The more he saw of the
enthusiastic girl, with all her romantic propensities, the more strongly
he became attached to her. Her sins of authorship were undictated by
ambition or the mere love of fame; but were the joyous outpourings of an
artless mind delighted in having discovered a method of conveying her
thoughts to paper, and retaining in a tangible form those delightful
visions that so often engrossed her fancy.
She laid no claim to the title of a _Blue_--she had not the most remote
idea of being considered a literary lady. She sang as the birds do in
the bushes, for the mere pleasure of singing, and she was perfectly
unconscious that others listened and admired her songs.
Independent of her love of music and poetry, she had many valuable
mental and moral qualities. Not among the least of these was a deep
sympathy in the wants and sufferings of the poor, which she always
endeavored to alleviate to the utmost of her power. The selfish fear of
infection never deterred her from visiting the abodes of her poor
neighbors--administering to their comfort when sick, and not
unfrequently watching beside the pillow of the dying. In the performance
of these acts of charity, she was greatly encouraged and assisted by her
worthy father.
When aunt Dorothy, in her cold egotism, raved about her niece
endangering her life, and the lives of those around her, by going to
infected houses, the Captain's general answer was--"Let the child alone,
Dorothy; a good angel watches over her--God will take care of his own.
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