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Untitled Article
which most deserves it ; and it was this kind of poverty which had tried Clara , and to which much of the unfortunate delicacy of her constitution might be traced . Like the famishing family
in Godwin ' s " St . Leon , " hers had often sat down to meals at which many of the members feigned want of appetite to spare the food—they feared to participate , lest they should abridge the portion essential to the necessities of the younger branches :
the most prominent among these self-denying members , were her mother and herself ; they hid their acute sorrow under the calmness of fortitude and the serenity of resignation , which covered their calamities from common view , as " the wreath of Harmodius covered his sword . " Trials incident to family distress , and frequent sickness , perfected in Clara a spirit of
patience , tenderness , and intelligence , rarely developed so early . As she rose into girlhood , some of the family difficulties , conquered by courage , disappeared—her health improved , and a bright , yet delicate vivacity shed its own peculiar enchantment on her beauty . Yet it was delightful to see how the prudence which she had learned from reflection reined the impulses she inherited from nature—how affection prompted persevering exertions , which were all beyond the poor power of physical strength—exertions of whicli the divine energy of a loving intelligent will is alone capable .
She was scarcely fifteen when she was seen and loved ; her heart half answered to the appeal ; but her anxious , circumspect mother promptly interposed a barrier between Clara and
her fortuneless lover . Disappointed and distressed beyond what he could bear to betray , he broke up his prospects in England and went to sea . He could not go without seeing Clara . " None but myself , " lie said to her in that interview , " can know how I love you . Depend upon my love—should you ever need its service do not fail who knows - " The gathering emotion grew beyond his power to suppress it , and he wept the tears whicli would have way .
" Clara , " he resumed , when he could again speak , in any case , no matter what , call to me and I will come to you—come to me and I will receive you , shelter you , succour you— if / should have a home , a friend , a guinea—they shall be more
yours than mine . " Had Clara ' s heart never been touched before , it would have yielded then : there is little doubt , if she had had only self to consider , she would have put her hand into the hand of her lover and said like Ruth , " Whither thou goest I will go ; and where than lodgest 1 will lodge ; thy people shall be my people ; and thy God , my God . " But the religion of nature rarely
obtains in society—the uncongenial are forced into association , and theassimilant are torn asunder . Mammon hath said , Let discord be on tlie face t > f the earth , and discord in abundance there is ,
Untitled Article
15 The Intriguante *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1836, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2653/page/16/
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