious name; and true beauty and excellence are
seldom found among the bigoted and vain.
The cottage under whose roof the youthful days of Calliste had been
spent so pleasantly, presented a peculiar neatness in arrangement, a
beauty in simplicity, which excites the admiration of the beholder, and
speaks volumes for the humble occupants. The house, the garden, and
the field, alike displayed the rural taste and simplicity of their owner.
Though poor and humble, Mr. Barton and his amiable companion were
universally respected. Their exemplary life and consistent walk,
rendered them not only beloved by, but ornaments to the church. Kind
arid obliging at all times, they were the friends of suffering humanity,
and their deeds were such as active benevolence prompts acts not
stimulated by hopes of reward, but from consciousness of duty and

good-will. Such was the character of the parents of Calliste; and such
parents are more valuable, by their precepts and examples, to the rising
generation, than all the titles which fame can bestow, and all the wealth
a world affords. The latter, influence the young and tender mind in
favor of immorality; the for mer, prepare the soul for future happiness,
and their influence is more valuable to the world than all the gifts
which the proud minions of wealth can bestow upon their children.
Such is the home of true worth, even as the gem is found in the
seclusion of the caves of the mountain. And we venture to say, that
more stars of the first magnitude, on the scroll of the world's true
nobility, have risen from obscurity, than ever had their birth in costly
palaces, and the mansions of the great; and these stars shall continue to
shine, when the meteor flame of titled nobility shall be consigned to
oblivion.
In the education of their children, these worthy parents had spared no
pains, so far as their humble means would allow; and one great and
important object they constantly kept in view was, the religious training
of their minds. This was the chief aim of their instructions, the
preparation of their children for a life of usefulness and happiness here,
and salvation in the future state.
O, that parents would not forget their respon sibility in relation to the
high trust committed to them! What is their duty? What parent would