THE 
 
 FACTORY GIRL: 
 
 OR 
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUE, 
 
 What though the gem is found in caves of earth 
 Does that destroy its beauty, or its worth *? 
 And tho' unknown the Virtuous heart to Fame, 
 Is not its real value still the same 1 
 
 BY A. I. CUMMTNGS, M. D, 
 
 LOWELL: 
 
 J. E. SHORT & CO 
 
 1847.
 
 Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1846, 
 
 BY J. E. SHORT & CO., 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of 
 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 ABNKR FORBES, PRINTER, 
 37 Coruhiil, Boston.
 
 TO 
 THE INTELLIGENT 
 
 AND 
 
 HIGHLY RESPECTABLE CLASS 
 OF 
 
 FEMALE OPERATIVES, 
 
 IN NEW ENGLAND, 
 
 IS THIS HUMBLE VOLUME MOST RESPECTFULLY 
 
 DEDICATED AND INSCRIBED, 
 
 BY THEIR FRIEND AND HUMBLE SEUVAN'f, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 2063502
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Manchester of America Calliste Barton Evening 
 Scenery in Mid-Summer Marcus Hartwell Conversa 
 tion between Marcus and Calliste The Parting Cal 
 liste repairs to her Devotions, and Marcus to his Flute. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Preparations for Calliste's Separation from her Family 
 and Friends Her Departure The Journey Com 
 mencement of Factory Life Letters from Home. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Paternal Residence of Calliste's Early Home 
 Her Parents and Family The Attractions and Charms 
 of Home. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Incidents of a Night Tlie Student pursuing his Stud 
 ies Edwin Barton The Noble Spirit of the Factory 
 Girl Cheering prospects opened to young Barton, by the 
 noble efforts of a Factory Girl A Sister's Love.
 
 VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The interesting season of Youth Calliste's Personal 
 Charms Her intellectual and moral Excellence Deci 
 sion of Character Character of the New England Fac 
 tory Girl. 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 The Factory Girl's new Associations and Friends Her 
 Boarding House Louisa Elliot Constant Friendship. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Cassius Willson and Alfred Boyden Their character, 
 conversation, purposes, &c. Calliste and Louisa their 
 marked Victims. 
 
 CHAPTER VHJ. 
 
 A Country Cottage in Winter A Young Man and his 
 Letter Reflections Marcus Hartwell, an Orphan His 
 Profession His Uncle and his Plot. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The Lyceum Two Young Ladies attract the attention 
 of a Young Southerner and his Associate Their Offer 
 Rejected. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 The College Commencement Preparations The 
 Standing of Young Barton in College His Valedictory 
 Address He graduates with high honors. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 " The Offering" The Private Apartment of a Factory 
 Girl A letter from Marcus.
 
 CONTENTS. VU 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A Village on the banks of the Connecticut Dr. Hart- 
 well His Success Death of his Uncle Marcus be 
 comes possessor of an Estate by Will Dr. Hartwell's 
 Office. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The Factory Girl leaves the " City of Spindles " for her 
 early home, attended by her friend Louisa The Family 
 Greeting. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Calliste re-visits the scenes of her early pleasures and 
 pastimes Changes Arrival of young Batton His 
 Preaching Recollections of the Past. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 A night Scene in Autumn Solitude Scene at the 
 Farmer's Cottage Edwin and Louisa Shafts of Cupid 
 True Affection Reciprocated Reflections. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The Separation Calliste and her friend again " among 
 the spindles" Edwin a candidate for Ordination Mrs. 
 Elliot A Mother's Love. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIL 
 
 The charms of Winter Interesting Scene at Mrs. Elli 
 ot's Dr. Hartwell's Arrival The Wedding The 
 Company retire Dr. Hartwell and Calliste enjoy a pleas 
 ant Interview Departure for their future home A 
 Beautiful Village Rev. Mr. Barton's Residence.
 
 VIII CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIH. 
 
 What renders Life Happy CalHste at her Father's 
 Preparations for an Interesting Event Future Prospects, 
 &c. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 The Advent of Spring Evening on the river banks 
 Calliste Personal Qualities ' Sabbath Morn The Mar 
 riage Attending Incidents The Village Business 
 and Prospects of Dr. Hartwell. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Calliste as a Wife Edwin Barton His standing and 
 prospects Dr. Hartwell and his Family His position 
 in Society Results of the Mission of the Factory Girl 
 Conclusion.
 
 THE FACTORY GIRL 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 They parted and a mutual kiss 
 Their vows had sealed for future bliss ; 
 While Hope's bright beacon lent its ray, 
 And bore Affection's sigh away ! 
 
 NEVER, perhaps, did the " Manchester of 
 America," though renowned for the moral and 
 intellectual worth of its inhabitants, and especially 
 its Female Operatives, bear within its limits a 
 nobler, more pure, and worthy soul, than that 
 which caused the heart of CALLISTE BARTON to 
 beat, in her humble sphere. In saying this, it is 
 no disparagement to any one, as we trust the 
 following pages will show. 
 
 And now, courteous reader, we invite you to 
 follow us, if you please, through a series of scenes 
 which, though delineated in a familiar style, and 
 without the magic graces of the romantic imagin 
 ation, or the art of the novelist, we trust may not 
 prove uninteresting, especially to the class of 
 which the subject of our narrative was a worthy 
 1
 
 10 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 member. And if la beau monde* will condescend 
 to follow our humble pen, we will show them that 
 a gem of transcendent beauty and worth may be 
 found even in the depths of obscurity. 
 
 It was a beautiful evening in mid-summer, in 
 the year 18 . The brilliant constellations had 
 taken their seats in the blue vault of heaven, and 
 every star seemed to twinkle with joy, and to emit 
 its rays like the benign influence of the virtuous 
 mind upon surrounding objects. The zephyrs, 
 rilled with the fragrance of nature's flower-garden, 
 wafted their rich perfume in a sweet murmur, save 
 which, with the gentle rolling of the pellucid 
 stream, silence reigned. The earth was clothed 
 in her richest garments, and dame Nature seemed 
 to smile with satisfaction at the faithful accom 
 plishment of her work, and the beauty of each 
 object which her pencil had touched, or her magic 
 wand animated. Then Solitude lent her charm, 
 and Devotion her power to the virtuous mind. 
 
 On such an evening as this, at a short distance 
 from a small, yet beautiful village of the " Granite 
 State," upon the banks of a stream tributary to 
 the noble river that washes the western boundary 
 of that State, might have been seen, apparently 
 in deep and interesting, if not anxious conversa 
 tion, a lady and gentleman, whose appearance 
 would have particularly engaged your attention. 
 They were both young, and the lady at least was 
 peculiarly beautiful and lovely. 
 
 "When shall you return, Calliste?" inquired 
 
 * The fashionable world.
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 11 
 
 the gentleman. " That is uncertain," was the 
 reply. " We shall miss you," continued the first 
 speaker, " but I hope we shall hear from you 
 often." " Most certainly I shall write," she re 
 plied. But we have traced their conversation far 
 enough to open to the minds of our readers the 
 characters which we have introduced ; and as the 
 companion of Calliste, at the present time, permit 
 us to introduce MARCUS HARTWELL, of whom the 
 reader will hear more as we proceed. Suffice it 
 to say, that he was a very dear friend of Calliste, 
 and that they were about to part for a season. 
 
 Long did they converse, seated upon the moss- 
 covered bank, beneath the shade of a majestic 
 elm, whose towering trunk had bid defiance to 
 the storms of many a rolling year, ere those be 
 neath its boughs had commenced the journey of 
 life. The subject of their present conversation 
 will be readily guessed by our readers. Theirs, 
 gentle friends, were hearts swayed by reciprocal 
 feelings by deep, pure, fervent, and devoted 
 affection. They had- not learned to trifle with the 
 brightest, sweetest, and purest feelings of which 
 our nature is susceptible. They had received this 
 precious gift from the hand of Virtue, and her 
 kiss as the signet of her approval aroused confi 
 dence to act in mutual harmony and they were 
 happy. This, indeed, is the only source to the 
 fountain of happiness, and all the pranks of Cupid 
 upon hearts really unworthy to bear the gem of 
 true affection, are but impulses that lead to evil, 
 rather than the attainment of lasting good.
 
 12 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 There is an hour, in which the heart can truly 
 realize the extent of its attachment to any object 
 when it can truly feel the worth of a soul pos 
 sessing feelings congenial to its own. There is a 
 time that severs kindred spirits, and plants their 
 destiny in remote climes from each other, to 
 wander alone among strangers, with no friend to 
 soothe the aching head, or cheer the hour of sor 
 row and gloom, by a kind word and an ever- wel 
 come smile. Yes, 
 
 The parting hour, to kindred hearts, 
 Truly is ever fraught with pain ; 
 
 For who can tell, when once we part, 
 If we shall ever meet again? 
 
 We love the endearing associations that cluster 
 around Home, and from the scenes of our child 
 hood, hallowed by so many interesting names and 
 scenes all dear to our heart it is indeed hard 
 to part ; but there is one association that binds us 
 still stronger to its object, and that is true affec 
 tion. This, this, we say, draws the cords of the 
 heart, and touches a vibrating string, the music of 
 which strikes upon the soul in tones sorrowful, yet 
 sweet, as in the low and hallowed cadence the last 
 adieu falls upon our anxious ear with a magic spell. 
 
 Such was the scene which we have introduced 
 to our readers, and the time and place were favor 
 able to the parting, for a calm and holy influence 
 seemed to fall around them, as if angels were at 
 their devotions near, and the harmony of Nature, 
 as exhibited in the material universe, seemed also 
 to render a tribute of praise to the Architect Di-
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 
 
 13 
 
 vine. But in the hearts of Marcus and Calliste, 
 nothing but unfeigned affection touched the 
 strings ; and though that passion so sacred, so 
 holy was mutual, yet, up to the present time, 
 had it remained unconfessed. 
 
 From early years they had associated with each 
 other, and that attachment which had existed be 
 tween them, had gradually ripened into mutual 
 love, pure and ardent. And now, for the first 
 time, did they realize the extent of that passion, 
 which had so long been cherished, behind the veil 
 of the heart. This was the scene of the confes 
 sion and the declaration of affection. And as he 
 clasped Calliste to his bosom, and the first holiest 
 kiss of love was mutually given, think you not, 
 dear reader, an emotion thrilled the heart of Mar 
 cus, whose very nature forbid aught but constancy 
 and fidelity to its sacred trust ? The pledge was 
 given the solemn vow was sealed, and regis 
 tered, we fancy, in the sanctum of virtue, for 
 future reference. 
 
 They parted but think you, fair reader, it was 
 not with mutual satisfaction ? Though they were 
 to be separated for a season, yet they were blest 
 with the anticipation of a future meeting, under 
 more pleasant circumstances. Hope cheered their 
 hearts, and the last embrace and adieu found a 
 charm from the light of that blessed beacon which 
 is the joy of the mind. They parted Marcus 
 to resume his studies, and Calliste to leave the 
 home of her childhood, with all its endearing 
 scenes, to take up her abode among strangers, in
 
 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 a distant location. Ye who have tried the experi 
 ment, know what it is to commit yourselves to 
 the mercies and sympathies of an unfriendly 
 world to leave the scenes of home, for a resi 
 dence amid the noise and jar of a bustling town, 
 and confined to the hours designated by the 
 rattling bell. You know the difference between 
 this and the associations, and familiar faces of 
 " Sweet Home." This was the chosen lot of Cal- 
 liste, for a laudable purpose ; and the morrow was 
 the day appointed for her departure. Yet she 
 dreaded it not, for she was prepared by virtue for 
 the task, and she had an important object in view. 
 Whatever may be the character of present cir 
 cumstances, however painful our situation, we can 
 bear, with fortitude, each burthen, if we have the 
 satisfaction that the future will bring relief. Hope, 
 the day-star of our life, cheers us under every 
 trial, and we trust to its anchor for a happy termi 
 nation of pain or sorrow, and a safe deliverance 
 from the frowns of adversity. The heart would 
 sink in despondency, were not this animating 
 principle firmly planted in the human breast. We 
 need its salutary influence, 
 
 To cheer the soul, when fortune frowns, 
 
 And feed the sinking vital flame ; 
 To give new life where sorrow drowns, 
 
 And shine with beauty in a name ! 
 
 We find Calliste, now, in her own private apart 
 ment, and there, in humble devotion, she pours 
 out her soul to the Giver of every good, to ask His 
 protection and continued blessing, and from a sin-
 
 GARDEZ LA CfflUR. 
 
 cere heart that evening, arose her fervent petition 
 to the Throne of Grace, for, to the other beauties 
 of her character was added the crowning excel 
 lence of true and ardent piety. A book was upon 
 the small table near her, and it was that blessed 
 volume, which, if rightly improved, " is able to 
 make us wise unto salvation." As she rose and 
 resumed her seat, a calm serenity of countenance 
 indicated the approval of conscience, and this is 
 the richest blessing which is within our reach. 
 
 She was indeed beautiful, and however rare the 
 union, her mind was no less attractive. 
 
 Tho' beauty, in its ev'ry grace, 
 Rested upon her form and face, 
 The mind contained the priceless gem 
 E'en virtue's richest diadem. 
 
 How truly beautiful the scene, when the youth 
 ful heart surrenders itself to the service of it* 
 Creator ! and what more pleasing and truly inter 
 esting object can you name, than a " pious youth ?" 
 Angels may well rejoice, and saints be glad, when 
 the young, in all the bloom and activity of the 
 spring time of life, yield to God, and unite with 
 God's people to serve Him. Calliste was one of 
 that happy number whose God is the Lord. 
 
 As she sat thus, alone in her room, meditating, 
 perhaps, upon the scene which had transpired, or 
 anxiously contemplating the future, through an 
 open window, the gentle breeze of evening bore 
 to her ears the notes of music at a distance, each 
 note echoing in the silence of the night with a 
 peculiar sweetness of tone which only the rural
 
 16 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 seclusion affords. It was the flute of Marcus, 
 which had so often accompanied her voice in the 
 songs which fill the heart with emotion ; and the 
 thought that she heard the welcome sound for the 
 last time, at least for a season, for a moment 
 caused her countenance to bear an expression of 
 sorrow. But it was of short duration. And as 
 the last note of one of her favorite pieces died 
 upon the ear, and she heard no more, she rose 
 from the window and retired to rest. 
 
 How sweet the rest of that individual, whose 
 mind is conscious of rectitude ! How blessed the 
 state of that mind that can place its trust in an 
 Omnipotent Arm, and fear no evil ! Such was 
 the mind of Calliste ; and she was happy, though 
 painful the thought of the prospect before her 
 at least of leaving the humble roof, even in that 
 seclusion, dear to her by so many pleasing recol 
 lections, and of leaving a father, mother and broth 
 er, to find another home for herself, at the tender 
 age of sixteen years. But she was prepared, and 
 well prepared, for the task. Her mind was forti 
 fied by virtue's shield, and well she knew the 
 prayers of her parents, and Marcus, would daily 
 meet her own at the sacred altar, for her protec 
 tion. Thus was she happy in the anticipation of 
 the journey of the next day, and we leave her, 
 simply remarking, that no life can be truly happy 
 unless it is approved of virtue.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 She left her home she left her friends, 
 
 To act her part upon Life's stage ; 
 While beauty its effulgence lends, 
 
 At "sweet sixteen's" precarious age. 
 
 THE shades of night had disappeared, and Au 
 rora had taken her seat in her oriental chariot, 
 while Sol, her grand representative, by his smiles, 
 chased every cloud from the horizon, and bade 
 the flower and bud unfold their beauty, to add 
 fresh fragrance to the sparkling dew-drops, to 
 unfold their chalices again, and to pay their 
 tribute to the Power which planted them, caused 
 them to vegetate, and painted them in all their 
 variegated and beautiful hues. 
 
 Again were heard the merry notes of some fa 
 vorite air, as the farmer, whistling joyfully, as the 
 feast of a contented mind, took his may to the 
 field, to commence the labors of the day, and an 
 imated nature in all its varieties, found a tone to 
 echo in the glad strains which characterize rural 
 life. All was life and animation, and beauty 
 crowned the scene, as the dew-drops, like crystals, 
 sparkled from their thousand petals, while the for-
 
 18 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 est, the hill, and the vale, were attired in their 
 livery of green, wrought in multiform varieties by 
 the hand of Nature. 
 
 But while yet the morning twilight lingered in 
 the chambers of the east, Calliste had offered her 
 devotion to Heaven. She had arisen and gone 
 forth to walk, and to catch the rich perfumes of 
 myriads of flowers, borne on etherial wings, while 
 she sought the invigorating and salutary influence 
 of the salubrious atmosphere of her native hills, 
 once again, ere she left them for other scenes. 
 
 All things were ready for her departure, and 
 she felt a mixture of joy and grief rising in her 
 breast joy in the anticipation of the accomplish 
 ment of her object, and grief at the thought of 
 the separation which must take place between 
 herself and those near and dear to her heart ; and 
 in consideration of the many temptations and 
 dangers to which a city life renders the young 
 and inexperienced subjects. 
 
 She returned, and as the happy family of which 
 Calliste was a much loved and worthy member, 
 seated themselves once again together around the 
 humble board to partake of the bounties of provi 
 dence, and then gathered around the family altar, 
 to join in a song of praise, and to bow in humble 
 prayer before the Majesty of Heaven, no wonder 
 if Calliste felt indeed a pang at the thought of 
 separation. It is natural to humanity to desire 
 that those scenes in which we take the most in 
 terest may be perpetuated, and the hour which is 
 to sever us from our highest enjoyments, must ne-
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 
 
 19 
 
 cessarily bring with it, unwelcome feelings to the 
 heart. But Calliste had formed her resolutions, 
 and resolved to bear the pang that separation 
 must occasion, with a firm courage, and to that 
 end had resolved to appear cheerful. She wore 
 a gem that is the safest helment the best shield 
 and that gem she trusted to preserve her from 
 every snare, and enable her to resist every temp 
 tation. It was the gem of virtue, gentle reader, 
 crowned by true piety. This is the defence of 
 the heart, the safeguard of the graces and 
 accomplishments of the mind, and the beauties of 
 the person. 
 
 The hour had come when the adieu must fall 
 from lips unaccustomed to speak the word. The 
 last counsels of tender parents had been given, 
 and Calliste had been commended to God. The 
 stage coach was at the door, and she must go. 
 Then did the reality burst upon the mind of the 
 fair one, and almost did she regret the step which 
 she was about to take but it was too late ; and 
 though the tear-drops forsook her eyes, when the 
 last embrace and kiss were given, yet she cheer 
 fully took her place in the stage, and soon was far 
 from the scenes of home, and the familiar faces 
 which remained. She had an object in view of 
 sufficient importance to cause her to relinquish her 
 own happiness for a season to secure its attainment. 
 
 But what were the feelings of that fond and 
 pious mother, at parting with the object of her 
 tender care and anxious solicitude a beloved 
 daughter? How dare she trust one so young and
 
 20 
 
 inexperienced in a distant city, and among stran 
 gers ? Exposed, as she necessarily must be, to 
 many evils and dangers, had she no fears for her 
 safety ? Ah, none but a mother can analyze a 
 mother's feelings ! None but those who sustain the 
 sacred relation, can feel the many anxieties which 
 a tender mother experiences for the welfare of a 
 beloved child, from the earliest moments of infan 
 cy even to mature age. But she had the sweet 
 satisfaction of knowing that those lessons of virtue 
 and morality those precepts of religion, which 
 had been impressed upon the mind of Calliste 
 from early years had not been disregarded ; a 
 satisfaction which, were it universal, would save 
 the pang of sorrow from many a mother's anxious 
 breast. She had confidence in the fidelity of her 
 daughter in the observation of those precepts 
 which she had received ; and with that feeling, 
 though with unavoidable solicitude, which only a 
 mother knows, she was willing to trust Calliste in 
 the wide world for a season. 
 
 How illy prepared, indeed, to encounter the 
 temptations and difficulties of life is that mind 
 which has not the shield of Virtue as a safe de 
 fence. Though possessed of brilliant talents and 
 highly-cultivated intellectual faculties, none are 
 safe from the dangers of shipwreck upon the 
 shoals and quicksands of life, unless the chart of 
 Virtue is on board, and Wisdom at the helm. 
 How many a brilliant star has been lost from the 
 constellation of intellectual beauty, because it
 
 GARDEZ LA C<EUR. 21 
 
 strove to twinkle in its own strength, and despised 
 the constant, saving flame of Virtue. 
 
 Ye, who have learned by experience what it is 
 to leave the paternal roof, for the first time, to 
 mingle with strangers, you can tell the feelings of 
 the subject of our narrative, on her journey to the 
 place of her future abode. But through the favor 
 of a friend of her father, a place had been secured 
 for Calliste, in a respectable family, and also em 
 ployment as she had desired, and she was thereby 
 saved the anxiety, which otherwise would have 
 taken possession of her mind. Her journey af 
 forded novelty for the mind, in the various objects 
 which met her attention, and perhaps was more 
 pleasurable than otherwise. Calliste was an ad 
 mirer of the beauties of nature, and the land 
 scapes, beautiful and variegated, afforded many 
 objects of attraction, which, to the thoughtless, 
 pass unnoticed. Indeed, to the reader of the 
 book of nature, there can be no scene more grati 
 fying, than that which displays the picturesque 
 attractions of variety and beauty. Thus was her 
 journey far from being tedious or disagreeable, 
 for the vivacity of youth will find among novel 
 ties many objects to gain the attention. 
 
 As she neared the place of her future resi 
 dence, perhaps Calliste felt the need of a friend 
 to introduce her; but she knew her arrival was 
 anticipated, and her letters of introduction were 
 sufficient. But still, though we may be amply 
 prepared, we shall find on our first entering a 
 large town or city, especially if we are young and
 
 22 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 inexperienced, many fears arising in our minds in 
 relation to propriety, and the various other lessons 
 which experience alone can teach us. And this 
 is the case more particularly with females, from 
 natural delicacy and regard to propriety. But 
 suffice it to say, Calliste was well received, for in 
 her appearance there was something peculiarly 
 attractive and prepossessing to the accurate ob 
 server of human nature. 
 
 We find her now at her place of destination, in 
 an agreeable family, and pleasantly located. She 
 has become initiated into the mysteries of her pro 
 fession, and is now a FACTORY GIRL ; and as we 
 proceed, kind reader, we will endeavor faithfully 
 to portray the character of one, who may be re 
 garded as a representative of the sisterhood the 
 highly intelligent and respectable class of which 
 she was an ornament. 
 
 She had learned the notes of the bell, and in 
 the discharge of the daily duties devolving upon 
 her, she was comparatively happy ; though the 
 thought of home, perhaps, caused the deep-drawn 
 sigh to swell her bosom, as she recounted in her 
 mind the scenes of the past, and those friends be 
 loved, whom she had left behind. And one, in 
 particular, we may rest assured was not forgotten 
 and our readers will not fail at once to recog 
 nize the object of our reference. No! the heart 
 of woman clings with wonderful tenacity to the 
 object of its choice, and alas ! too often though 
 not in this case is that object unworthy of the 
 deep, ardent and lasting affection, which exists in
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. * 
 
 the heart of the fair one, and whose flame cannot 
 be extinguished by the floods of adversity, or 
 even the betrayal of its sacred trust. She loves 
 him still 
 
 E'en though his heart unworthy prove, 
 To bear the sacred trust of love, 
 Still in her breast shall live, a name 
 That tells affection's hallowed flame ! 
 Yes, woman's love shall constant shine, 
 And shed around a light benign ; 
 This can dispel the darkest gloom, 
 And cheer our pathway to the tomb. 
 
 Did we truly realize how sacred are the af 
 fections, methinks few indeed would dare to trifle 
 with a flame, which, when once aroused to action, 
 loses its light only in the grave ! We should at 
 tach more value to a gem, than which, in its 
 purity, earth can boast none of greater value, or 
 more transcendent beauty and excellence a gift 
 of Heaven to humanity, to bind in sacred rela 
 tions the human family together. 
 
 Calliste had been but a short time engaged in 
 her new employment, when she received a pack 
 age of letters from home ; and if any thing can 
 cause the heart to leap for joy, when at a distant 
 residence, and among strangers, it is to hear from 
 HOME. How eagerly do we read every word that 
 is from the pen of those near and dear to us 
 those whom we know feel interested in our wel 
 fare. How eagerly do we receive whatever intel 
 ligence is contained in the affectionate epistle, and 
 those precepts, which we know are for our good ! 
 But there was one letter in the package, which,
 
 24 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 perhaps, she read with as much interest, at least, 
 as any of the others, and we need not tell who it 
 was from. When on the page we can read what 
 we trust to be the feelings of a kindred heart, we 
 perhaps take unusual interest in the perusal ; at 
 least, this we will venture to say was the case with 
 Calliste. She read, and was happy. And here 
 we leave the subject of our narrative for a time, 
 to attend to her daily duties, while we turn to 
 other scenes and characters. Meanwhile, we re 
 mark, that happiness dwells alone in a contented 
 mind. We have intimated already that Calliste 
 was happy ; and this condition presupposes con 
 tentment. No one can enjoy the full amount of 
 happiness which is attainable by mortals, until 
 they believe themselves as well off as others ; 
 and this is the foundation of contentment. The 
 mind that is ever seeking for novelty, and when 
 engaged in any enterprise, is not contented to 
 persevere, but wishes for some other object to 
 which to turn the attention, will seldom make 
 much proficiency in any thing ; but the individu 
 al who, after having chosen his profession, is con 
 tented steadily to pursue it, will not only make 
 advancement, and reap the reward of his labors 
 in the end, but will enjoy real happiness, be his 
 lot cast in the palace or the humble cottage.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 How happy is the Farmer's lot, 
 Who finds a home, tho' in a cot, 
 Where Virtue and Contentment reign, 
 And Providence rewards his pains ! 
 
 SURROUNDED by the Granite Hills of New 
 Hampshire, in a beautiful valley, through which a 
 small stream found its circuitous way, as its waters 
 danced merrily over the bright pebbly track which 
 it had chosen, arose the humble cottage of Mr. 
 Barton. Its weather-beaten walls, externally had 
 acquired a leaden hue, but its romantic location 
 was such, as would lead the poet, or the painter, 
 to select a residence there, in preference to the 
 splendid mansion of the crowded city. The for 
 est-shade, and the meadow, the hill's lofty eleva 
 tion, and the beauties of the valley, enriched the 
 scenery, and made it attractive to the admirer of 
 nature. Here were nature's works in all their 
 grandeur, beauty, and unrivalled magnificence 
 such as are admirably calculated to impress the 
 mind with an accurate idea of the truly beautious 
 and sublime, and to draw it in the connection of 
 its relations, from " Nature, up to Nature's God." 
 2
 
 26 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 And the infinite museum of Nature, also, ever 
 open to the curious, presented wonder upon won 
 der, to charm the eye, and to demand attention. 
 The colors of every flower presented the work of 
 an unrivalled pencil, the imitation of which, even 
 to a tolerably correct extent, would be 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, dart 
 ing 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 pres 
 ent time, life was rendered sweet from day to day, 
 by those countless charms which home furnishes, 
 especially in the moral seclusion of such a resi 
 dence. 
 
 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 narra-
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 27 
 
 tive, and her brother, were the objects of their 
 affectionate care and solicitude, and from their 
 earliest moments, had these highly favored chil 
 dren been the subjects of many prayers, and in 
 structions and precepts, which are the greatest 
 blessings that childhood can experience. Con 
 stantly 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 im 
 pressed 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 im 
 portance is it. that first impressions be right, than 
 that Fortune should lavish her bounties in future 
 life. What, indeed, is genius without the guid 
 ance 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 Laza 
 rus, shall prove a blessing to the world, while the 
 child of affluence, without this shield, lives un 
 known, 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
 
 28 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 beholder, and speaks volumes for the humble oc 
 cupants. 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 nobil 
 ity, 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.
 
 GARDE Z LA CffiUR. 29 
 
 In the education of their children, these worthy 
 parents had spared no pains, so far as their hum 
 ble means would allow ; and one great and impor 
 tant 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 hap 
 piness 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 
 wish to neglect those lessons of instruction in early 
 life, the neglect of which would prove the eternal 
 ruin of a beloved child ? And yet how many are 
 unmindful of the duties devolving upon them, 
 while their influence is most potent in its agency, 
 and suffer their children to go forth into the wide 
 world, without the palladium of virtuous princi 
 ples as a defence, and with no guide but their 
 own impulses ! And how fearful the consequen 
 ces of such a course ! 
 
 But not only to discharge their duty towards 
 their offspring, but with a regard to their future 
 good, did these pious parents strive to instruct 
 their children in these essential principles ; and 
 the result of that instruction alone, could prepare 
 Calliste to encounter the vicissitudes and dangers 
 of a city life. And that a mind adorned with the 
 graces of virtue and religion, shines conspicuously 
 and with true beauty in society, no one can deny ; 
 for daily observation teaches us that we may find 
 in the humble and unpretending mind those ac-
 
 30 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 complishments so desirable, which cannot be found 
 in the gay and fashionable ranks of society. 
 
 There is, indeed, true beauty in Humanity ; and 
 this garment becomes every one, for though this 
 favorite grace of virtue, the light of every other 
 accomplishment, shines with brighter lustre, we 
 love the unpretending and unobtrusive violet, not 
 so much for its superior beauty over other flow 
 ers, but as an emblem of an accomplishment that 
 is the immediate jewel of our hearts whose radi- 
 ence beautifies every other grace it is humility. 
 This grace, so conspicuous in the character of the 
 parents, was not less so in the mind of Calliste, 
 and to this source may be traced her pre-eminence 
 for intellectual worth. 
 
 This ever proves a gem serene, 
 Still loved the more, the more 't is seen ; 
 And in the halo of its flame, 
 All other graces find a name 
 A name to live when pride shall die, 
 And royalty forgotten lie ; 
 This, ever still the same shall be 
 ^ Gem of the heart, Humility. 
 
 Indeed, surrounded by such scenes, and in a 
 rural seclusion which furnished so many lessons 
 in the changes of Nature, and being blessed with 
 so excellent precepts and examples, from a source 
 which of all others is calculated to gain attention, 
 we may justly suppose that the mind of Calliste, 
 though still young and highly susceptible, was far 
 better prepared for the active scenes and vicissi 
 tudes of life, than those whose passions are un 
 restrained, and who are not blessed with that
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 31 
 
 salutary and hallowed influence, which flows from 
 paternal love and solicitude. We may anticipate, 
 indeed, in a great measure, the future character of 
 the mind, from the nature of the early impres 
 sions which that mind receives for it will re 
 ceive impressions of some kind very early in life. 
 How important that they be of the right kind ? 
 
 But to return from our digression, which we 
 trust the reader will pardon. Such was the home 
 of Calliste, which she had left ; and who will be 
 surprised, if, on leaving the scenes of her child 
 hood, and the tender associations of such a home, 
 she had, from an overflowing heart, suffered the 
 tear to fall upon her fair cheek at the separation ? 
 The stranger can feel none of that deep sympathy 
 for a fellow being that characterizes the hearts of 
 kindred spirits, though benevolence, and what the 
 world calls sympathy, come to our relief in the 
 hour of trial. And, however humble, home is 
 dear to us, though its value is never sufficiently 
 realized until we are deprived of it, and find our 
 selves surrounded by strangers. Then, all those 
 scenes so dear to our hearts, rush upon the mind, 
 and cause the dim cloud of sorrow to overshadow 
 every pleasure, and transform it into pain. With 
 home, we have very many blessings. No friendly 
 admonition will the stranger give us, no warning 
 voice do we hear from those whose chief aim is 
 self-interest ; and when sickness comes, no tender 
 mother, like a guardian angel, is at hand to soothe 
 each sorrow, and relieve each bitter pang. O ! 
 ye who are blessed with a home, however humble
 
 32 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 your lot, forget not that you cannot be too grate 
 ful for the blessings you enjoy, or prize them too 
 highly ; for never can you know their value, till 
 thrown in the midst of new associates, with none 
 to care for your welfare, or protect you from the 
 dangers which surround the young, especially the 
 unsophisticated and confiding. For, 
 
 Too oft, alas ! the smile allures, 
 
 And flattery, a curse ensures ; 
 
 Too oft is confidence betrayed, 
 
 To land a victim in the shade ! 
 
 And false Deceit, with Love's young trust, 
 
 Tramples the flowret in the dust !
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Why, when the world is locked in sleep, 
 Should this pale student vigils keep? 
 To study thus, why should he care ? 
 A sister's love had placed him there. 
 
 IT was the silent hour of midnight, late in 
 autumn. The shrill blast whistled around the 
 cottage, playing a lively jig with loose shingles on 
 the roof, and anon moaning, as if repenting of the 
 results of its fearful mission. A thick veil of 
 clouds hung over the scene, and a deluge of rain, 
 mingled with sleet, fell in fearful rapidity upon the 
 frozen carpet of earth, and at that time, when, 
 save the commotion of the elements, all was silent 
 as the sub-marine cavern, the clock upon the an 
 cient dome pealed the hour. Locked in slumber, 
 all, save the minds which can appreciate the value 
 of the " noon of thought," were enjoying their 
 repose. We say all, all save the children of 
 want, or those who love the vigils of silence. But 
 the location of this scene, and the cottage of 
 which we have spoken, was not the one already 
 noticed, but far distant from it. The village wide 
 ly contrasted with the seclusion of rural life. 
 Those ancient domes and halls of learning, con-
 
 t)4 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 nected as they are with many venerable names, 
 furnished associations of thought, far from disa 
 greeable. Then did the past, with all its scenes 
 so transitory, rush upon the memory, furnishing 
 in every scene its incidents of interest, and the 
 mind held converse with each fond hope, and 
 each sacred emotion, that sways the heart of the 
 truly virtuous. This is the sweet hour of contem 
 plation, and the favorable time for reflection, med 
 itation and self-examination, or the pursuit of each 
 hidden germ of knowledge, among the pages of 
 cumbrous volumes. 
 
 Dimly burned the lamp upon a small table, be 
 side which sat a student, poring over the dusty 
 pages of a large book, which appeared to be as 
 ancient as the original manuscript of the Philippics 
 of the Athenian orator, but which, nevertheless, 
 seemed to prove interesting. It was a small apart 
 ment, and though furnished in a comfortable man 
 ner, there was plainly a deficiency in the articles of 
 furniture usually found in the student's room. 
 The occupant was apparently young, though his 
 pale countenance indicated a delicate constitution, 
 and perhaps ill health. A fine classic brow, and 
 an agreeable expression would have attracted your 
 attention, and the illuminations of the intellect 
 were radiated from eyes flashing the eloquence of 
 a noble soul. Hard study might have driven the 
 flush from his cheek, but a studious thoughtful- 
 ness expressed itself as having taken the place 
 once occupied by the vivacity of youth. Mental 
 labor, almost invariably, if constantly persisted in,
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 35 
 
 will transform the countenance from the glow of 
 youth to the placid and grave paleness which 
 characterizes students. This had apparently been 
 the case with this young student for, that he was 
 young, you would have at once opined, though 
 he appeared perhaps older than he actually was. 
 He had closed the book, and seemed to be wrapt 
 in meditation, for a few moments, until, being 
 admonished by the clock again as it tolled one, he 
 prepared to retire to rest, after his private devo 
 tions. Such is the life of the student from day 
 to day. His lessons will be required, and he must 
 prepare himself accordingly. And to those who 
 are prompted by a spirit of laudable emulation, it 
 is a pleasure, even, to trim the midnight lamp, 
 that they may gain the laurels of literary fame, 
 though it may cost much exertion and self-denial. 
 And who was the student thus unceremoniously 
 introduced ? our readers will very naturally in 
 quire. It was EDWIN BARTON, the brother of 
 Calliste, of whom we have spoken before the 
 only brother of the young Factory Girl. He was 
 in college, pursuing his studies, preparatory to his 
 professional education. But how came he there ? 
 you may inquire and now we come to the first 
 corner of our narrative. A sister's love placed him 
 there and this was the grand object that caused 
 Calliste to leave her home, and all dear to her, to 
 take upon herself voluntarily, the duties in which 
 she had engaged. A Factory Girl placed him 
 there paid his expenses mostly, preparatory to 
 entering, and now sustained him, save what his
 
 OD THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 precarious health enabled him to acquire by teach 
 ing. For this had Calliste ardently wished. She 
 now saw him a sophomore in college, he having 
 entered one year in advance. Encouraged by his 
 proficiency, she was prepared to make any sacri 
 fices in her power to accomplish her cherished en 
 terprise. 
 
 And has not the Factory Girl a noble spirit, 
 we ask, who labors thus for the good of others 
 denying herself the pleasures and luxuries of life, 
 to accomplish the great object to which she has 
 devoted her attention, her time, her talents, and 
 the labor of her hands? Are not such worthy of 
 our highest praise and our most profound respect ? 
 And this is only an isolated case, one among 
 thousands of a similar character which are yearly 
 transpiring. But we shall revert to this subject 
 again, in a more extended and detailed manner. 
 
 But we propose, in few words, to notice the 
 character and circumstances of the young student, 
 as we think it not foreign to our subject, and we 
 ask the indulgence of our readers while we show 
 them, thus far, the results of the enterprise of 
 Calliste. 
 
 From his early years, Edwin Barton had never 
 enjoyed firm health, but a naturally delicate con 
 stitution was more the cause, than any particular 
 disease. He had early developed the elements of 
 a strong mind, and genius fired his eye. He had 
 enjoyed those privileges which are afforded by an 
 invaluable system of common schools, and had 
 made rapid progress in his studies. He was natu-
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 37 
 
 rally inclined to a thoughtful disposition, and this 
 was strikingly developed at an early age. Though 
 cheerful at all times, he had not that peculiar vi 
 vacity which is usually seen in the young. But 
 perhaps he had formed his manners and habits, 
 in some degree, according to the precepts and ex 
 amples of his pious parents. This was natural. 
 Indeed, at the time of his leaving the common 
 school, he had laid a good foundation for future 
 literary excellence. He was called a good scholar, 
 and his studious habits were highly and justly 
 commended. His character was strictly virtuous, 
 and at an early age, together with Calliste, he 
 made a public profession of religion, and united 
 with the church of which his parents were worthy 
 members. He was younger than Calliste, but at 
 the age of only fifteen, he was not only a good 
 scholar, but his mind was guarded by the strong 
 est of all shields that of Virtue and Religion. 
 Thus was he prepared to run his future race to 
 prove an ornament to society, and a blessing to 
 the world. He promised fair for usefulness, by 
 his daily life, and was a favorite among those who 
 can duly appreciate the talents and worth of those 
 who rise from obscurity, and put on the mantle 
 of true excellence, by humble and indefatigable 
 effort. 
 
 Though Edwin had never expressed his desire 
 to become educated for professional life, yet he 
 had secretly indulged a wish to that effect ; but 
 considering the pecuniary circumstances of his 
 parents, and his own delicate health, he had al-
 
 38 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 most despaired of ever accomplishing his object, 
 until, in a happy moment, his sister formed her 
 plan, communicated her scheme to her parents, 
 and finally to him. 
 
 The proposal, so unexpected as to seem almost 
 an interposition of Providence in his behalf, arous 
 ed his soul, and imparted new life, as it were, to 
 his spirits. Had a fortune opened its treasures to 
 him, he would not have been more elated. A 
 new world opened to him new prospects cheered 
 him, and with all the ardor of youthful anticipa 
 tion, did she await the time that should find him 
 a student in the halls of science, open for his free 
 labors in the acquisition of knowledge. That 
 time came, and with it, the realization of her 
 anticipations. His advancement in his prepara 
 tory course was rapid, and he had sustained an 
 enviable position in his class, up to the time we 
 have introduced him to the reader. He was re 
 spected and beloved for his mild and courteous 
 manners, as well as for his virtuous character and 
 exemplary life. He was ambitious; and who 
 would not be, when gratitude prompts them to 
 diligence, and the faithful discharge of duty ? 
 He was ambitious to win rich laurels to cast at 
 the feet of that beloved sister, through whose 
 agency he was enabled to pursue his studies. 
 He had no enemies, save those who were rivals, 
 and even they admired his talents and his charac 
 ter, though they were mortified, perhaps, to own 
 that a star, rising from obscurity, could outshine 
 those to whom the impetus of wealth had given 
 every advantage in its power.
 
 GARDE Z LA CffiUR. 39 
 
 For this object, kind reader the education of 
 a beloved brother did Calliste become a Factory 
 Girl and how many, of that highly respectable 
 class, have some kindred object in view, to sweet 
 en their labor and prompt them to action ! Very 
 many we well know, and this case is but a sample 
 of a multitude, whose history we could give had 
 we time and ability. And should such meritori 
 ous acts be forgotten because they are the works 
 of an humble operative, while those infinitely less 
 worthy are trumpeted to the four corners of the 
 earth ? God forbid ! Let true merit have its re 
 ward ; and to this end is this humble volume 
 written. 
 
 How invaluable a sister's love ! How pure and 
 ardent is that flame which time nor space can ex 
 tinguish! Such was the flame that roused the 
 humble and virtuous Calliste to action. And what 
 was the result ? The succeeding pages shall tell 
 a part, and eternity shall reveal its consummation ! 
 Forget not, ye proud and aristocratic spirits, who 
 consider the humble operative beneath your no 
 tice forgot not, we say, that the gem will shine 
 in its true brilliancy, though it eclipse the meteor 
 light of your own gaudy colors, which shine only 
 by the reflection of the gold in your coffers. You 
 shall witness an hour in which shall appear, from 
 the humble spirits of those whom you would fain 
 consider as unworthy to approach your presence, 
 more immortal beauties upon the scroll of virtue 
 than were ever recorded of your host of renowned 
 ancestry, with your own added to the list. True
 
 40 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 beauty and excellence will appear, though neg 
 lected by those unworthy to bear it company. 
 Though hidden in obscurity here, it shall rise in 
 majesty, when truth and virtue meet their just 
 reward.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 She moved in loveliness, which few 
 Thus falling to their lot, can find ; 
 
 And ev'ry grace its beauty drew, 
 From the rich fountain of the Mind ! 
 
 THERE is no season of life so deeply fraught 
 with interest, as that of youth. As the opening 
 bud, truly beautiful, and bearing the emblem of 
 innocence in itself, promises in expanding, to pre 
 sent all the brilliant and gorgeous colors and tints 
 of the full blown flower, provided the harsh storm 
 defaces not its beauty, and stops not its progress 
 by the hand of destruction, so youth, in its 
 rise to maturity, is peculiarly interesting. We 
 admire the expanding intellect, rendered more 
 beautiful by the seal of innocence and purity, and 
 our hopes are mingled with fears, when we reflect 
 how precarious is this season, and how many dan 
 gers lurk in ambush to blast the highest expecta 
 tions, which have been cherished in our bosoms, 
 for those thus situated. All who are well ac 
 quainted with human nature, whenever a brilliant 
 intellect, and superior beauty arises, to take its 
 place among those of every name and character, 
 3
 
 42 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 in the grand drama of life, ever fear, lest by a false 
 step that star should fall from its high eminence, 
 and show the frailty of humanity in its ruin. But 
 there is one peculiar gem, the light of whose ra 
 diance we readily recognize, and whose appearance 
 we hail with pleasure, and that is the Virtuous 
 Mind, the mind shielded against harm, and in 
 vulnerable to the shafts of every foe. And such 
 alone are prepared to encounter the dangers which 
 await those, upon whom Nature has lavished her 
 charms ; for the fairest star is the one upon which 
 the batteries of flattery and deceit will be opened, 
 arid these are the infernal machines of the corrupt 
 heart, by which its ignoble conquests are achieved. 
 
 Such a star was Calliste. In all the buoyancy 
 of hope, and possessing all those charms which 
 will ever attract the eye and the heart, she took her 
 place upon the stage of action, at the tender age 
 of sixteen. And shall we attempt a description of 
 her mental and personal attractions ? We will 
 try, though our feeble pen. must fail to paint one 
 of the favorites of Nature and Virtue in true col 
 ors. But it is our delight to dwell upon the 
 charms of real worth. 
 
 The personal charms of Calliste would have 
 graced the palace of nobility. Like the flowret 
 from the woodland shade, she possessed those 
 rare beauties which are seldom or never found, 
 save in the rural seclusion among the works of 
 nature. Her constitution, though naturally deli 
 cate, was none of your languid, counterfeited, 
 nervous make, by so many considered a desidera-
 
 GARDEZ LA CGSUR. 43 
 
 turn. She moved with all that grace and ease, 
 that had caused many a rough, yet noble-hearted 
 swain, to sigh involuntarily, as she tripped lightly 
 over her native hills and vales, in quest of some 
 favorite flower. None of your artificial or studied 
 movements characterized her, for she had learned 
 to dance only on the flowery carpet of her native 
 soil. Her clear, shrill voice, resounded as tuned 
 by nature, without affectation, and her mild, blue 
 eyes, shone as with heaven's own lustre, when the 
 stars lend each its radiance. So the stars of in 
 tellectual beauty lighted her eyes with a peculiar 
 brilliancy. The smile of beauty played upon her 
 rose-tinted cheeks, and health and vivacity were 
 marked upon her every feature. Her silken tresses 
 flowed in graceful profusion upon her neck, and 
 as her countenance put on one of those rich smiles, 
 at once betokening innocence and benignity, you 
 would have loved her or, at least, you would 
 have admired the graceful simplicity which char 
 acterized her every movement. 
 
 But, notwithstanding the personal beauty of 
 Calliste was indeed rare, and particularly attractive 
 from its honest simplicity, yet the gems of intel 
 lectual worth, and the graces of the heart, which 
 she possessed, were of infinitely more value. What 
 though her dress was plain, and her manners 
 unobtrusive? What though she was born in a 
 humble cottage, in the rural seclusion which we 
 have described? What though the smiles of for 
 tune never were lent to her? What though she 
 could boast no renowned ancestry ? Were not
 
 44 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 her intellectual and moral qualities of the same 
 value, as if she had been the favorite of fortune ? 
 Was she not still an object of love, admiration, 
 and respect ? 
 
 Can Fortune make thee truly great, 
 And turn from thee the shafts of fate ? 
 Go, ask the pages of the past, 
 If wealth and pride for ever last ! 
 
 What charm shall live when these are not, 
 
 And earth itself shall be forgot ? 
 
 To immortality incline 
 
 The beauties of a virtuous mind. 
 
 These, these shall tell upon the page, 
 That will survive through every age ; 
 These are the gems to mortals given, 
 To light the earth, and shine in heaven ! 
 
 We have said that the mind of Calliste was pe 
 culiarly attractive, as those ornaments, which shine 
 conspicuously, especially in the female charac 
 ter, and more particularly in the young, were de 
 veloped from day to day, as occasions presented 
 themselves to call them into exercise ; for, indeed. 
 we cannot analyze the mind, except by the crite 
 rion of its works, and of course, as new occasion? 
 presented themselves to call them into action, new 
 faculties, and consequently, new beauties were 
 developed, as we shall see as we proceed to the 
 several scenes before us for description. 
 
 Though without those advantages for acquiring 
 an education, which very many enjoy, Calliste had 
 not neglected the cultivation of her mind. She 
 was a very good scholar, such was the improve-
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 45 
 
 ment she had made of every advantage offered 
 her, for acquiring knowledge. She had, by read 
 ing, stored her mind with an extensive fund of 
 information. A book was her constant compan 
 ion, when no duty demanded her attention. At 
 times, she could hardly stifle the wish for more 
 ample opportunities for mental improvement, but 
 she preferred her brother's happiness to her own, 
 and was willing to sacrifice her own, to secure the 
 means of promoting it. And this was the fruit 
 of a sister's love. The law of kindness seemed 
 to have been engraven upon her heart ; and for 
 this trait of character, so much loved by all - 
 though not a characteristic of all was she gen 
 erally beloved. 
 
 All the virtues, that adorn the human mind, 
 shone, with greater or less brilliancy, in the mind 
 of Calliste ; and in saying this, we do not pretend 
 to say that she was perfect. No ; she had her 
 failings, and who, indeed, has not ? We might 
 go on to enumerate very many of her intellectual 
 beauties, but they will be seen in their works as 
 we proceed. We may, however, notice one or 
 two in this place, as particularly necessary, and 
 which cannot be too highly appreciated. An 
 acute sense of propriety, was one ; and the impor 
 tance of this trait of character will appear evident 
 to all. To this she added decision of character; 
 and this, too, will be understood, and its value, 
 we trust, duly appreciated. A strict regard for 
 morality and truth, will comprehend many other 
 virtues we might name. And without these prin-
 
 46 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 ciples, what individual is free from danger, among 
 the shoals and quicksands which threaten ship 
 wreck and destruction, even to those thus forti 
 fied ? 
 
 And this was the amiable, lovely being, who 
 had won the affections of Marcus Hartwell. Who 
 would pretend to say that she was not a jewel, 
 worthy to grace the bosom of any truly virtuous 
 and worthy person ? Yet there were those, as 
 we shall see, who, simply because she was a poor 
 Factory Girl, considered her as unworthy to 
 associate, even, with the fashionable a name, 
 by the way, which, were the world right side up, 
 would represent a very worthless class of society. 
 
 Misguided minds ! 
 
 Perverted intellects ! who value more 
 The glittering bauble of a single day, 
 Than that rich gem which Virtue, in her pride, 
 Renders immortal ! 
 
 Can the human heart 
 
 Cherish the thought that nought is beautiful, 
 But what finds birth within a noble name 
 That nought is real worth but what is found 
 Encased in gold, or shining by the light 
 Of ancestry, long since within the tomb, 
 Resting in silence? 
 
 Then indeed we say, 
 
 Theirs is a narrow soul ; too mean by far 
 To wear the human form, or bear the name 
 By which are known those beauties true and rare, 
 That in a mild yet brilliant halo shine, 
 To bless the earth ! 
 
 What is a name, we ask, which can claim no 
 deed to render it worthy of respect or esteem ? 
 And is the rake or villain any better, though he
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 47 
 
 may have inherited a little dust from those long 
 numbered with the dead ? Can renowned ances 
 try secure for us a place upon the scroll of virtue, 
 or in the memory of her votaries ? If not, where 
 is its value ? Noble deeds, only, and a consistent 
 life, can secure to us true fame ; and when the 
 names of the wealthy rake and genteel villain 
 shall be forgotten, the humble and virtuous child 
 of poverty shall receive a reward in the grateful 
 remembrance of generations yet unborn, for labors 
 not now recognized. 
 
 Such was the character of this Factory Girl ; 
 and in this description we find one applicable to 
 very many of that numerous and respectable class 
 a class, by the way, possessing far more intel 
 lectual and moral qualifications than is generally 
 supposed. In times past, no one even thought of 
 looking for the works of " Mind among the Spin 
 dles," but now, in New England especially, the 
 spell is broken. Even the literary world now 
 gathers gems from obscurity gems of thought, 
 that would grace the pages of the most classic 
 writers. 
 
 'Tis not the pen in learning's hand, 
 That can the secret heart command, 
 But such as from simplicity 
 A lesson learns to bring to thee. 
 
 Such as can tell, in humble strains, 
 Of what to daily life pertains ; 
 Each line a truth, devoid of art 
 This, this, we say, can touch the heart !
 
 48 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 What class in society are more worthy of re 
 spect, than those who, by the daily labor of their 
 hands, gain an honorable livelihood, and secure 
 to themselves the means of cultivating their minds 
 thus preparing themselves for future usefulness 
 and a happy life, whether " among the spindles," 
 in the farm-house, or in the parlor? We all be 
 long to the same common family, pursuing, each, 
 our particular vocation. Wherein, we ask, is one 
 better than another, save by the possession of 
 those gems of true value the virtues which 
 others do not prize ? We are all human. We 
 have each our failings ; but happy, truly happy, 
 is that mind which has the most real beauties and 
 the least defects. And let us consider, that 
 whether we dwell in the palace, or the humble 
 cottage, real worth alone can make us truly great, 
 and entitle us to a blissful immortality.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A real friend, 
 
 Is a rich jewel to the virtuous heart, 
 Than which earth knows no dearer. 
 
 Such an one, 
 
 Truly is worthy of our confidence, 
 And such alone. 
 
 WE left Calliste at her new residence, in the 
 midst of the " City of Spindles." Though the 
 hum of business was new to her, yet she soon be 
 came accustomed to it, and her daily labors were 
 less and less irksome. With a light heart and 
 determined purpose, she labored in her new occu 
 pation ; and though bright visions of home that 
 happy home among the hills would occasionally 
 flit across her mind, yet she was happy in the 
 thought of the high and holy object, which she 
 kept constantly in view, and which sweetened the 
 toil of the live-long day. For a season, she was 
 seemingly alone, or among entire strangers, but 
 as she became acquainted with many different 
 characters, she found herself again in me midst of 
 friends, or at least those who professed friendship; 
 The confiding heart is apt to rely upon the fair 
 appearances of strangers, and often, yea, too often
 
 50 THE FACTORy GIRL, OR 
 
 does it find that confidence misplaced, where in 
 deed, it had least suspected it. 
 
 Confidence ever should be "a plant of slow 
 growth," for when misplaced, even but once, it 
 may find an inextricable snare, and prove the ruin 
 of the innocent. Among strangers, it is safe to 
 consider well, before we confide the arcana of the 
 heart upon an uncertainty. True, we may find 
 those worthy of our friendship and entire confi 
 dence in all places ; but so extensive is the coun 
 terfeit, that it is unsafe to trust any one with our 
 full and unreserved confidence, upon a short and 
 limited acquaintance. The guileless heart, though 
 presuming others equally pure and unsophisticated, 
 will find that appearances are deceitful, and that 
 poison may lurk in apparent innocence. 
 
 We have said that Calliste soon found herself 
 surrounded by friends ; and true, she did : but 
 those lessons enforced upon her mind by a tender 
 and anxious mother, were not forgotten. Though 
 she had seen but little of the world, and knew by 
 experience but little of human nature, yet she had 
 learned many lessons which now were of infinite 
 importance to her. Though she was a friend to 
 all, yet she reserved her confidence to be placed 
 alone upon those, whom time should prove worthy 
 of the sacred trust. In a want of this cautiousness, 
 lies the secret of the destruction of many a noble 
 soul, that falls from the elevation of real merit and 
 respect, to the degradation of the lowest depths of 
 infamy. A single deviation from the path of rec 
 titude, may cause the fairest of the fair to sink,
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 51 
 
 like the meteor, into oblivion, and be forgotten. 
 And had Calliste no difficulties to encounter 
 no dangers to shun ? Far from it, as we shall see 
 ere we close our humble narrative. The heart of 
 Calliste was inclined to a warm friendship, and 
 true affection was the life of her soul. She 
 seemed constituted by nature to love, and with a 
 free and open heart did she seem, in all her 
 beauty and purity, an ornament to her sex. But 
 she possessed a shield to protect her, exposed as 
 she was, and the palladium of Virtue was a safe 
 defence to her, as it is to every votary at the shrine 
 of the goddess, whose mission it is to guard the 
 beautiful, the gems of immortality, from harm, and 
 present them at last in all their purity, before the 
 "great white throne." O! how beautiful, how 
 superlatively excellent that gem that finds no cloud 
 to dim its light, and which shall increase in bril 
 liancy through eternity ! 
 
 The family in which Calliste boarded consisted 
 of a widow and her daughter, and a few boarders 
 beside herself. The widow was in comfortable 
 circumstances, though by no means wealthy. Her 
 daughter was, also, a Factory Girl. With this 
 amiable companion, whom we shall introduce as 
 LOUISA ELLIOT, Calliste had formed her first ac 
 quaintance in town, and happily, she found one 
 entirely worthy of her friendship and esteem; and, 
 as was natural, Calliste had, in process of time, 
 become so intimately attached to her friend, as to 
 consider her almost a sister. 
 
 Louisa, too, was young and accomplished, and
 
 52 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 possessing a noble and well-cultivated mind, she 
 readily reciprocated the friendship of Calliste, in 
 whom she found, at all times, an agreeable friend 
 and companion. 
 
 The widow, of whom we have spoken, had seen 
 better days. She was the wife of a physician, 
 and at his death, finding herself not in affluent 
 
 circumstances, she concluded to remove to L ; 
 
 and by taking a few boarders she acquired a com 
 petence, without infringing upon the amount of 
 her small fortune. 
 
 Happily, indeed, did Calliste secure a home un 
 der the roof of this virtuous family ; and never 
 did she forget the fortune that had thus favored 
 her. In Mrs. Elliot she found at all times a faith 
 ful friend. Often did she think of her own dear 
 mother, and compare the kindness of one with 
 the other. The widow was indeed a mother to 
 Calliste, and the gentle and beautiful Louisa was 
 indeed a sister, for she had never known the dif 
 ference. If at any time Calliste was indisposed, 
 she found a faithful nurse in Mrs. Elliot ; and 
 whenever she chanced to err, the same admoni 
 tion awaited her that would have been given to 
 Louisa under similar circumstances. Such a friend 
 is more valuable to the young, than gold, or wealth 
 in any transitory form ; for real friends will tell 
 us of our faults, and give us such advice as is 
 salutary, when most needed. This is one trait of 
 true friendship. 
 
 Louisa was an only daughter, and from early- 
 years had been the object of the most anxious
 
 GARDEZ LA C(UR. 53 
 
 care and affectionate solicitude. She was a little 
 older than Calliste, and her heart still remained 
 free. She was well educated, and her mind pos 
 sessed many congenial attributes with that of Cal 
 liste. An amiable disposition rendered her an 
 agreeable friend, and in process of time an attach 
 ment had been formed, which promised to prove 
 valuable to both. Mrs. Elliot noticed with pleas 
 ure the mutual fondness between Calliste and her 
 daughter, for she was sufficiently acquainted with 
 human nature, to discern between a truly noble 
 and virtuous mind, and one of the opposite char 
 acter. Accordingly, she treated both as daughters, 
 giving them advice and precepts, for which her 
 years and experience rendered her amply qualified. 
 Thus happily situated, with a light heart, did she 
 follow the notes of the bell, from day to day, ac 
 companied by her faithful friend and constant 
 companion. And did she associate with one, to 
 the exclusion of all others ? Most certainly not. 
 She found many congenial spirits, many noble 
 and warm-hearted beings, to gain her esteem and 
 admiration. She recognized the virtuous heart, 
 and wherever that seal graced the friendship prof 
 fered, her own was freely given in return. She 
 was a favorite, as was also her friend Louisa, 
 among their acquaintances. And thus the weeks 
 and months rolled away, seemingly with an accel 
 erated rapidity. Calliste was happy in the en 
 joyment of those privileges which were offered 
 her task was rendered sweet, and her burden light,
 
 54 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 and she had the satisfaction, thus far, of accom 
 plishing her high and important object. 
 
 One valuable privilege did Calliste enjoy in her 
 new location, which her own home did not furnish, 
 and that was, free access to a valuable library, 
 which was owned by her worthy hostess. This 
 was to her a great desideratum. Now she had the 
 means of enlightening her mind, and well did she 
 improve it. Louisa was her constant companion, 
 and to her did Calliste open her heart in relation 
 to her scheme of educating her brother, and in 
 her did she place unreserved and unlimited confi 
 dence and in her alone among the numerous 
 friends who now surrounded her. And why to 
 her alonej was this favor given? Because she 
 had fairly tested her character from the com 
 mencement of their acquaintance, and in every 
 instance found her worthy. Louisa was a virtu 
 ous and lovely being, and the attachment and con 
 fidence of Calliste, met with a warm response 
 from her guileless heart. 
 
 How truly valuable is that disinterested, con 
 stant friendship which animates the virtuous heart ! 
 How sacred that passion which is founded upon 
 virtue, and unites congenial spirits in a fraternal 
 alliance ! How brilliant the associations which 
 cluster around the name of true friendship ! We 
 love the heaven-born star, whose radiance illumin 
 ates the heart, and feeds on a spirit of universal 
 and active benevolence. But how common the 
 counterfeit ! How often does this glorious name, 
 as a cloak for iniquity, cause the heart of the ob-
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 55 
 
 ject of an infernal agent to bite the dust in the 
 bitterness of despair ! The pure flame of friend 
 ship is nearly allied to affection ; but the counter 
 feit is the blackest and most detestable stain upon 
 the human heart. 
 
 Let me dwell 
 
 Alone within the mountain's dreary cave, 
 Or in the bosom of the wilderness; 
 And when at last rny heart shall cease to beat, 
 Unburied, there in silence let rne sleep, 
 Rather than know the depth of friendship false 
 To curse me with its smile ! 
 
 That Louisa appreciated the merits of her fair 
 companion, will account for the interest which she 
 took in her welfare. Like dispositions and like 
 pursuits, are apt to generate reciprocal feelings 
 and attachments, or the farthest reverse. In the 
 one case, they must flow from mutual guileless 
 hearts : in the other, they result from a predomi 
 nating spirit of self-interest, which renders every 
 noble feeling subservient to its purpose. In this 
 case, the former was the grand characteristic, and 
 a true sympathy prevailed in each heart. 
 
 How sweet the attachment of virtuous minds ! 
 No sordid motive prompts to an unhallowed ac 
 tion ; and the promotion of the happiness of others 
 constitutes the happiness of the truly benevolent. 
 This was the characteristic of these humble Fac 
 tory Girls ; and we ask, was it not truly noble 
 and laudable ? 
 
 Rich is the heart that thus can feel 
 An interest in its neighbor's weal ;
 
 56 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 And poor indeed proud fortune's slave, 
 Who thinks it worth, to be a knave ! 
 
 Though from the mountain's humble cot, 
 Lodged in the most secluded spot, 
 Shall come the sympathetic breast, 
 It comes in richest beauty dress'd. 
 
 True friendship is a gem serene, 
 .Which gives its light behind the screen, 
 And of its names, with works so free, 
 The sweetest far is Sympathy. 
 
 This binds the heart, and sets a seal 
 
 Radiant with gems for others' weal ; 
 
 It needs not to be kept in store 
 
 The more 't is used, 't will yield the more ! 
 
 And such, courteous reader, is the beauty of 
 the benevolent mind, whether found in the palace 
 of royalty, or " among the spindles." The gem 
 loses none of its inherent worth by the name 
 which it bears.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Ah ! Injured Virtue ! thou hast wept, 
 While yet the sword of Justice slept ! 
 While innocence was thus exposed 
 To beauty's masked, yet deadliest foes ! 
 
 " WHO were those two young ladies that I 
 pointed out to you at church to-day ? " inquired 
 Cassius Wilson, a sprig of southern chivalry, of 
 Alfred Boyden, as they sipped their wine in the 
 private room of the latter, in a splendid mansion 
 on street. 
 
 " O, they were only factory girls," replied the 
 latter, with a toss of his head, and a grin of con 
 tempt upon his countenance. 
 
 " Factory girls, did you say ? Had you said 
 birds of paradise, or angels, you would not have 
 so much astonished me. Why, if I am any judge 
 of beauty, I never saw a nymph nearer the per 
 fection of the Venus de Medicis, than was one 
 of them ; they were both truly the most beautiful 
 and lovely beings that I have seen in your famous 
 town, and I might be compelled to go far beyond 
 it to find one of their equals even. By the way, 
 are you acquainted with them, Alfred ? " 
 4
 
 58 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 " Acquainted with factory girls ! What do you 
 ask me such a question for ? Do you suppose 
 that I would disgrace my character by associating 
 with that class ? Not I, unless it were for little 
 fun, or a of a conquest : Hey, Cassius ! " he 
 added, jestingly, (at the same time giving his com 
 panion a hearty slap upon the shoulder as he 
 rose to light his Princippe at the polished grate.) 
 
 " But," continued Cassius, " do you know where 
 they reside, and what they bear for names ? 
 Come, now, be honest, and tell me, for at least 
 one of them is a rara avis beautiful and 
 worth a short acquaintance, by the powers ! " 
 
 " Yes," replied Alfred, " I know them, and 
 where they reside, but they are as shy as the very 
 
 , and one of them is the most insuperable 
 
 and unapproachable minx that you ever did see ; 
 and by the way, they live with a cursed old widow, 
 who is pious as you please, and keeps them tied 
 to her apron strings, though Ned Rawson and 
 
 I served her a of a trick once, and came nigh 
 
 succeeding in enjoying a tete a tete with the girls. 
 but were finally non-plussed by a singular and 
 
 unfortunate circumstance, which I will not 
 
 now relate." 
 
 " Good on your head, by ! " exclaimed 
 
 Cassius ; " the game is still fresh, and I swear we 
 will become further acquainted with these same 
 factory girls, and if we fail, there are enough 
 more fine noble fowls for our picking ! " 
 
 " Well," replied Alfred, " You shall have a
 
 GARDEZ LA CtEUR. 59 
 
 chance for some fine sport, and if you don't enjoy 
 it, it will be your own fault." 
 
 " But when shall I have an opportunity for an 
 introduction to these beauties ? for I swear I will 
 find them, if I have to search every corner of the 
 town on my hands and knees ! " 
 
 " They will be at the Lyceum on Wednesday 
 evening, and then I will introduce you to one of 
 them, and wait on the other myself, and perhaps 
 we can decoy them to a private and retired ren 
 dezvous, for if we go to their residence, that old 
 widow will spoil all our fun ! " 
 
 Thus they laid their plans for the accomplish 
 ment of their hellish purposes. Here we pause, 
 to notice briefly their circumstances, as the reader 
 will at once recognize their character. 
 
 Alfred was the son of a wealthy merchant. 
 Without the restraints so necessary to youth, he 
 had been suffered to pursue the inclination of the 
 corrupt passions, a course which proves the ruin 
 of multitudes in like circumstances. He had been 
 travelling at the South, and in his peregrinations 
 had become acquainted with Cassius Wilson, the 
 son of a wealthy planter. They had travelled to 
 gether considerable, and by the solicitations of 
 his friends, Cassius had been persuaded to take a 
 trip to the North, and to spend a few months at 
 the residence of the father of Alfred. Thus we 
 have seen them a short time after the arrival of 
 
 the southern guest, in the city of L . They 
 
 had seen but few years, yet they were well skilled 
 in all those arts by which their object might be
 
 60 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 attained. They were young in years, but old in 
 crime ay, the worst species of crime deeds 
 of darkness the betrayal of confiding innocence ! 
 
 A blacker heart can never beat, 
 Than that which bears the vile Deceit, 
 To trifle with affection's name, 
 And turn its hallowed charm to shame ! 
 
 Such, such is devil's highest boast 
 The ruined gems of Virtue lost ! 
 And death, the libertine, will send 
 To pangs which only Hell can lend ! 
 
 And yet, such characters wear the garb, and put 
 on the airs of gentlemen walk our streets with a 
 proud and lofty bearing, and are received in the 
 fashionable circles of society whilst the victims of 
 their infernal arts are degraded, covered with 
 shame, and forgotten ! Justice sleeps for a short 
 season, and awaits a day of reckoning at a higher 
 tribunal ! Then shall injured virtue cease to ap 
 peal in vain for retribution, and the spirit of the vile 
 minion of corrupt passion, shall stand unmasked 
 in the presence of those victims, whose blood 
 now cries to Heaven for vengeance. Though a 
 seared conscience may sleep in the security of 
 atheism or infidelity for a season, the time shall 
 come when the awful reality will burst like a thou 
 sand thunders, and far more terrible, upon the 
 guilty soul ! Think, O man, the result, ere you 
 dare trifle with the affections, or prove an instru 
 ment in the hands of Satan, of accomplishing the 
 ruin of a soul !
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 61 
 
 -Think ! 
 
 Ere thou shalt find thine own bitter cup, 
 And curse the hour that bid thee see the light ; 
 When injured Virtue files her dread account 
 Upon th' Eternal Doquet, and thou stand, 
 Silent, condemned ! 
 
 Little, indeed, may we suppose, did Calliste and 
 Louisa imagine themselves to be marked victims 
 in such a plot as we have seen laid. Little did 
 they imagine the danger which impended over 
 them, and which, unless avoided, would render 
 them outcasts from society. At them was aimed 
 the death-blow to every future good to all their 
 bright hopes of future happiness! Yet they knew 
 it not. Still conscious of innocence, they feared 
 no evil, trusting to that Arm that can avert the 
 arrow of a merciless fate. Hence their greater 
 danger ; for in anticipating the plot, and avoiding 
 it, alone is safety. 
 
 The vivacity of youth, in its fond hopes, too 
 seldom considers the many dangers which sur 
 round the careless and inconsiderate, and thus, in 
 many cases, the fair and accomplished become 
 victims to an art, which ever consists in the coun 
 terfeit of some loved characteristic, or some hal 
 lowed passion. Evil does not present itself, save 
 under a mask generally the most comely that 
 can be devised. Did it appear in its true charac 
 ter, in all its hideous deformity, it would not prove 
 so dangerous ; but deeds of darkness are perpe 
 trated under a shadow, and some " deeds without
 
 62 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 si name," under a guise which is a personification 
 of virginal beauty. 
 
 The study of human nature of man alone, 
 can tell us what is in the recesses of the heart. 
 Appearances are deceptive ; hence the necessity 
 of accurate observation, with an apt and discrim 
 inating eye, that we may be prepared to withstand 
 the machinations of the adversary. Unhappy is 
 he who lives in a world with which he is utterly 
 unacquainted. 
 
 And had no attempts hitherto been made to 
 draw these beautiful factory girls into the gay and 
 fashionable circles? Most certainly ; these attempts 
 had been repeated often, but in vain. Often had 
 their company been solicited at the dancing school, 
 the ball-room, and other fashionable places of re 
 sort. But they adhered to the advice of experience 
 and friendship. Though the society of those of 
 their own age might have been agreeable, yet they 
 listened to the representations of one, in whom they 
 placed entire confidence. Well did the amiable 
 widow, the mother of Louisa, know, from observa 
 tion and experience, the many dangers and temp 
 tations which haunt fashionable life. She dreaded 
 the whirlpool of destruction, into which so many 
 had been plunged, ere they were aware of their 
 danger, and she gave her advice accordingly. 
 
 Thus did Calliste and her young friend enjoy 
 themselves in their daily labors, better, doubtless, 
 than the fashionable pleasure-hunter. In the sin 
 cerity of their friendship, they found a charm to 
 dissipate every cloud of sorrow, that chanced to
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 63 
 
 overshadow their minds, and in an unsullied con 
 science that happiness which alone flows from 
 that source. 
 
 Often did Calliste hear from her brother, and as 
 often did she write to transmit funds to him, the 
 reward of her untiring labor, and also to cheer 
 and encourage him in the pursuit of knowledge. 
 If she felt a self-satisfaction in her laudible enter 
 prise, it was but the reward of real beneficence ; 
 if her sleep was sweet, and her dreams pleasant, 
 it was no more than a just recompence for good 
 works. With a noble. object in view, anticipation 
 sweetens toil, and makes our burthens light. 
 
 And as Calliste portrayed her brother in all the 
 true tones of simplicity which a sister's love alone 
 can find in language, and the many mental quali 
 fications, as well as gems of the heart, which he 
 possessed, with what fond emotion did the gentle 
 bosom of the fair and lovely Louisa beat, as she 
 hung upon each word of Calliste, as though it 
 were a gem bearing a charm to the mind ! And, 
 fair reader, perhaps she found an emotion within 
 her breast, the sweetest, yet fraught with the most 
 strange fortune of any passion in our nature ; at 
 any rate, we believe she would have been pleased 
 to have become acquainted with that same stu 
 dent, but we may be mistaken in our conjectures. 
 The heart that is inclined to love, when it finds 
 that emotion reciprocated by one worthy, finds 
 the sweetest moment of life a moment worth a 
 thousand years of pleasure, according to the com 
 mon acceptation of the term !
 
 64 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 O ! say, has affection a token 
 
 That conquers the heart ? 
 That still, when all others are broken, 
 
 Will never depart ? 
 'T is found in the hour of confession, 
 When hearts long estrang'd are made one, 
 When virtue can find a possession, 
 
 And locate her throne ! 
 
 It lives in fond memory for ever 
 
 It never can die, 
 Tho' fortune those fond hearts may sever, 
 
 And every loved tie ! 
 It fixes its name in the bosom 
 Of Beauty its seal is a kiss, 
 And Virtue shall lend in profusion, 
 Rich flowrets of bliss ! 
 
 Let, then, a passion so sacred, be revered by 
 all, at least, so far as to respect the hallowed influ 
 ence of a name that claims Heaven as its native 
 clime, and to attach its true value to a passion, 
 which is a sensitive plant, and cannot bear the 
 trifling spirit, but when wounded, lays the heart 
 in the dust, and flies to its primitive abode, to re 
 port the deed for eternity 1
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Affection true, 
 
 Will ne'er despair, tho' ev'ry power of earth 
 Should strive to break its rest, and loose the chain 
 That binds it to its choice ; but ever still, 
 Absent, as well as present, will protect 
 The gem, and place o'er it a trusty guard, 
 Even Fidelity ! 
 
 THE sun had receded behind the western hills, 
 and its rays, one by one, had withdrawn their 
 golden light from the face of nature, and twilight's 
 acceptable hour was ushered in. The evening 
 star had taken its place in the blue expanse, and 
 twinkling in loveliness, was soon surrounded by a 
 host of minor beauties, as from the face of one 
 and another, the radiance of brighter beams had 
 been withdrawn, and from the eclipsing curtain 
 they shone with their wonted brilliancy. The 
 earth was clad in her robe of white, and the mur 
 mur of the distant stream was hushed, as the con 
 gealed counterpane lay upon its bosom. The 
 woodman's axe had ceased to be heard in the for 
 ests, and its last echo for the day had died upon 
 the ear, and silence, save the merry chime of bells, 
 occasionally breaking upon the ear, seemed to
 
 66 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 have folded nature in its embrace. The cottage 
 of the farmer, then, was a place of happiness. A 
 rousing fire upon the ample hearth was agreeable, 
 for the keen-edged frost, with which the atmos 
 phere was burthened, found its way into every 
 crevice, and its antagonist element seemed to be 
 necessary in its abundance. Home is then home 
 indeed, and then does rural life offer, at least to 
 us, its most sublime joys. Where indeed, dwells 
 contentment, and a spirit of kindness, at such a 
 time, there would we find a home. Yes, Winter 
 has charms for us, in its long evenings, when, un 
 interrupted, we may sit in our study, when suffer 
 ing humanity demands not a helping hand, and 
 trace a line for our friends, or pursue some favor 
 ite science in cumbrous tomes, where its delinea 
 tion is perfected, or in social conversation find 
 improvement in the experience of others. Winter, 
 indeed, has many beauties for us, and we may 
 delineate more of them ere we close. 
 
 At such an hour as this, a young man might 
 have been seen wending his way with hurried step 
 from the village post office, and entering a beauti 
 ful apartment in an imposing mansion. Locking 
 the door, he opened and eagerly perused a letter, 
 apparently much interested in its contents. The 
 epistle finished, he sat down and soon fell into a 
 revery, seemingly, of deep thought. While he 
 read, his countenance seemed to put on a cheerful 
 aspect, and a ray of hope seemed to linger upon 
 his brow, but soon the same anxious look found 
 its way to its wonted location. He was young,
 
 GARDE Z LA CCEUR. 67 
 
 and from his appearance you would have appre 
 hended that he belonged to the literary world. 
 His high classic forehead, and arched eye-brows, 
 beneath which flashed eyes eloquent with the lan 
 guage of the soul, and a placid and pale brow, 
 common to close students, would have satisfied 
 you in relation to that point. His mind now 
 seemed to be in commotion. Hope and fear, the 
 belligerents, were alternately in the ascendant. 
 
 "And must I give up the only being that 
 ever I truly loved the jewel of my soul so 
 beautiful, so amiable, so lovely, and marry one as 
 far inferior as earth is to heaven whom I never 
 can love merely to gratify an uncle already in 
 his second childhood?" soliloquized the stranger. 
 " Never ! no, never ! though I be disinherited, 
 and have nothing but my small estate left me by 
 my father, I can live by my profession, and with 
 the loved one of my early choice, I shall be happy, 
 though poverty should stare me in the face ! 
 Emeline is rich, I know, and the daughter of a 
 lawyer ; but her riches are not lasting. Her mind 
 is not adorned with those gems which are indeed 
 durable riches, and without which in a companion, 
 no man can be happy. But these my uncle over 
 looks, and gold is the object, added to a worthy 
 name ! " 
 
 Marcus Hartwell, (for this was the name of the 
 individual introduced, who by the way was noticed 
 in our first chapter) was an orphan. His parents 
 had both died within a short time of each other, 
 and before he was of age, and an uncle on his
 
 68 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 father's side was appointed guardian over him. 
 His father had left him a small fortune, though 
 not of any great consequence, and as he was pur 
 suing his collegiate course, preparatory to the 
 study of his profession, his expenses must neces 
 sarily, ere he could obtain his profession, nearly 
 or quite consume his means, and leave him pen 
 niless. As his uncle had no children, he wished 
 Marcus to become heir to his estate, which was 
 quite a fortune to be possessed by one in a country 
 village. 
 
 At the time we introduce Marcus to our readers, 
 he had nearly completed his professional studies, 
 and was about to take the degree of M. D. He 
 had graduated with high honors at college, and 
 gave promise of becoming eminently useful in 
 society. He had chosen a noble calling, one offer 
 ing ample opportunities for the exertion of a be 
 nevolent mind in the cause of humanity, one, 
 than which none demands a truer spirit of bene 
 volence and piety, with every virtue in full devel- 
 opement ; one, which finds an ample field for the 
 exertion of every faculty, and than which none 
 lays upon its votary a greater share of responsi 
 bility, or a task more arduous and important. 
 We speak of our own profession with some degree 
 of warmth, which we trust the reader will pardon, 
 for every votary has a favorite shrine. And Mar 
 cus was eminently qualified for the duties which 
 were soon to devolve upon him. He was truly 
 virtuous and pious, and a truly pious physician 
 may be the humble instrument of doing much
 
 GARBEZ LA CffiUR. 69 
 
 good. His mind was well stored, and with bril 
 liant talents and sound judgment, he was about to 
 launch upon the boisterous sea of life, to buffet 
 its waves and press his way onward among shoals 
 of dunces, blockheads, sharpers and knaves, to 
 fortune and fame, and finally take his stand among 
 those who win the victory, if he should be so 
 happy as to outride the storms of life. 
 
 But a plan had been laid by his uncle, which 
 was far from being agreeable to Marcus. The 
 old gentleman was not only a little aristocratic in 
 his notions, but money all-powerful money, was 
 at the bottom of his designs. He wished Marcus 
 to form an alliance with a certain lawyer's family, 
 which was far from his intention. EMELINE MA 
 SON, it is true, was called a beauty, and had been 
 educated in all the technical points taught at a 
 fashionable boarding school, while indeed the 
 more useful branches of study had been neglected. 
 She was one of those characters who think it be 
 neath their dignity to associate with the humble 
 and virtuous poor, for she considered those who 
 were compelled to labor for a livelihood, as far 
 beneath her notice as her own class are truly be 
 neath the notice of the noble and virtuous, though 
 humble poor, whom they despise ! But for the 
 girl, the said uncle cared little in truth, though he 
 had caused her to be thrown into company with 
 Marcus as often as possible. But she was an 
 heiress ! That was the grand charm that attracted 
 the attention of the old gentleman. Well did he 
 know, that Marcus loved another, with all the
 
 70 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 ardent affection of a faithful heart : but alas, the 
 aged forget that once they were young, and de 
 sired the object of their choice in preference to all 
 others ! They forget that true affection can live 
 only in congenial climes, and that when the name 
 lives without the deed, the heart loses its gem. 
 They forget, too, when impelled in their object by 
 the love of gain, that beauty will fade, and riches 
 turn to dust, and only the gems of virtue can 
 boast immortality. They forget that affection 
 can never live in an union where it is not mutual, 
 and that disappointment withers the heart ! 
 
 When the subject was first introduced, the old 
 gentleman tried persuasion, to influence Marcus in 
 favor of the alliance, and to abandon the idea of 
 marrying a poor factory girl. He endeavored 
 by the shafts of sarcasm and ridicule to turn Mar 
 cus from his purpose, but in vain. Marcus had 
 not only decided, but his word was pledged his 
 vow made and sealed with a kiss, and his honor 
 forbid, even had he fancied the choice of his un 
 cle, and been favorable to the consummation of 
 such an alliance. But his mind was far from this. 
 and he was not disposed to alter his decision. 
 Finding that he should not succeed by persuasive 
 means, the old gentleman, still determined to gain 
 the victory, fixes upon another plan to bring it 
 about. He resolves to threaten to disinherit him. 
 and to find a home for him no longer, unless he 
 will comply with his request. And what was the 
 result ? This inhuman and barbarous threat failed 
 of its purpose. Marcus met it with firmness, and in
 
 GARDEZ LA CfEUR. 71 
 
 plain terms giving the old gentleman his thoughts 
 in relation to his proceedings, he prepared to leave 
 the house, perhaps forever. But this the old gen 
 tleman prevented, perceiving his determination, 
 and the failure of his scheme, and dreading the 
 expense which he knew would follow such an 
 event. He finally persuaded Marcus to stay at 
 his residence, but he still persisted in his coinciding 
 with his plans ; but this Marcus utterly refused to 
 do, and we find him under these reflections, as we 
 have introduced him at the beginning of this 
 chapter. He had just received a letter from one 
 dearer to him than all of life beside, and that had 
 strengthened his resolution already formed. He 
 possessed a noble spirit, and though he knew not 
 what the result might be, he determined to perse 
 vere at all events to fulfil his promise to the 
 object of his choice. The old gentleman was as 
 tonished, yet he secretly admired the decision of 
 character displayed by his nephew, but in this case 
 he wished to overcome it, and to cause him to 
 submit to the caprice of the second infancy of the 
 mind. 
 
 But the old gentleman had not done here. How 
 he succeeded in his after plans we shall see as we 
 proceed. 
 
 Such was the one who had won the youthful 
 affections of Calliste, and now was the accepted 
 suitor of the Factory Girl. They had kept up a 
 correspondence from the time of our first intro 
 ducing them to the reader. Occasionally had they 
 met, though their meetings were necessarily few
 
 72 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 and far between. Still, fidelity dwelt in each 
 heart, and anticipation cheered every solitary mo 
 ment of their separation. Marcus soon returned 
 to his Mma Mater, to attend his last course of 
 medical lectures, and take his diploma. And here 
 we leave him to notice other characters connected 
 with our narrative, and other scenes in course ; 
 but meanwhile we have a few remarks to make, 
 which we hope our readers will not find unimpor 
 tant or unprofitable. 
 
 How truly important is decision of character to 
 the young. It is the only security against those 
 unfavorable gales which are so apt to prove de 
 structive to the wavering and unsteady. When 
 our object is right when the enterprise in which 
 we are engaged is laudable, then decision of char 
 acter enables us to overcome every obstacle, and 
 to press forward with success. What, indeed, are 
 the prospects of those, who launch upon the sea 
 without a compass to direct? They are in no 
 worse condition than those who have no ballast to 
 keep them from the buflfetings of the elements. 
 We must first have an object in view, worthy of 
 pursuit, and then, decision shall enable us to es 
 cape every influence that would turn us from our 
 purpose. By this we are enabled to resist temp 
 tations, the resistance of which alone can preserve 
 us from evil.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 O, Virtue ' still thine arm is strong, 
 Thy favorites to protect from wrong ; 
 Thou canst explore the blackest heart, 
 And counteract each hellish art 
 
 THE labors of the day were finished, and left 
 ihe mind free from aught that could disturb its 
 serenity. The hall in which the Lyceum was to 
 hold its session was brilliantly illuminated, and 
 soon was filled to overflowing, by those of both 
 sexes, and all classes, as a lecture was expected 
 from a celebrated character, on an interesting sub 
 ject. A host of operatives were there, and the 
 beauty and mental excellence of the town seemed 
 there concentrated presenting to the spectator 
 subjects for silent interest. What institution could 
 be substituted for the well-conducted Lyceum 
 of equal interest, and affording equal advantages ? 
 None, we believe, can fill its place, that shall 
 blend, in an equal degree, the useful with the 
 agreeable. And this is the great desideratum in 
 all institutions. In order to instruct, we must 
 first interest the hearer, and then we shall find no 
 difficulty in gaining the attention, which object 
 5
 
 74 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 being attained, we shall find improvement as the 
 result. And to their Lyceum may be attributed 
 at least a share of the intelligence of the opera 
 tives, especially in the city in which our present 
 scene is located, for the general information which 
 is gained thereby, and the subjects of numerous 
 able lectures, added to the knowledge gained from 
 books, and by other means, by this class, as a 
 whole, cannot fail to gain the admiration of the 
 friends of education, as truly laudable, nor is the 
 tribute due to mental cultivation and moral worth 
 generally withheld, particularly in their case. Col 
 lected as they are, from different places, from the 
 mountain home and the village retirement, bearing 
 gems of intellectual wealth, of transcendent beauty 
 with them, and still laboring to render each jewel 
 more attractive, who shall say that real worth 
 dwells alone with royalty and a noble name, 
 which must sink when fortune frowns ? 
 
 To the Lyceum did Calliste and Louisa repair, 
 and as they entered the hall, a gentleman might 
 have been seen to whisper to another at his side, 
 and both seemed to eye the innocent and lovely 
 beings with a deep interest. As the panther, less 
 to be dreaded than such characters, eyes his prey 
 with apparent delight, ere he destroys it, so did 
 the demon spirits, in the garb, and bearing the 
 name of gentlemen, look upon their intended vic 
 tims. And still the objects were unconscious of 
 the proposed infernal agency ! Beautiful, guile- 
 ess, and lovely beings, they knew not their dan 
 ger ! The exercises of the evening commenced,
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 75 
 
 and with all the deep interest usual to such insti 
 tutions, proceeded harmoniously. The eloquence 
 of the speaker attracted each heart, and the im 
 portance of the subject presented could not fail 
 deeply to interest each mind that cared for its own 
 improvement. But there were two individuals 
 present, who, notwithstanding they enjoyed the 
 reputation of scholars, cared little, we imagine, 
 for the lecture, for their minds were filled with 
 what ? That their names were Cassius Wilson 
 and Alfred Boyden, will be sufficient for our read 
 ers to learn, to divine their thoughts, as they will 
 recollect the scheme shown in a preceding chap 
 ter. But Calliste and Louisa found the lecture 
 deeply interesting to them, and the smile of satis 
 faction which rested upon their countenances, 
 told that they were by no means careless hearers. 
 
 The brilliancy of innocent and unsuspecting 
 minds can lend a radiant smile to the counte 
 nance, which proves an index to the purity of the 
 soul, and beauty delights to fall upon the taberna 
 cle of such a heart, and to lavish all her charms 
 upon the serene fabric, while from the hidden re 
 cesses of the soul, radiated in living eloquence, 
 the gems of intellectual and moral worth are de 
 veloped in a rich halo, which none can fail to ad 
 mire ! 
 
 The exercises of the evening were closed, and 
 the crowd began to disperse. A drizzling shower 
 of rain had commenced falling, and Cassius and 
 Alfred waited at a post nigh the doors, ready for 
 their expedition : but what was their surprise and
 
 76 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 mortification to find themselves non-plussed by a 
 flat refusal of their company from Calliste and 
 Louisa, their intended victims ! Righteous God ! 
 thy hand was there to protect thine own from the 
 hands of the black-hearted destroyer ! Thy power 
 swayed the hearts of these, thy children, to refuse 
 the first step, which might, had it been taken, 
 have proved their ruin ! Calliste and Louisa lived 
 at but a short distance, and were soon in their 
 own room at home, while those who had antici 
 pated a different result, not yet satisfied, found 
 their way to a tavern, and there, over the spark 
 ling wine-cup, laid their plans for the future, not. 
 we imagine, without a sense of mortified pride, 
 and a higher opinion, at heart, of the worth of the 
 poor, yet beautiful and virtuous Factory Girls. 
 But why did not Calliste and her friend accept 
 the company of those who had every appearance 
 of gentlemen, as it was a dark and rainy night, 
 though they were indeed strangers ? The friendly 
 voice of warning had not fallen in vain upon their 
 ears. They had been informed of those prowling 
 villains who infest society, under the garb of gen 
 tlemen, and they dare not trust the stranger at 
 any time. Virtue pointed out their way, and 
 thus saved her jewels from almost certain de 
 struction ! 
 
 Such are thy works, 
 
 O, Virtue ! second gem of Heaven's own 
 Than which, save meek-eyed Piety, are none 
 Richer, more lovely, more to be admired ! 
 Thine impress, stamp'd upon the guiltless heart,
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 77 
 
 Protected it from ruin, and the pang 
 That sinks the soul to depths of keenest woe 
 Inextricable ! Beauty, innocence, and all 
 That renders frail humanity an heir. 
 Through grace, of Heaven ! 
 
 What were the feelings of these lovely Factory 
 Girls, when in their own apartment, safe from 
 danger or harm, they considered and recounted in 
 mutual conversation the events of the evening ? 
 Had they known for a certainty what they sup 
 posed to be the character of these gentlemen, we 
 fancy their young hearts would have beat with a 
 deeper emotion of gratitude than now swayed 
 them ! Had they known the snare from which 
 they had thus almost providentially escaped, they 
 would have trembled at the vortex into which 
 they had well nigh been plunged ; but they were 
 unconscious of the dread plot, and as their minds 
 ran upon the past, they sometimes even fancied, 
 perhaps, that they had been uncivil in refusing the 
 company of those whom they had no reason to 
 doubt were gentlemen. 
 
 Such is life. We cannot read the human heart, 
 and consequently cannot divine the thoughts that 
 may roll in the mind, even when flattery, with its 
 envenomed and forked tongue is passing the royal 
 road from the ear to the heart ! We listen to a 
 syren's enchantment, and fall by the strong arm 
 of the designing, even while they seem our friends. 
 This is the case especially with unsophisticated, 
 confiding females. Their credulity blinds their 
 eyes, and eventually proves their ruin ! Trust not
 
 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 a stranger, O reader ! Rely alone confidentially? 
 upon those who take an interest in your welfare ! 
 let the voice of the flatterer, like the whistle of 
 the steam-engine, be received as a token of dan 
 ger ! Choose for a companion, one whose daily 
 life you can approve ; for in this alone are you 
 safe from the serpent-folds of the deceiver and 
 betrayer ! 
 
 Thus Calliste passed her time from day to day. 
 and though she was young and inexperienced, 
 still she led a virtuous and truly consistent life. 
 She had visited her childhood home several times, 
 and now. instead of the blushing beauty of " sweet 
 sixteen," she had assumed the elegance and love 
 liness of maiden's prime. She had spent several 
 years in the capacity of a Factory Girl, though 
 she was not all of the time engaged in that occu 
 pation. She had occasionally spent a few weeks, 
 or even months, at her father's residence, and 
 while in the city she had been subjected to many 
 peculiar adventures some of the character last 
 named but she had resisted temptation, and 
 still enjoyed that happiness which alone can spring 
 from a consciousness of rectitude and an unsullied 
 conscience. It is not to be supposed that one of 
 her beauty and moral excellence shall escape the 
 attention of the throng. She had many admirers, 
 some of the first classes, and of good character, 
 and she had been favored with several offers of 
 marriage, which, under other circumstances would 
 have been considered of no trifling importance 
 but, she was engaged. Her heart had been given
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 79 
 
 to her early choice, and she had as yet no cause 
 to repent of her decision in his favor. She loved 
 Marcus Hartwell with all the fullness of a woman's 
 affection. She appreciated his talents, and she 
 knew he possessed those riches, which the finger 
 of time cannot destroy. And she was happy still, 
 though compelled to forego the absence of one, 
 dearer to her than any on earth beside. She had 
 accomplished her object thus far, and her brother 
 had nearly finished his collegiate course. Louisa 
 had proved a valuable friend to her, and Mrs. 
 Elliot, with the tenderness and kindness of a 
 mother, and secured the warm affections of her 
 daughter's friend, and in her society, with Louisa, 
 she could not but pass her time in an agreeable 
 manner. 
 
 She had no reason to doubt the sincerity of the 
 affection of Marcus, and in his fidelity she had 
 perfect confidence. Thus believing the trust of 
 her heart secure, she was happy. 
 
 Affection in woman is not that transient play of 
 Cupid upon the heart, that, like the flame of the 
 meteor, throws out a brilliant radience for the mo 
 ment, and then is for ever lost, but it is that con 
 stant, ardent passion, that bears no unholy alloy in 
 its bosom, but lives on remembrance, even when 
 the object sleeps in the dust ! Of true affection 
 we speak, that hallowed flame that can never 
 cease to exist, so long as the pulse shall beat, and 
 cause the strings of the soul to vibrate with an 
 emotion sweeter than any other that Heaven lends 
 to the heart,
 
 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 That dwells alone where virtue sits 
 
 In majesty enthroned, 
 And never leaves to deep regret, 
 
 What beauty calls her own. 
 
 A flame, than which no brighter finds 
 
 A home within the breast ; 
 A wreath around the heart entwines, 
 
 Where purtiy can rest. 
 
 Sweeter than nectar from the fount 
 
 Of living waters, even, 
 Rising where'er the soul can mount 
 
 Transplanted soon to Heaven. 
 
 Affection, true ! O, hallowed name ! 
 
 Mortal, profane it not ! 
 Brighter shall shine its sacred flame, 
 
 When earth shall be forgot ! 
 
 Where is the heart that knows not the joy of 
 the possession of this heaven-born guest ? Tell 
 me, ye minions of a skeptical and boasted philoso 
 phy, which teaches that beauty is calculated to be 
 subservient to the gratification of unholy passions, 
 what power ordained affection and give it its work ? 
 Did not the Creator of the Universe plant in each 
 heart the principle by which alone the human 
 family could be held together? If so, where is 
 your authority upon which to found your code of 
 evtravagant pretensions ? Ye voluptuary, where 
 are your reasons for the indulgence of your pas 
 sions? Ah ! they exist in a degenerate mind and 
 a corrupted heart corrupted by passions which, 
 when carried out, are the grand instruments in the 
 hands of our common enemy, of your own de 
 struction, as well as the ruin of others.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 The gem shall shine, 
 
 When placed conspicuous, though its origin, 
 The mountain cave shall own ; and real worth 
 Not always fails thus to be recognized, 
 Though eminating from the humble cot, 
 Unknown, unnamed ! 
 
 THE day before the annual Commencement at 
 College was fa- spent, and Alumni from va 
 
 rious parts of the surrounding country had col 
 lected, and were arriving at the beautiful village 
 which was the location of their Alma Mater, to 
 participate in the festivities of the occasion, than 
 which, none is hailed with a more hearty welcome 
 by this class, and to witness the exhibition of 
 genius and merit in those same venerable halls in 
 which they had spent a season of their youthful 
 days. The divine left his study, the lawyer his 
 pen, and the physician his office, the man of grey 
 hairs, and the young, the gay and beautiful, alike 
 willing to leave the cares of their respective vo 
 cations, to ride over the hills and vallies inter 
 vening, and to meet old acquaintances, associates 
 and friends ; the statesman, weary with the toils 
 of his vocation, was willing to join the throng and
 
 82 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 participate in the joy of the occasion. Many a 
 breast beat with satisfaction, while the mutual 
 and warrn-hearted greeting of friends amply com 
 pensated for the labor of the journey, and the 
 scenes of early years were recounted with a 
 pleasing satisfaction. 
 
 Preparations for the morrow had been made, 
 and the evening spread her mantle over a scene 
 of deep interest. But there was another list of 
 characters whose bosoms heaved with far differ 
 ent emotions, and that was the graduating class. 
 They were, at least part of them, to act a con 
 spicuous part in the exercises of the morrow, and 
 the result of years of toil was to be exhibited. 
 Anxiety marked the countenances of such, and 
 ambition fired each heart with a flame, which only 
 those who have passed a similar ordeal, can fully 
 appreciate. Gratitude prompted some to action, 
 and as honor was the reward of real merit, each 
 heart was, as we may justly suppose, anxious to 
 pluck a leaf from the laurel, and to stand conspic 
 uous on the list of competitors for the prize. Lit 
 tle sleep, we fancy, was enjoyed that night by the 
 candidates for college honors. 
 
 The hour of night was late, but still, anxiously 
 poring over a manuscript, by the light of a dim 
 lamp, by the side of a small table, sat Edwin 
 Barton. He was one of the class who had com 
 pleted their college course, and were soon to ap 
 pear on the stage, before a numerous assembly of 
 literary characters, and judges of merit. His was 
 an arduous task, and he felt his inability to do
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 83 
 
 justice to the part assigned him. He was a good 
 scholar, and to him was assigned the highest honor 
 that worth can command in that situation. He 
 was appointed to deliver the Valedictory. Many 
 a sleepless night had he wielded his pen, and at 
 length his task was finished. His examination had 
 been successful and highly satisfactory to the board 
 of examiners, and now he had a part to perform, 
 which, if well executed, would gain for him golden 
 opinions from the throng. How deep the emotion 
 of the heart of Edwin at that time ? He was a 
 favorite among all classes, and he had been de 
 clared worthy by the Professors. And with what 
 feelings of gratitude did his thoughts fly away to 
 that Factory Girl, his beloved sister, as he antici 
 pated the lime that he should lay the laurels thus 
 gained, at the feet of her who had placed him 
 there, and supported him through his career in 
 college. How fervently did he implore the Di 
 vine aid that evening, and as he retired to sleep a 
 few hours, that he might be the better prepared 
 for the exercises of the next day, what were the 
 emotions which prevented him from closing his 
 eyes for a long time, and then formed the ground 
 work of his dreams, none can tell, save those who 
 know by experience. The past, and the future, 
 we fancy, rushed upon his mind, and that happy 
 home among the hills, which he was soon to visit, 
 perhaps was not forgotten. 
 
 The morning broke in all the beauty of a north 
 ern clime ; the feathered songsters among the 
 green foliage warbled their sweetest notes, and all
 
 84 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 were active with the animation which such a scene 
 produces. At an early hour, a numerous company 
 were assembling, and at the appointed time, the 
 exercises of the day were commenced. It was a 
 brilliant exhibition of talent and improvement, 
 and all seemed deeply interested and satisfied 
 with the performances, which were, indeed, truly 
 laudable ; but we need not enter into a minute 
 detail of circumstances. All the exercises had 
 been completed, save the valedictory address, and 
 to this was every mind turned, in anticipation of 
 a rich feast. The hour had arrived, and Edwin 
 was upon the stage before a numerous assembly. 
 A breathless silence, as it were, prevailed, and 
 every ear was waiting to catch the sound of the 
 first words from the lips of the speaker. The 
 young appearance and pale countenance of Edwin, 
 was peculiarly interesting, and the marks of the 
 scholar delineated on his lofty brow and classic 
 features, were peculiarly adapted to arouse curios 
 ity. And the scene so interesting in its character, 
 rendered every circumstance more impressive. 
 Especially to the graduates was this a moment of 
 deep interest. They were soon to part, never 
 again, in all probability, to meet thus, as a whole. 
 They were to part, and take up their respective 
 abodes at a distance from each other. They were 
 to enter the different professions or vocations. 
 Some, perhaps, would find a home in foreign 
 lands, perchance as agents of benevolence among 
 the heathen, and they must now take the parting 
 hand of friends, associates, and those with whom
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 85 
 
 they had spent many a happy moment, during 
 their college life. The social fraternity must be 
 broken, and all those associations so dear to the 
 heart, connected with school life, must now be 
 sundered. Under such circumstances did they 
 wait, with hearts beating with emotion, to hear 
 the valedictory from a favortite of theirs, and of 
 the faculty. 
 
 With a firm voice did Edwin open the exordi 
 um, and as he proceeded, his eyes were filled 
 with the fire of genius and intellectual worth, and 
 he entered into the subject with a degree of true 
 eloquence, which would have done honor to much 
 higher pretensions, and much more experience. 
 His whole soul seemed filled with life, and the fire 
 of a noble mind burst forth in all its strength 
 and brilliancy. He finished his immediate sub 
 ject, upon which the flowers of oratory had been 
 lavished, and after a short pause, and with a voice 
 calculated to give the most profound attention, 
 he commenced that part which might be called 
 more truly the valedictory. He recalled the past, 
 with its scenes to the minds of his fellows, and 
 portrayed with a plaintive strain the prospects of 
 the future ; and his address to the faculty, trus 
 tees and students, successively, drew every heart's 
 emotion ; and finally to the graduating class, as he 
 cheered them on to noble works, his appeal was 
 indeed a flow of eloquence unrivalled ; and as his 
 voice sunk into a low cadence, the thanks of a 
 grateful heart were extended to teachers, and all 
 to whom they were due, and as the " farewell "
 
 86 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 passed his lips, and he retired with a graceful 
 bow from the stage, murmurs of applause were 
 heard from every lip, which would have satisfied 
 the most aspiring mind. His task was completed, 
 and he was satisfied with the result. His appeal 
 had drawn many a manly tear from eyes unaccus 
 tomed to weep. We need not proceed with the 
 description. Suffice it to say, he received his A. 
 B. with the highest of college honors. 
 
 Could that Factory Girl have witnessed this 
 scene, think you not, gentle reader, that the sat 
 isfaction of such a moment would have amply 
 compensated for years of toil ? 
 
 This was the work of a Factory Girl. Thus 
 far had she been successful in accomplishing her 
 intended purpose. But she is not done here. 
 Another and a greater work is before the young 
 student. He has taken his leave of friends and 
 classmates dear to him, and we now find him at 
 the residence of his parents. In him they see all 
 those qualities which the heart of a fond parent 
 can wish ; and with what satisfaction do these 
 pious and devoted Christians hear their only son 
 declare his intention to enter the Gospel field to 
 prepare for the ministry ! Calliste was at home 
 when he returned from college, and how warmly 
 did she encourage him to persevere in his deter 
 mination, pledging her assistance to enable him to 
 pursue his course. But he determined to enter 
 upon his studies as a beneficiary, thus lightening 
 the burden which he was unwilling should fall 
 upon a beloved sister. To this, at last, though
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 87 
 
 reluctantly, Calliste consented, but her determina 
 tion was to furnish him with a library and other 
 necessary appendages, ere he finished his theolog 
 ical course. 
 
 We find Edwin soon engaged in his professional 
 studies, and the Factory Girl again "among the 
 spindles." Calliste still kept her place in the 
 family of Mrs. Elliot, and Louisa was her con 
 stant companion and confidential friend. Happy 
 was Louisa to hear from the lips of her friend, the 
 glowing and vivid description of her brother's 
 success ; and though our readers may say they see 
 no reason why Louisa should care for an entire 
 stranger, yet, from some cause, she had taken, as 
 would appear, a deep interest in his welfare, but 
 perhaps it was a sympathetic influence that caused 
 the impression. 
 
 Such, courteous reader, was the enterprise 
 which gave an impulse to the exertions of this 
 beautiful and lovely Factory Girl, and such was 
 her success, thus far, in her laudable enterprise. 
 And was she worthy the esteem of the observer ? 
 Did not a noble heart beat " among the spindles ? " 
 Not more so in this case, than in a multitude of 
 others, which are unknown in their obscurity, 
 though not forgotten on the scroll of virtue ! 
 
 'T is not the heart to fame allied, 
 That Virtue asks, her gems to hide ; 
 'T is not the soul to pride inclined, 
 That e'er bespeaks a noble mind ! 
 No ! beauty in seclusion, wears 
 Full many a gem divinely fair ; 
 And ineek-eyed Piety can show 
 The richest heart that beats below '.
 
 88 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 What name, we ask, can boast richer posses 
 sions than that which receives its adornment from 
 a humble seclusion, and rises in all the grandeur 
 and sublimity of intellectual and true moral worth, 
 to an elevation among the stars which cluster 
 around the wreath of laurels which entwine in 
 unfading light around the Temple of Fame im 
 mortal ? Elevation, it is true, renders real merit 
 more eminently conspicuous, but still, without this 
 means, the beauties of real worth can never be 
 lost. 
 
 Then persevere, 
 O, noble soul, hid in obscurity, 
 And know, the future shall delight to own 
 Thy worth, and give, when vanity shall fall, 
 Thy rich reward !
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 Rich is the name, where'er 'tis found, 
 By virtue's hallowed signet crowned; 
 And beauty true delights to dwell 
 Within the humble heart's deep cell. 
 
 ALONE in her private apartment sat Calliste at 
 the close of the day, perusing the last number of 
 the "OFFERING," of which valuable periodical we 
 shall speak in another place. The labors of the 
 day were finished, and the quiet shades of even 
 ing had appeared. And shall we describe the 
 private apartment of a Factory Girl, dear reader f 
 Indeed, we see no harm that can result from such 
 a description, at least in this case. It was a small 
 apartment, neatly furnished. In the centre was 
 a small table, covered with various books and pe 
 riodicals, embracing in the variety some of the 
 gems of literature. On one side of the room was 
 a small secretary, and a library of well-selected 
 and choice volumes, indicating that the rnind of 
 those humble operatives was not forgotten. The 
 floor was covered with an elegant carpet, and a 
 polished grate contained a few coals only, as it 
 was but the beginning of autumn. Writing ma- 
 6
 
 90 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 terials were at hand, and indeed every part indi 
 cated more the sanctum of the poet, or the studio 
 of the artist, than the residence of the operative. 
 An air of neatness prevailed, and in possession of 
 such a home, and an agreeable companion, who 
 would be unhappy or discontented ? 
 
 Here did Calliste and Louisa spend their leisure 
 moments in reading, writing and conversation, 
 and we may not be surprised if they found an 
 agreeable copartnership, and a happy life. They 
 had gained an extensive circle of acquaintances 
 nay, friends ; for to know them was to love them, 
 for that mildness of disposition and amiable de 
 portment which characterized them, was univer 
 sally admired. Thus they were pleasantly and 
 agreeably situated, and even labor itself was a 
 pleasure, when an object was to be accomplished, 
 worthy of such minds. 
 
 As Calliste sat thus attentively engaged in pe 
 rusing the pages of " The Offering," the door was 
 noiselessly opened, and Louisa, with an arch 
 smile playing upon her countenance, entered the 
 room, exclaiming, "A letter, sister ! probably from 
 your Beaufiddle!" at the same time laying the 
 neatly-folded epistle upon the table, and gliding 
 from the room like a nymph, left Calliste alone 
 again, to open and peruse the missive at her 
 leisure. With a fluttering heart did Calliste scan 
 the well-known hand writing, which as Louisa had 
 prognosticated, was from Marcus, and with what 
 interest did she read the welcome, closely-written 
 pages. But a new impulse was, we fancy, given
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 91 
 
 to her feelings as she learned the difficulties under 
 which her loved one labored. He had told her 
 all his uncle's plans, and the result, and closed 
 by saying, " Give yourself no uneasiness, my long- 
 loved Calliste, for you shall ever find me true to 
 the trust which you have been pleased to surren 
 der to my keeping. We shall soon, I trust, meet, 
 no more to be separated, until, by a power stronger 
 than humanity can exercise, we are snatched from 
 each other, to meet again as I humbly trust, where 
 the heart no more shall find a pang of sorrow." 
 
 Though Calliste was confident that Marcus 
 would prove true to her, yet still a kind of regret 
 seized her mind, that she was the innocent cause 
 of much difficulty and sorrow, to one whom she 
 loved with the whole soul of a virtuous woman, 
 and this is saying enough of the strength of affec 
 tion. She would, indeed, have given up the jewel 
 of her heart, could she thereby have been instru 
 mental in imparting a ray of happiness to that 
 being, who possessed her affections ; but this 
 would not have been the result, for Marcus would 
 never, we fancy, have acquiesced in his uncle's 
 plan, even had Calliste dismissed him. No ! far 
 from it. His heart was fixed and fastened by the 
 strongest tie that can unite mutual hearts, and he 
 had never had cause to repent his decision. In 
 deed, the attachment grew stronger and stronger. 
 and absence only seemed to render more unyield 
 ing, if possible, the fervor of kindred hearts. 
 
 That species of love which exists only in the 
 presence of the object, is totally unworthy to bear
 
 92 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 the name. It is true, there is a prevalence a 
 fearful prevalence of this species, and did it find 
 mutual negative qualities, its existence would 
 prove less pernicious. Could inconstant affection 
 meet a like principle in every conquest which it 
 makes with the heart, the true gem would be the 
 less apt to be the dupe of a base counterfeit. The 
 heart which lavishes its attachments and affections 
 upon all, is not worthy to bear the true gem in our 
 confidence, any farther than a love for humanity 
 will countenance that passion, for half a heart is 
 worse than none ! In a word, that individual who 
 cannot place constant and unreserved affection 
 upon an object, is unworthy to receive that hal 
 lowed gem in return. There are, indeed, too 
 many, who can love for a season, while the object 
 presents in person, attractions to arouse the flame, 
 who, when the being is absent, forget that they 
 have ever loved, or given the object reason to sup 
 pose such to be the case, when, perhaps, in the 
 heart of that confiding one, a flame has been 
 aroused by their pretended attachment, which can 
 never be destroyed ! 
 
 True affection is ever the same in absence 
 in adversity in prosperity in life and in death ! 
 Strive not to gain affection from a heart whose 
 attachment you never intend to reciprocate, lest 
 the blood of the innocent and confiding fall upon 
 your head ! Let sincerity characterize every ac 
 tion, that the heart of the virtuous and confiding 
 be not left to repine in disappointment and with 
 ered hopes, as the result of incautiousness in
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 93 
 
 arousing the destroyer, though perhaps such was 
 far from your intention. 
 
 But affection like that of Marcus for Calliste, 
 sacrifices every other pleasure to prolong its exis 
 tence, predominates over every other interest, 
 and is a treasure, worthy of the name. The vo 
 luptuary may trifle with this hallowed principle, 
 but it is not the less worthy of admiration. Though 
 trampled upon here, the true spirit shall bask in 
 the bright beams of eternal day, while its despiser 
 and destroyer shall dwell in outer darkness ! Woe 
 to the hand that destroys the tender flower, even 
 in the bud, for the knell of departing beauty shall 
 ring, and jar his very soul in fearful confusion, 
 when Virtue shall present her dread account of 
 wrongs for retribution ! 
 
 Though Calliste had never been blessed with 
 the means of acquiring a finished education, ac 
 cording to the popular signification of the term, 
 yet she had not neglected those means which 
 were within her reach, for the improvement of the 
 mind. She was well read for one in her situation, 
 and by her own exertions, principally, had she ac 
 quired an extensive fund of information on the 
 various subjects embraced in the arts and sciences, 
 and the literature of the day. Her natural abili 
 ties were of the highest order, and thus she made 
 the best use of the fund of knowledge which she 
 had been able to gain. 
 
 There are some, who, educate them as thor 
 oughly as you will, still sleep under dormant fac 
 ulties, and let the latent spark remain inactive,
 
 94 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 while others, with far less opportunities, by the 
 force of native genius, will shine far brighter in 
 point of real intellectual worth, than those who 
 have every facility in their favor. Thus with Cal- 
 liste : the improvement which she made with her 
 limited means, would have done, honor to many, 
 with far higher advantages. 
 
 Her contributions to the pages of " THE OF 
 FERING " displayed a native genius, untrammeled 
 by the rigid rules of the schools, and thus in their 
 simplicity united grandeur and sublimity. And 
 here we would notice this valuable periodical, con 
 ducted entirely by operatives, and a more satis 
 factory and agreeable task could hardly have fallen 
 to our lot. The Offering, as we have intimated, 
 and as is well known, is the work entirely of 
 " mind among the spindles," and in point of merit 
 ranks high in the literary world. One great feature 
 of beauty developed in the original matter of its 
 pages, is that it is written, most of it, in the sim 
 ple and native purity of veritable life, and the lan 
 guage presented is as unpretending as the moun 
 tain flower, which feature cannot fail to attract 
 attention and admiration. And if its pages dis 
 play none of the art of fiction, they shine with 
 lustre unrivalled in their own strength and native 
 elegance. We find here, gems of art also, and 
 language which would grace far more pretending 
 pages. Indeed, we cannot speak too highly of 
 the merits of this periodical. It is like a star rising 
 from the ocean. It has the type of originality, 
 and has no precedent of equal excellence. We
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 95 
 
 congratulate the worthy and indefatigable conduc 
 tors of this work on its eminent success.* 
 
 We love that simplicity which dwells in the 
 mind of the virtuous, and the unpretending beau 
 ty that partakes not of pride and vanity, nor do 
 we less value true excellence, though it be found 
 in the abode of the recluse, or in the mountain re 
 treat. The mind is the seat of all that is worthy 
 of admiration which humanity can claim. This, 
 then, should claim our notice, and its works 
 should graduate our estimation of its real merit. 
 We despise that low, grovelling son of wealth, 
 who, in the pride of self-consequence, looks only 
 to rank and riches as tests of worth who can 
 curl the lip of scorn at the operative, when in 
 fact the real merit of one humble member of this 
 class, if placed in the balance of virtue, would 
 weigh down millions of souls tinctured with this 
 vanity. We are ashamed almost to own such vile 
 minions of self and money as human. They are 
 fit only for those climes where the spirit of free 
 dom never shed its hallowed influence, and where 
 a proud aristocracy curses the land. Slaves of 
 pride and vanity ! we envy not your situation, 
 we disdain your pretensions to merit, or to a rank 
 among the noble minds of our land ! You who 
 think the humble operative beneath your notice 
 
 * It is proper to remark that the periodical, so favorably 
 noticed by the author, has, for reasons not publicly stated 
 by its conductors, been for some time discontinued. It is 
 well known, however, that it enjoyed an ample measure of 
 patronage to the last. PUBLISHER.
 
 96 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 you it is, who shall behold in future the elevation 
 of real merit, and the destruction of a proud and 
 haughty spirit, alike unfit for earth or heaven ! 
 Virtue alone shall be rewarded, and the humble 
 yet noble soul shall gain a diadem, when the proud 
 and haughty spirit shall find no name more base 
 registered, and like Dives want a drop of water to 
 cool his tongue ! Give every one their due ; for 
 Justice shall sooner or later mete out to all a 
 righteous award.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Proud fortune's wheel, 
 At every revolution brings a change 
 Of destiny to millions ! Many note 
 Who once in affluence lived, from door to door 
 Solicit charity ; and others then in want, 
 Now move in affluence ! 
 
 UPON a gentle slope of land bordering on the 
 line which separates New Hampshire and Vermont, 
 with the beautiful and winding Connecticut rolling 
 
 at its feet, stands the village of . It was a 
 
 picturesque, romantic location, and though small, 
 it was not the less beautiful at the time we intro 
 duce our readers to the scene which it presented. 
 
 One of autumn's sweetest evenings had hung 
 her ;; harvest moon " in the heavens, and as her 
 mild beams fell upon each object, they seemed to 
 offer a kiss to all. The tall spire of the village 
 church glistened by reflection, and each object cast 
 its shadow with inimitable precision. The reaper 
 had finished his work for the day, and the warbling 
 of the rich-plumed songsters of the grove had 
 ceased. The tavern sign swung upon its hinges, 
 swayed by playful zephyrs, and occasionally the
 
 98 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 barking of a dog, or the sound of a carriage broke 
 upon the ear, to mar the tranquillity of the scene. 
 On entering the village through a small copse of 
 wood, it presented to the eye which fancies the 
 picturesque and sublime, a satisfaction, and con 
 veyed to the thinking mind many a subject for 
 thought. Upon the hills and in the valleys adja 
 cent, were some of the best farms which the fertile 
 soil of the "Granite State" affords, and the whole 
 scene presented a beau ideal of rural life. It was 
 one of those comparatively independent and happy 
 regions which are common to New England. On 
 passing through the village, a neat cottage, painted 
 white, and with green blinds, half concealed 
 among the stately elms, might have been seen, 
 and upon a snug office near, glistening in the 
 moon-beams, was the name of 
 
 "DR. HART WELL." 
 
 Here, amid the beauties of nature, had our friend 
 found a pleasant and agreeable location, for it will 
 be perceived at once by the reader, that Marcus, 
 and the name upon the office, are synonymous. 
 Here had he been attracted by the rich prospect 
 which the site afforded, and hither had he come 
 to commence the practice of his profession. He 
 had received his M. D. from his Alma Mater, and 
 now was to put to the test his capacity and skill 
 as a professional man. He was well read, and bid 
 fair for eminent usefulness. Little, indeed, how 
 ever, does the young physician, with high antici 
 pations and brilliant prospects, even, realize the
 
 GARDE Z LA C(EUR. 99 
 
 difficulties which beset his path, until he learns by 
 experience the sad lesson. Little does he know 
 of the deep anxieties consequent upon the weight 
 of responsibility resting upon him, until actual 
 experience unfolds the reality. And the ingrati 
 tude of patients, which of all other trials, tears 
 the heart, even when by the exercise of his noble 
 art he is sensible he has rescued them from the 
 yawning grave this, we repeat, he can only tell, 
 after he finds it, and receives in many cases only 
 curses as the reward of his labors of philanthropy 
 and love. 
 
 But Dr. Hartvvell was well prepared to overcome 
 every difficulty, and a strong mind gave him an 
 advantage over him, who, from a sensitive spirit, 
 shrinks at the struggle and loses the victory. He 
 was well acquainted with human nature, and took 
 advantage of this knowledge in avoiding many of 
 the rocks and quicksands which have proved the 
 ruin of the ignorant and unwary. 
 
 He had been in his new location but a few 
 months, and in that time a fierce opposition had 
 stared him in the face. The bitterness of a deci 
 ded rivalry showed him what he was to anticipate, 
 but the present opposition was such as to benefit 
 rather than injure him. That he was a " young 
 man," was the only plea which his hoary-headed 
 antagonist could bring against him and this 
 atrocious failing is enough, in the estimation of 
 some, especially advanced maiden worthies, or 
 superstitious and vain matrons, to damn a physi 
 cian to eternal oblivion ! But our worthy friend
 
 100 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 was slowly, yet decidedly gaining the confidence 
 of the community, and by ardent exertions he 
 was doing a fair share of the business in the line 
 of his profession. His progress, it is true, was 
 slow, but this is almost invariably the case with 
 those of a crowded profession. But he had loca 
 ted himself there, and decision of character a 
 trait so necessary in the young man prognosti 
 cated a permanent stand for our friend in that vil 
 lage, in preference to any other. His address was 
 pleasing, and he was highly esteemed, so far as 
 he had become acquainted with the noble-hearted 
 arid worthy class who inhabited the vicinity. Thus 
 he had soon engaged many warm-souled friends 
 who duly appreciated his talents, in his favor. 
 We left him, in a preceding chapter, in a sort of 
 embarrassment not particularly agreeable, but we 
 find him now under different circumstances. His 
 uncle, failing in all his schemes, had finally given 
 up his conquest in despair. At the death of the 
 old gentleman, which happened soon after, very 
 suddenly, (from apoplexy) a will was found 
 whether left intentionally or not, is unknown 
 making Marcus, as he had previously intended, 
 sole heir to his estate, which was no trifling sum 
 to fall to a young man in his situation. 
 
 Thus had Marcus been enabled to purchase and 
 pay for the stand at which we have found him, 
 and the retirement which it afforded was not the 
 least valued of its attractions. 
 
 Apart from his professional qualifications, he 
 was a good scholar, and he had fitted up a fine
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 101 
 
 study, in which was a choice classical and miscel 
 laneous library, where he intended, in the interim 
 of business, to find time for study and scientific 
 investigation. The mind that is satisfied to rest 
 on its previous attainments, cannot expect to keep 
 pace with the improvements of the day ; and the 
 physician who, on receiving his diploma, lays 
 aside his books as having " learned out," will 
 soon find himself in the rear rank. But this was 
 not at all in accordance with the mind of our 
 friend. He was ambitious ; and ambition is a 
 laudable trait of character, when directed to a 
 noble purpose. Thus was our friend raised by a 
 sudden evolution of fortune, from almost penniless 
 poverty to comparative independence. And in 
 this case was the smile of fortune shed upon one 
 worthy to receive her benefits, while in many cases 
 we find the reverse. But did this sudden transi 
 tion from penury to wealth, render him any more 
 worthy of respect or esteem ? Certainly not ! for 
 transient treasures are not worthy of our confi 
 dence, and only those which are permanent enti 
 tle the possessor to our respect. 
 
 With what a thrill of satisfaction did Calliste 
 learn the good fortune of Marcus, and how did 
 her bosom heave with emotion, when she looked 
 forward to her union with the object of her early 
 choice ! Edwin had nearly completed his studies 
 preparatory to the ministry, and she now felt that 
 it would be her privilege soon to retire again to a 
 rural seclusion among her native hills. Marcus 
 she had found faithful to his word, and she well
 
 102 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 knew that he would soon claim her hand, as a 
 companion for life. She was his affianced, and 
 she looked forward to the time of their long anti 
 cipated union, we presume, with an emotion 
 which those who have been in her situation alone 
 can tell. She was happy, and with her prospects 
 for the future, and her guileless heart, who indeed 
 would not be ? Long years had she spent "among 
 the spindles," and time had passed rapidly. She 
 had enjoyed herself, and an unsullied conscience 
 had ever .been reflected from the mirror of the 
 heart. 
 
 But to return to Marcus. Imagine, fair reader, 
 a neat though small room, on one side of which 
 is a case of medicines well filled, and on the other, 
 a book-case, containing a medical library, not ex 
 tensive yet valuable. In the centre, a table cov 
 ered with papers, books, parcels of medicine, 
 instruments, writing materials, &c., the whole ap 
 pearance indicating the sanctum of a modern son 
 of ^Esculapius. This was the office of Doctor 
 HARTWELL ; and here, we fancy, he spent many 
 of his leisure moments. But something still 
 seemed wanting to complete his happiness. A 
 neat yet small cottage seemed, (standing empty 
 as it did,) to invite some fair and lovely being to 
 grace it by her presence, and perhaps the young 
 Doctor anticipated with a fond anxiety the time 
 when he should be able to introduce his bride to 
 his friends, and to find a home in her society in 
 the neat little domicil, which he had chosen as his 
 future residence. Perhaps his bosom found strange
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 103 
 
 emotions (for physicians are not entirely heart 
 less !) which were consequent upon the proxim 
 ity of an event, which had kept him years in an 
 ticipation, and nerved him for every struggle with 
 adversity which had been cast in his way. He, 
 too, perhaps, remembered the past, as he antici 
 pated the future, and pictured in his imagination 
 the joys of domestic life, in a rural retreat. He 
 had proved constant to Calliste, and that hallowed 
 power which caused his youthful heart to beat 
 with emotion in her presence, now in her absence 
 still grew stronger and stronger. 
 
 How beautiful is fidelity ! How strongly does 
 it lay hold of our admiration ! It is the life of 
 true affection the element by which it is known. 
 What, indeed, is love, unless characterized by this 
 active principle? unless founded on this sure 
 foundation ? A meteor flame, losing all its beauty 
 in a moment, and vanishing like the early dew. 
 Constant, faithful affection alone, is worthy to 
 bear the name of one of the jewels of virtue. We 
 despise the impious soul, who, for the sake of self- 
 gratification in conquest, will trifle with the heart, 
 and after touching to vibration every chord of its 
 sweetest music, leave it unstrung and out of tune, 
 to remediless destruction ! Fidelity alone can 
 ensure the safety of the heart, or protect it from a 
 bed of thorns ! 
 
 This alone can worthy prove 
 Of the heart's confiding love ; 
 Love, which, when it once is gone, 
 Bids adieu, and ne'er returns !
 
 104 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 Richer is the bosom blessed 
 Where this sacred scene doth rest, 
 Than the heart that wears a crown 
 Which it cannot call its own ! 
 
 Never-fading beauty reigns 
 Where Fidelity will fain 
 Locate her triumphant throne, 
 And protect the gem her own. 
 
 Keep the heart from every snare ; 
 See that thou this beauty wear ! 
 And thy cups shall flow with joy, 
 Pleasure true, without alloy ! 
 
 Thus shalt thou live in security, and fear no 
 evil, and if thou shalt find a mind congenial with 
 thine own, in mutual joy shalt thou pass the rem 
 nant of thy days, and close thine eyes at last, on 
 the bosom of faithful affection !
 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Homeward returning ! O how sweet 
 The prospect now before the mind ! 
 At home again ! Our friends we greet, 
 And scarcely leave a thought behind ! 
 
 IT was early on a lovely morning in autumn, 
 that a stage-coach stopped in front of a mansion 
 on street, and in a few moments two beauti 
 ful females were on board, and the journey of the 
 day was commenced. It was one of those fine 
 and agreeable mornings which this pleasant and 
 agreeable season affords, and innumerable inter 
 esting objects attracted the observing eye. The 
 coach rolled on rapidly, and soon the hum of the 
 city was lost in distance, and nature, instead of 
 art, displayed her beauties. The reaper, singing 
 his merry song, returned to the field, to gather 
 the harvest as the reward of industry, and the 
 mechanic was busy at his work, and though na 
 ture had commenced her preparation for the storms 
 of old winter, by laying aside her variegated and 
 beautiful summer garments, still she had not lost 
 her attractions. The fields presented their luxu 
 riant expanse, and the yellow apple laughed be- 
 7
 
 106 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 hind its screen of fluttering leaves. The pellucid 
 stream, winding its serpentine way, played with 
 the white pebbly shore, as ever and anon its 
 waves leaping gaily from its bosom, kissed the 
 tender flower which had not yet been destroyed 
 by the frosts of the season. All, all was life ; 
 and the picturesque region found not a few at 
 tractions in its towering hills, and deep ravines, 
 for the eye of the naturalist or the painter. And 
 as they passed onward, the salubrious atmoshere 
 of the country seemed to fit the mind for the en 
 joyment of those beauties which nature has lav 
 ished upon her favorite spot the hills and vales 
 of New England, dear to us as the land of our 
 birth, and the home of our forefathers. 
 
 The two young ladies of whom we have spoken, 
 we scarce need to say, were Calliste, and her 
 friend Louisa Elliot. They had left the city, the 
 one to visit the home of her childhood, among the 
 hills, the other to bear her company, and to enjoy 
 a visit to the " Granite State." Calliste had pre 
 vailed upon her friend to accompany her on her 
 visit, and to spend a few weeks in the rural seclu 
 sion of the residence of Farmer Barton, of which 
 we have spoken in a previous chapter. To this 
 proposal, Louisa offered no objection, and having 
 obtained the consent of her only surviving parent, 
 with a light heart did she leave the city for a short 
 season, to dwell among the beauties of nature. 
 
 A city life, however rare and agreeable scenes 
 it may afford, can never compare, in our humble 
 opinion, with a home in one of those romantic and
 
 CARD EX LA CffiUR. 107 
 
 beautiful villages, which meet the eye of the trav 
 eller in the country. The one, it is true, opens 
 all the attractions of art, which, on their first 
 presentation, excite our curiosity and admiration, 
 but we grow weary as we become familiar, and 
 they loose much of their attraction. But in tbe 
 other, we never can cease to find subjects for ad 
 miration, in the vast museum of nature, as we trace 
 the colors of a Divine pencil in every flower, and 
 the hand of a Divine Architect in the stupendous 
 works of the Creator. But perhaps as it is natu 
 ral to form our minds according to our observa 
 tion, we speak in preference of rural life, because 
 upon such scenes our eyes first opened, and be 
 cause in such a seclusion is the location of our 
 own " sweet home," which can never cease to be 
 a sacred spot, so long as the dust of departed 
 friends hallows it. 
 
 If ever the heart beats with an indescribable 
 emotion, it is when, after an absence of months or 
 years, we are at last on our way to the place of 
 our nativity. Then " Homeward Bound " is a 
 sweet song, and all the scenes of early years rush 
 upon the wings of memory ; we forget the scenes 
 of a strange land, for a season, and thought is busy 
 in portraying the meeting, and all its untold pleas 
 ures. Home is an endearing word ; it strikes 
 upon the ear with a peculiar sweetness, and bears 
 to the mind a multitude of thoughts in its associ 
 ations thoughts which cheer the heart. 
 
 HOME ! 't is the same where'er it be ! 
 Amid the halls of royalty,
 
 108 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 Or in the humble mountain cot, 
 'T is to the heart a hallowed spot. 
 
 What names upon the soul impress 
 A deeper seal, a richer dress, 
 Than those endeared by kindred ties, 
 Which from our own sweet home arise ? 
 
 
 A Father's kindness constant proved, 
 And too, a Mother's priceless love ; 
 A Brother, who each hour beguiles ; 
 A Sister's tender, welcome smiles. 
 
 Thrice happy throng, what'er their lot, 
 Whose names adorn the sacred spot ! 
 The more upon life's seas we roam, 
 The more we love our childhood's home. 
 
 Fraught with all the scenes of early years so 
 peculiarly dear to the heart, and all those tender 
 associations which have interested us even from 
 infancy, we can but cherish the home of our child 
 hood with a fond remembrance. 
 
 But to return again to our narrative, knowing 
 that our fair readers are more willing to forgive, 
 than we are to digress. To Calliste, the antici 
 pation of soon being under the dear parental roof, 
 afforded sufficient joy to render her journey pleas 
 ant and far more disagreeable. And it may be, 
 fair reader, that Louisa had some subject for an 
 ticipation, as well as her worthy friend, though 
 perhaps not the same ; but we forbear venturing 
 an opinion concerning the thoughts which we 
 imagine were chasing each other in her mind. 
 After months spent " among the spindles," we 
 should imagine nothing could be more acceptable
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 109 
 
 to the mind than a journey, especially in an agree 
 able season of the year, and in the society of a 
 pleasant friend. How exilerating does the air of 
 the country, freighted with rich fragrance, prove 
 to the physical powers, and not less so to the 
 mind. Unalloyed by the vapors and gases arising 
 necessarily from a densely populated city, we 
 breathe the atmosphere here in all the native pur 
 ity of that element, and our lungs expand with 
 seeming pleasure opening to the corporeal fabric 
 new life, and imparting new energies to the men 
 tal and physical organization. Such it proved, 
 we doubt not, to the fair and accomplished Fac 
 tory Girls, who were enjoying its benefits and 
 pleasures. We doubt not, their cheeks displayed 
 rose tints of beauty, which might be kissed by a 
 seraph without polluting his lips ! 
 
 The sun was pacing the western horizon, and 
 threw his smiles over the beauties of nature, as 
 the stage-coach, at length, after a two days' jour 
 ney, stopped before the cottage of Mr. Barton, 
 and again the feet of Calliste trod her native soil. 
 Home, with all its dear associations, greeted her 
 eyes, and in a moment she was welcomed with all 
 the sincere joy of affectionate regard by her 
 parents. The ceremony of introduction was over, 
 and Louisa received a hearty welcome from the 
 humble, yet truly worthy parents of her friend, 
 and soon was at home as one of the family. 
 
 If the heart of Calliste beat with warm sensa 
 tions, at again beholding the home of her child 
 hood, we doubt not that of Louisa throbbed with
 
 110 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 emotions no less sublime, at beholding for the first 
 time, the beauties of the home among the hills, 
 which had been so often described to her by her 
 friend and constant companion, and we hesitate 
 not to say, that Louisa found in the unpretending 
 family of Mr. Barton, a happy home, and more 
 real pleasure than she would have realized from a 
 visit to the most splendid mansion, and we believe 
 she found in the humble fare of the farmer, more 
 choice viands than would have been presented at 
 the most sumptuous board of the more fastidious 
 and pretending. 
 
 As we have before observed, Mr. Barton was 
 one of those generous and noble-hearted people, 
 who gain their bread with the labor of their hands. 
 His remote seclusion was congenial to those feel 
 ings which alone can render man truly happy, 
 piety, gratitude, benevolence, charity, and con 
 tentment. And think you, fair friend, we may 
 never find a gem in the seclusion of the mountain 
 home ? We have not told you the beauties of 
 the mind of this virtuous and lovely Factory Girl 
 in full, but we shall unfold more as we proceed. 
 Here was her home, and from the character of the 
 scenes of her early years, the mind at once pic 
 tures to itself as the result in Calliste, a favorite of 
 Virtue, and a happy possessor of all those rich 
 ornaments, mental as well as personal, which 
 make woman an object of esteem, admiration, re 
 spect, and affection. 
 
 Here we leave these two amiable and interest 
 ing characters until our next chapter, as they need
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. Ill 
 
 rest* to enable them to overcome the fatigue inci 
 dent to their journey. 
 
 That character which will bear acquaintance, 
 and from day to day gain our admiration as a 
 friend of virtue and purity, will never be a dan 
 gerous companion. We may rest assured, that 
 such an one will prove a true friend. And such 
 an one alone should gain our confidence. We 
 are apt, especially among strangers, to accept 
 every offer of friendship, and confide in an un 
 known heart, when, in fact, self-interest or decep 
 tion, in some form, is at the bottom of the heart 
 of our professed friend. We can never be too 
 cautious on this point, for when once caught in a 
 snare by the art of the stranger, like a wounded 
 bird, we may flutter in vain, while the destroyer 
 laughs at our sorrow, and scorns that credulity by 
 which we were taken. 
 
 Trust not, the heart, 'till thou hast found 
 
 The seal of Virtue there, 
 For flattery has a magic sound 
 That seems divinely fair. 
 
 Thy dream of excellence will fade 
 
 When sorrow's hour shall come, 
 And thou shalt find thyself betray'd, 
 
 And misery seal thy doom. 
 
 O ! trust it not the stranger's heart, 
 
 But first its meaning prove ; 
 Then, if it bears no subtle art, 
 
 'T is worthy of thy love. 
 
 Be this thy happy lot, fair reader, to find a 
 friend alone in one worthy of thy friendship, and
 
 112 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 to give thy heart and hand alone to one who can 
 appreciate thy worth as woman, and present thee 
 the reality of a virtuous and true affection that 
 affection which grows brighter and brighter on 
 earth, and ripens in its full beauty in heaven.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Childhood's home ! 
 Though in the bosom of obscurity, 
 Thy lone seclusion ; though unnamed the spot 
 Where stands thy humble cottage, thou art dear, 
 And we shall ever love thee, till we sink 
 Into the dust forgotten ! 
 
 AURORA had scarce mounted her oriental char 
 iot, on the day after the arrival of Calliste and 
 Louisa at the cottage of the father of the former, 
 ere Calliste had arisen, and after her private devo 
 tions, leaving her friend to enjoy another hour of 
 sleep, she found her way down beside the beauti 
 ful stream to the place where she had first parted 
 with Marcus, (now Dr. Hartwell.) The scene 
 was as fresh to her mind as though the occurrence 
 of but yesterday , and with what emotions did 
 she recount in her memory the confession and the 
 pledge, which thence was borne on high, to be 
 registered there ! But where was the young stu 
 dent, who at present, as then, was dearest to her 
 guileless heart of any being on earth ? He was 
 far away, engaged in the practice of his profession, 
 and in his work of benevolence and love for hu 
 manity. He was perhaps beside the couch of the
 
 114 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 sick, striving to buffet the ravages of disease to 
 alleviate the pangs and tortures of a merciless 
 malady, and to minitser to the necessities of the 
 subjects of sorrow and misery. The lives of fellow 
 beings were in his hands, and one wrong prescrip 
 tion might send a soul into eternity ! And was 
 the beautiful and lovely Calliste willing to share 
 the trials, perplexities and anxieties in common 
 with the few pleasures of a physician's life, and 
 to become the bosom companion of one in this 
 capacity ? Our readers will see as we proceed. 
 But he was far away, and the thought perhaps, or 
 at least the hope that they soon should meet, af 
 forded no little satisfaction to a heart inclined to 
 constant and devoted love, as was that of Calliste. 
 She had voluntarily given her unreserved affec 
 tions, and the promise of her hand to the object 
 of her early choice, and it is enough to say, she 
 had proved faithful. 
 
 And perhaps as she returned to the cottage 
 from her walk, the pleasures of hope filled the 
 mind of our fair friend, as she looked forward to 
 the time that should see her the bride of Doctor 
 Hartwell. As she returned, Louisa had just arisen, 
 and somewhat recovered from the fatigue of her 
 journey, she seemed cheerful and happy. Break 
 fast, and the family devotions were soon conclu 
 ded, and a walk was proposed by Calliste, to 
 which her friend readily assented. As they roam 
 ed over the fields, the orchard, the meadow, and 
 through the sylvan recesses of the forest, think 
 you not, fair reader, they found pleasure in trac-
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. H5 
 
 ing the various and beautiful works of the great 
 Creator? Who, indeed, that possesses a love for 
 the sublime and beautiful, can fail to appreciate 
 the many charms of such a retreat? But to the 
 mind of Calliste, every spot which they visited 
 was rendered dear by the power of association. 
 She had visited each bonnie nook a, thousand times 
 before, and the joys of childhood's happy, and too 
 fleeting moments, where in company with her 
 brother, now far away, she had wandered o 'er hill 
 and dale, were recalled by memory, to heighten 
 the interest of the occasion. Every nook and 
 corner was visited by her, and afforded in rapid 
 succession its individual associations to the mind. 
 Thus they enjoyed many a pleasant walk from 
 day to day, and each day found something new 
 for the mind of Louisa. With joy now, as ever 
 heretofore, did friends hail Calliste, and her old 
 school-mates and acquaintances who remained, 
 greeted her as an old favorite among them, and 
 such she was, But time had wrought its changes 
 in the progress of rolling years, and, as is ever the 
 case after even a short absence, various new faces 
 and new scenes presented themselves. 
 
 How great, indeed, the changes which only a 
 few years will produce in the appearance of places, 
 as well as in the circumstances of individuals ! 
 The friends of our early youth those near and 
 dear to us by many and fond associations, where 
 are they ? Echo answers, " Where ? " Some have 
 removed to other climes ; some have entered the 
 gates of matrimony ; and alas, not a few are
 
 116 
 
 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 sleeping in the dust ! Yet we love their memory, 
 and as we drop the tear over their hallowed ashes, 
 we are led to reflect that we too are mortal. As 
 we read their names upon the urn, we are remind 
 ed that soon we too must be there. Their tomb 
 stone is a mirror upon which we may read our 
 own fate, in common with mortality. Alas ! the 
 loved and lost, dear to our hearts still, have left 
 many blanks in our catalogue of choice spirits. 
 And the scenes of youth, where are they ? Gone, 
 with some of the actors, into eternity ! New 
 scenes are developed, as the curtain of the future 
 is raised, day by day, but are they fraught with 
 that interest which characterised those of our 
 youth ? Perhaps not ; but still we have our favor 
 ite scenes, as well as our chosen friends. But we 
 ever fondly read upon the great tomb-stone of the 
 Past, those names and their associations, which 
 will remain dear to us, until our hearts shall cease 
 their vibrations, and we follow the loved and lost 
 to eternity! We cannot we would not forget 
 them ! 
 
 How sweet the memory of the days, 
 When youth was gliding swift away ! 
 How dear each scene forever gone, 
 Borne in Time's car so swiftly on ! 
 Each name so sweet, forever lost, 
 Tells how the gold may turn to dross ! 
 And fading beauty drops a tear, 
 For those more beautiful, so dear ! 
 While Virtue on her spotless page, 
 Shall name them to the latest age ! 
 
 It was seemingly but a short time, to the mind 
 of Calliste, since she was in all the mirth of child-
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 
 
 hood, chasing the butterfly from flower to flower, 
 and with her brother, enjoying all those innocent 
 sports which characterize that age. And the 
 school house, in which she had spent many a happy 
 moment, was that forgotten ? By no means ; it 
 was visited, and though changed in appearance, it 
 found still many a charm as links to bind the past 
 to her memory. And all these favorite haunts 
 which she had visited a thousand times with her 
 playmates, were visited now, and each one told 
 its tale of the past to her mind all were dear. 
 How sweet indeed the memory of the associations 
 of school days ! We cherish them as the happiest 
 of life ; for then, free from those innumerable 
 cares and perplexities which burthen the mind in 
 after life, we spent our time in the pursuit of 
 knowledge and pleasure alternately. But they 
 are gone, and we are now upon the stage of ac 
 tion. 
 
 Thus did Calliste and Louisa spend their days 
 agreeably for a length of time, but perhaps there 
 was still some desideratum unattained some ob 
 ject absent, necessary to their full measure of hap 
 piness. But still they were happy, and the time 
 passed rapidly, and as it were unobserved. They 
 must visit friends, and receive and return calls, 
 and a thousand things claimed and divided their 
 attention, for Louisa had at length become an 
 object of interest, and she found also objects of 
 interest reciprocal, among which to divide her at 
 tention, as time brought its various scenes. 
 
 It was Saturday night, and the inmates of the
 
 118 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 humble cottage of Farmer Barton were seated be 
 fore a warm fire, enjoying the season of calm se 
 renity of mind which such occasions afford, in 
 social conversation. The labors of the week were 
 finished, and the hour, than which few are sweeter, 
 was ushered in with a hearty welcome by all. 
 Supper had been taken, and now the happy fam 
 ily were preparing for their evening devotions. 
 They were seated, and the family bible was taken 
 from its place, to furnish a chapter for food for 
 their souls. But before reading, their attention 
 was called to a slight rap at the door, which de 
 noted the presence of some one who wished ad 
 mittance. The response " Come in," was scarcely 
 given, ere the door opened, and Edwin Barton 
 entered ! Calliste recognized him first, and in a 
 moment was in her brother's embrace. He was 
 warmly greeted, of course, by his parents, and 
 soon he was introduced by Calliste, to Louisa. 
 We need not say that their meeting was one of 
 joy, and that the prayers which ascended from the 
 cottage that evening, were those of sincere grati 
 tude, and from humble and contrite hearts. 
 
 Edwin had completed his theological studies at 
 
 B , in the state of Maine, and was soon to 
 
 take holy orders. He had returned to spend a 
 few weeks at the residence of his parents, that he 
 might recruit his health, which was then precari 
 ous, as his pale countenance indicated. He had 
 studied hard, and had now passed through the 
 prescribed course preparatory to his entering the 
 ministry.
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 119 
 
 To Louisa we may suppose this was an unex 
 pected meeting, as well as to Calliste, but perhaps 
 it was not the less agreeable. Long did they con 
 verse, until at length the clock admonished them, 
 and as they retired to rest, their various emotions 
 we shall not be expected to divine, but suffice it 
 to say, they were not, we believe, disagreeable. 
 
 The morning of the holy Sabbath dawned with 
 a peculiar brightness ; the exercises of the morn 
 ing around the altar were finished, and the sound 
 of the church-bell broke upon their ears with a 
 hallowed melody. They made preparations to 
 visit the sanctuary, and as it was but a short dis 
 tance, they choose to walk, and accordingly were 
 soon in the " same old church," where all save 
 Louisa had so often sat, and listened to the voice 
 of the venerable man of God, who had presided 
 over the church for a series of years. The servi 
 ces of the forenoon were completed, and the ex 
 ercises of the Sabbath School gained the attention 
 of Calliste and her friend, while Edwin, by request 
 of the Pastor, retired to the parsonage. 
 
 The afternoon found Edwin in the sacred desk, 
 addressing the attentive audience which had that 
 day gathered to worship. His whole soul seemed 
 to expand, and true eloquence such as alone 
 flows from a true spirit, fell from his lips, as eager 
 ears caught every word and bore it to the heart. 
 His appeals were answered by the penitential tear, 
 and the word was blessed to many, we doubt not, 
 who came for novelty up to the sanctuary. 
 
 And think you, kind reader, that Calliste re-
 
 120 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 gretted at that hour, ever becoming a Factory 
 Girl, that a beloved brother might stand in the 
 desk and proclaim the news of free salvation to 
 those around, who were still treading the down 
 ward road to ruin ? Was not the joy of that hour, 
 even, ample compensation for all her labors of 
 love, even through years of toil ? We anticipate 
 your answer, and need not pause for a reply. 
 And those humble and devoted parents we can 
 not analyze their feelings ! Was not that moment 
 a rich reward for all their instructions and precepts 
 to their beloved son in early years ? We believe 
 it was. The exercises of the day were closed, 
 and the worthy family of Mr. Barton returned to 
 the humble cottage to spend the sweet remnant 
 of holy time, as became the occasion. 
 
 And this, fair reader, was to a great degree, the 
 result of the labors of a Factory Girl. But for 
 her, Edwin had never been able to prepare for the 
 duties of his holy calling. But for her, he had 
 not that day stood in the sacred desk in his own 
 native village. But for her, the cause of religion 
 had, comparatively, lost an able advocate. Who 
 then will dare speak in other than exalted terms 
 of a class, which affords not merely one, but very 
 m any equally noble and praiseworthy examples ? 
 
 But excellence, 
 
 Tho' rendered by a selfish world obscure, 
 Shall never sleep forgot ! True merit needs 
 No trump of fame to tell it o'er the land, 
 But, though not here it meet its rich reward, 
 It still shall stand conspicuously bright, 
 When Virtue gives, by her certificate, 
 Unfading laurels !
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Their hearts united, and a stream 
 Of pure affection rolled between ; 
 While Virtue placed her seal so fair, 
 And smiled to see its halo there ! 
 
 AGAIN had night let fall her stellated curtains, 
 and the beauties of an evening's silence were 
 ushered in. The winds of autumn whistled around 
 the lonely and weather-beaten cottage, bringing 
 to the mind a kind of sweet melancholly, which is 
 far from disagreeable, at least to us. But while 
 Old Boreas blew his blast, and made harsh discord 
 in the music of his voice, and the accompani 
 ment of its effects upon surrounding objects, the 
 smile of Laura played upon the scene, forgetful, 
 seemingly, that Nature had taken a severe chill, 
 and her limbs shivered and were benumbed by its 
 influence. But we have seen her smile even bright 
 est, when the breeze bore upon its bosom the last 
 sigh of departing beauty, and nature wept at the 
 devastation which the iron hand of destruction 
 had wrought upon her charms, and upon the 
 couch of woe, as well as the nuptial hour, she 
 lends her smiles with equal profusion. Morpheus
 
 122 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 had locked the human family, at least those in 
 this hemisphere, in her embrace, save a few, who 
 from want, sickness, or inclination, kept their silent 
 vigils, and slept not. All was still, save the com 
 motion of a frantic element, and at such an hour 
 we find the most pleasant season that offers itself, 
 when no study calls, and no mortal demands our 
 aid. Then we ever delight in the silence of night, 
 to find an hour for reflection, meditation or study, 
 or to pen a sketch from observation, or a thought 
 for friends. We are " never less alone than when 
 alone," for solitude has charms which are by few 
 duly appreciated. Her season is too often under 
 valued, while scenes of hilarity gain the victory 
 over the inclination. Not so with us ; we de 
 light to find an hour for silent thought and con 
 templation, and at such times we spend very many 
 truly pleasant and happy moments. 
 
 At this hour, beneath the roof of the farmer's 
 humble cottage, we propose to introduce a scene 
 to our readers. The family had retired to rest, 
 save two, and these are our present characters. 
 In the small, yet neatly finished parlor, upon an 
 old-fashioned settee, (which by the way is a very 
 comfortable seat for two or more,) sat a lady and 
 gentleman, apparently engaged in conversation. 
 The fire blazed upon the hearth, affording an 
 agreeable warmth to the appartment, while upon 
 the walls might have been seen a few paintings of 
 Scripture characters and incidents, and also some 
 minature sketches, far from accurate, of members 
 of the family. A few books, mostly of a religious
 
 GARDE Z LA CffiUR. 123 
 
 character, lay upon the mantel-piece, and the fur 
 niture was of a kind which, though not costly, 
 was nevertheless elegant in its simplicity. Every 
 thing was arranged with an accurate precision, 
 indicating a trait in the character of the worthy 
 mistress of the house, which never fails to gain 
 admiration. An old clock, which by its appear 
 ance, had probably ticked more than one genera 
 tion into eternity, still kept pace with the mo 
 ments, and was probably valued more for time, 
 and its antiquity, by its owner, than for its beauty. 
 A mirror graced the walls of the apartment, which 
 was probably the gift of some one now pale in 
 death, as it se%med to have shown very many their 
 countenances, who had long since been forgotten 
 in the silence of that sleep which knows no waking 
 in time. Indeed, every part of the room bore 
 marks of age, in the humble, yet truly happy 
 family, to whom the residence belonged. 
 
 And who were the lady and gentleman whom 
 we have introduced, and why were they there? 
 They were Edwin and Louisa, both characters 
 familiar to our readers. But why were they there ? 
 Fair reader, we do not wish to interrupt their so 
 cial tcte a tete, and we will tell you. You recol 
 lect that we left them with Calliste, at the resi 
 dence of Mr. Barton, and that they were to spend 
 a few weeks there in each other's society. Well, 
 Edwin was not, as would seem, entirely invul 
 nerable to the charms of beauty, and mental as 
 well as moral excellence. From the moment of 
 his acquaintance with Louisa, he had not found in
 
 124 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 her a being whose society was by any means dis 
 agreeable. He had studied her character, and he 
 admired that noble and virtuous mind which 
 found a home in so beautiful a tenement. He 
 had hitherto warded off the shafts of Cupid, but 
 now he found a pang about his heart from one of 
 the rogue's sharp-pointed arrows, which, (minister 
 though he was,) could not be cured by medicinal 
 agents. He admired her character and pleasing 
 address, and we are not indeed surprised at his 
 feelings. She was in every way calculated to 
 make home happy, and such an one does the 
 professional man need, if any one, for a bosom 
 companion. She had not, it is true* been long in 
 his society, but she had not, hitherto, been entirely 
 unacquainted with him, arid if she found in her 
 heart feelings congenial with his, who will be sur 
 prised ? Louisa's heart was made for the resi 
 dence of a deep and lasting affection, and she 
 was one of those beings who yield not their heart 
 at every call, but when they do place their affec 
 tions upon an object, they love for ever ! Jt is 
 but sheer justice to add, that kindred principles 
 and feelings swayed the heart of Edwin. 
 
 That affection should be founded in reason, and 
 the exercise of the sober judgment, no one, we 
 presume, will deny ; for passion, when suffered to 
 predominate, makes havoc of the heart, and 
 proves, not unfrequently. the ruin of all that is 
 held dear in life. 
 
 That love which commences with deliberation, 
 and increases in strength in a constant attach-
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 125 
 
 meat, and which finds an approval in virtue, alone 
 is valuable, for the blaze of passion, unrefined 
 by reason or virtue, soon sinks in a frozen region, 
 where all is darkness to the heart, and all the rays 
 of light from the beacon of hope, even, are shut 
 out. 
 
 That Edwin and Louisa had formed favorable 
 opinions of each other, during their short ac 
 quaintance, was indeed true, and perhaps Calliste 
 was not unwilling to own Louisa as a sister, in 
 every sense of the word. But we will not accuse 
 her of interfering in any way, though we believe 
 she was pleased with the evident attachment still 
 unconfessed. 
 
 Calliste loved Louisa with a sister's affection ; 
 nor is this surprising, since they had for so long a 
 time enjoyed each other's society, and an un 
 broken friendship had bound them together from 
 their first acquaintance. And with pleasure may 
 we suppose Calliste marked the symptoms of mu 
 tual affection between her brother and Louisa, 
 which led her to anticipate a result highly satis 
 factory to her mind. 
 
 But Louisa was a Factory Girl. And did this 
 young minister consider her good enough for 
 him 1 Why did he not look higher for a compan 
 ion than in the lower class ? Where, kind reader, 
 we would ask, can you find a higher class than 
 that composed of the humble, beautiful and virtu 
 ous ? Tell us, and we will hope to become 
 initiated there ; but tell us not of real worth, 
 where the gems of virtue are not found.
 
 126 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 In each other's society, Edwin and Louisa 
 seemed most happy, and we shall not presume to 
 tell of the many long walks which they enjoyed 
 either alone, or accompanied by Calliste, nor of 
 the many social and mutually agreeable hours 
 which they enjoyed in each other's society ; but 
 this we would say to our bachelor friends, by way 
 of caution, it is dangerous to the state of single 
 blessedness, to spend even a short season in com 
 pany with a beautiful, lovely, and bewitching 
 maiden, even though she be a Factory Girl, for 
 not unfrequently, it causes an affection of the 
 heart, which, though not immediately dangerous, 
 is still incurable by the art of the physician ! 
 Who, indeed, however grave, has not been swayed 
 at times, by the power of beauty, and the magic 
 charm of real worth ? 
 
 There is a power, which, when 'tis known, 
 Can make the " Lion's Heart " its own, 
 Can cause the cynic e'en to sigh, 
 And own the lustre of its eye ' 
 
 'T is Beauty true, beneath whose shade 
 Affection's flowrets never fade ! 
 This is the power which onward calls, 
 And sways the fountain of the soul ! 
 
 'T is this that triumphs o'er the heart, 
 And asks of life no better part 
 This only on the human mind 
 Presents a slavery divine ! 
 
 And even this is guarded by 
 
 Affection's pure and piercing eye ! 
 
 'T is this which melts the heart of stone 
 
 The flame which Virtue calls her own 1 .
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 127 
 
 By this power had the heart of the young min 
 ister been captivated, and his affection for the 
 object of his choice flowed from a pure and sin 
 cere heart. Indeed, he was well calculated to 
 engage the affections of one like Louisa, for as we 
 have before observed, she ever demanded the seal 
 of virtue, as a prerequisite to friendship, and in 
 his character she saw many attractions which any 
 but discriminating minds seldom notice. Thus, 
 kind reader, they were, as we should opine, well 
 calculated, in every respect, to render each 
 other happy in the mutual relations of domestic 
 life. 
 
 And the scene which we have introduced was 
 the result of that affection which had arisen spon 
 taneously, as it were, in the hearts of our friends. 
 Edwin and Louisa loved each other with all the 
 ardor and sincerity which characterizes the heart's 
 first, holiest affection. And this is the hour in 
 which the fleeting moments are the sweetest of 
 life when the virtuous heart finds its feelings re 
 ciprocated. The heart and hand of Edwin were 
 offered, and readily accepted by Louisa, and as 
 he pressed her to his bosom, and love's first, 
 sweetest, holiest, kiss, was given, did they "not en 
 joy the richest moment of life ? Tell me, ye who 
 know ! Long did they converse, and the affection 
 of congenial hearts rendered both truly happy. 
 They had found at that hour a theme for new an 
 ticipations. New prospects sprang up before them. 
 Virtue was there, and her seal was found upon 
 her favorites, to brighten anticipation. And as
 
 128 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 they retired to rest, think you not, fair reader, 
 their sleep was sweet, and their dreams pleasant? 
 
 Edwin was to be ordained as an evangelist in a 
 few days, and in his situation, what object could 
 be of more importance than a bosom companion, 
 to cheer him in his arduous labors, and render 
 life agreeable and happy ? And Louisa was em 
 inently fitted to become the companion of such 
 an one. 
 
 Of the remainder of the time spent, at present, 
 in each other's society, we have nothing to say, 
 but presume it was far from unpleasant; and 
 here we leave them until the next chapter, well 
 pleased, thus far, with the result of their acquaint 
 ance.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 While fond anticipation gives 
 
 A solace sweet to ev'ry hour. 
 How rich the moments that can live 
 
 On Recollection's hallowed power. 
 
 THE hour of separation follows the joy of meet 
 ing, and the most pleasing association of kindred 
 spirits finds its reverse. We left the family of 
 Mr. Barton together under the paternal roof, and 
 with them the fair and amiable Louisa Elliot as a 
 visiter. We next find them separated Calliste 
 and her friend again " among the spindles," and 
 Edwin on a journey to meet the session of the 
 presbytery, and the ordaining council. Calliste 
 had visited the factory for the last time, where she 
 had spent so many months, for she was soon to 
 enter upon the scenes and duties of domestic life. 
 A portion of her time was now spent in assisting 
 her friend in her preparation for an important 
 crisis. To the heart of Calliste, what could pre 
 sent a richer reward than the thoughts relating to 
 the past, and the many anticipations of the future. 
 She had been blessed with health, and her object 
 had been thus far accomplished, and her anticipa-
 
 130 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 lions even more than realized. Long had she 
 labored, subjected to many of the vicissitudes and 
 dangers of life, but she found an ample compen 
 sation in the result of those labors of kindness, 
 benevolence and love. She had assisted her 
 brother by the labor of her hands, until at length 
 she had seen him in the sacred desk. And now, 
 as he was about to locate by invitation in a distant 
 town, she was happy in the fair prospect of his 
 future usefulness, and the anticipated union be 
 tween him and her early and well-tried friend 
 Louisa. 
 
 But what were the feelings of Mrs. Elliot, when 
 she learned the purpose of her beloved and accom 
 plished daughter ? Had she not previously learn 
 ed the character of him who had gained the heart 
 of Louisa, they would of course have been far 
 different, but now, so far as the future prospects 
 for happiness and usefulness were concerned, she 
 could have no objection to the proposed union. 
 But must this worthy widow be left alone, and de 
 prived of the society and company of her only 
 daughter, who had so long been the object of her 
 paternal solicitude ? Must she surrender into other 
 hands a jewel well worthy to find a home in the 
 heart of the best among virtue's children ? Moth 
 ers, you can analyze her feelings ! But she was 
 willing to give her consent to an union which 
 promised so fair to render the objects happy, tho' 
 so unexpected was the announcement of the inten 
 tion, that no wonder if it found the tender-hearted 
 and pious mother unprepared to receive it.
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 131 
 
 The silken cords which bind a mother's heart to 
 a beloved child, when severed, ever cause a pang 
 of regret and deep sorrow. Who indeed can truly 
 tell the feelings of a mother's bosom, save her who 
 sustains the dear relation ? A MOTHER'S priceless 
 love ! 
 
 Strong when all other feelings die, 
 
 Burning in absence brighter still; 
 The cause of many a hidden sigh, 
 
 Ever the same, through good or ill ! 
 
 A mother's love ? name sweeter far 
 
 Than richest music to the ear ! 
 Though time or space should thought debar, 
 
 Still this shall bring the object near ! 
 
 It ceases not with joy to shine, 
 
 And show its power upon the heart; 
 
 It sheds an influence benign, 
 
 When youth and beauty shall depart ! 
 
 To Louisa, the future presented a bright side, 
 and with all the buoyancy of youthful hope did 
 she look forward with anticipations of future hap 
 piness. She loved, and that love was deep and 
 ardent, and in the full belief that the object of her 
 choice was worthy of her unreserved affection, she 
 was truly happy. She was now the fiancee of a 
 minister, whose brilliant talents and ardent piety 
 had gained universal admiration, and she felt in all 
 its weight and importance the responsibility which 
 she was soon to assume. She, who had hitherto 
 looked for precept and example to others, was to 
 occupy a station which would demand of her an 
 example for others worthy of imitation. But she
 
 132 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 was well qualified for the task. Her mild and 
 winning deportment, and her deep and ardent 
 piety rendered her influence among her friends and 
 acquaintances of no small importance. She was 
 well educated, and her moral as well as intellectual 
 worth rendered her a desirable companion, and a 
 faithful and true friend. Such was the character 
 of this Factory Girl, and who will presume to say 
 that she was not worthy to become the bride of any 
 one, however high his station, or profound his ac 
 quirements ? All this Calliste knew, and why 
 should she wish a more beautiful and worthy friend 
 as the bosom companion of her brother ? She did 
 not ; for she well knew that where pretensions to 
 worth are founded upon a name, or the possession 
 of wealth, the virtuous and humble need not look 
 for a companion whose feelings shall be congenial 
 with their own. Thus did she prefer that Edwin 
 should become the husband of this humble, beau 
 tiful, virtuous and lovely Factory Girl, in prefer 
 ence to an alliance with one of higher pretensions. 
 yet far less worthy. 
 
 How beautiful 
 
 That union which fair Virtue deigns to seal, 
 When true Affection in congenial hearts 
 Hallows the tie ! And it is even thus 
 When excellence in mutual moral worth 
 Unites its beauties in a halo bright, 
 Which in expanding gives a light serene, 
 Dear to the interests of humanity, 
 Yet sweeter to itself. 
 
 They were again in the " City of Spindles," 
 these factory girls where beauty attracts the eye
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 133 
 
 alike of the virtuous and the vicious. Many in 
 deed had been the attempts of those of the latter 
 class, to draw them from the path of rectitude 
 into a snare; and not a few deep-laid schemes of 
 the character of one which we have noticed in a 
 preceding chapter, had found for their objects 
 these lovely and beautiful Factory Girls. They 
 had encountered the same importunities which 
 others in their situation are subject to, but still 
 they had preserved their integrity, and their virtu 
 ous characters remained unsullied by a single stain. 
 They had ever been on their guard against those 
 fatal shores where hope, peace, joy, fortune, fame, 
 and all dear to life, perish. They had seen the 
 destroyer, and marked his favorite haunts, and 
 those enticements by which so many victims are 
 secured in chains of darkness worse than death ; 
 and they had avoided them all. Virtue had proved 
 a potent shield, and a safe defence from all the 
 arts of the corrupt and designing ! They had 
 avoided every place of danger, and never did they 
 enter the portals of the gates of ruin. 
 
 How many, alas ! of the fair and lovely, fall by 
 one fatal step, which, when taken, was considered 
 perfectly safe ! Visiting the circles of the gay and 
 fashionable, the ball-room, and the many favorite 
 resorts of the fashionable villain from these they 
 had kept aloof, knowing the safest way is to shun 
 temptation. This is far belter than an ill-timed 
 resistance. In their walks, especially in the eve 
 ning, though importuned by the stranger or even 
 pretended friend, with glib-tongued " good even-
 
 134 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 ing," or " shall I have the pleasure of seeing you 
 home to-night ? " they ever refused, and thus 
 avoided the appearance of evil. 
 
 The road to ruin commences often very narrow, 
 and generally enlarges, (if we may be allowed the 
 metaphor.) The first step does not always prove 
 fatal, but it is dangerous imminently dangerous, 
 and should never be taken. There is safety only 
 in the guidance of Virtue. 
 
 Guard the heart ! 
 
 A thousand snares are set to prove thy fall ! 
 Soft words are hidden poison, to allure 
 Thee to the dark abyss. Flattery, a charm 
 Within whose bosom is a fatal deed, 
 To blast thy hopes, is ever dangerous ! 
 But Virtue gives a shield, an JEg\s strong, 
 Whose flame shall dim the black destroyer's sight, 
 And foil his arts malign ! 
 
 Calliste and Louisa had many valuable friends 
 in the city, more particularly among those of their 
 own avocation. They had found very many kin 
 dred spirits and noble minds "among the spin 
 dles," for the beautiful gems of moral and intel 
 lectual worth are found in profusion in this, no 
 less than in any other class. That many a noble 
 heart beats in the bosom of the humble operatives 
 will be seen by their works, of which the series of 
 incidents which we have selected for narration, 
 furnish but a partial illustration. Still we regret 
 to say, that by some, this worthy class are consid 
 ered of no more consequence than the power 
 which moves the spindles ! They are valued, in 
 deed, so far as their labors are concerned, which.
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 135 
 
 under a monopolized hire, serve to put wealth into 
 the coffers of the aristocratic capitalist ; but here, 
 even respect ends, in the bosoms of very many of 
 the minions of Mammon, and lovers of caste ! 
 Horrid mockery of the equal rights of humanity ! 
 Vile lordlings ! who would fain compromise the 
 rights of fellow-beings to pamper pride ! What 
 think ye ? Were ye on other soil than that where 
 Freedom was purchased at the point of the bayo 
 net and the cannon's mouth, and the doctrine of 
 " equal rights," sealed with blood, ye need not 
 blush so deeply with shame ! But here, shame on 
 the vile being who would fain raise an aristocracy 
 to curse the land ! The wrongs of Factory Girls 
 shall not always sleep forgotten, and the instru 
 ment of high-handed monopoly go unchecked ! 
 No ! the indignant frown of Heaven shall smite 
 the vile and ignoble slave to Mammon and pride, 
 who would dare even to sell his country's freedom 
 for gold ! Ye would keep the humble and virtu 
 ous factory girl in a state of degradation, little 
 above the beasts that perish, were it in your power ! 
 Forget not that injured excellence and real worth 
 shall rise in majesty, when your ignoble name 
 shall sink in darkness ! 
 
 The preparations for the scene which will be 
 introduced in the next chapter, were at length 
 completed, and Louisa was anticipating the arrival 
 of Edwin. He had been ordained and set apart 
 to the work of the ministry, and by letter she had 
 
 learned that he would soon visit L , to claim 
 
 her hand in marriage. He came, and all prelimi
 
 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 naries were settled, the consent of Mrs. Elliot ob 
 tained. And here we leave them until the next 
 chapter, happy in anticipation and in each other's 
 society. 
 
 But what shall we say of Calliste ? What were 
 her feelings at that time ? Was she, too, happy ? 
 She anticipated the arrival of Dr. Hartwell, accord 
 ing to invitation, and she was indeed truly happy 
 not merely in view of her own prospects, but in 
 the result of her exertions. She had procured a 
 valuable Library for the use of her brother, as a 
 parting gift, and though she was soon to find her 
 self deprived of the society of her faithful and 
 long-loved friend Louisa, and though Edwin was 
 to be located at a distance, yet she was to find a 
 still nearer and dearer friend a bosom compan 
 ion in the one whom she had so long loved, and 
 to whom she was so faithfully devoted. 
 
 How rich the blessing of a deed 
 Which gives relief in time of need ! 
 Which pours the balm in Sorrow's breast, 
 And soothes the aching head to rest ! 
 A deed though trifling, in its time, 
 May bring a cup of joy sublime ! 
 And thus for joy we often flee, 
 Meek-eyed Benevolence, to thee.
 
 *The bridal scene, a crisis proves, 
 
 Of life, a most important hour, 
 When hearts that beat with mutual love, 
 
 Unite in Virtue's hallowed power! 
 
 STERN WINTER had again unlocked his maga* 
 ines, and shrouded the earth in a mantle of the 
 purest white, while the liquid stream murmured 
 beneath its fetters of ice, and the winds from a 
 frigid region whistled their shrill notes as they 
 bore the piercing frost of a northern clime upon 
 their heavy wings. Again were heard the merry 
 notes of the sleigh-bells, and young hearts, unfet* 
 tered by the cold, found pleasure in the scenes of 
 the season. The river was covered with its usual 
 frozen veil, and the skater wound his rapid way 
 upon its glassy surface. Though Sol refused not 
 his accustomed rays, yet, his smiles falling ob 
 liquely upon the earth, lost their warmth, and yet 
 cast no reflections that they had deprived the 
 face of nature of a very powerful cosmetic. But 
 still, as we have before observed, Winter has many 
 charms for us. We love its long evenings, those 
 rich, stellated, beautiful evenings which offered so 
 9
 
 138 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 many scenes of interest, amid the throng, or 
 around the social fireside. We love the powerful 
 sedative of cold, even, for it proves agreeable, 
 even more so than the heat of mid-summer. Nor 
 indeed does Dame Nature appear less beautiful in 
 her simple robe of white, the emblem of inno 
 cence, than in her gorgeous summer apparel, va 
 riegated with so many rich hues ; yes, Winter has 
 indeed many charms for us, though some may 
 deem it a gloomy and uninteresting season we 
 love it still, with all those dear associations which 
 come in its train. The singing-school the lyce- 
 um the social circle, and all those scenes which 
 render life agreeable, impart to Winter many 
 charms, and above all, the hours furnished for 
 study, meditation, reading, and the many et ceteras 
 which the literary character finds congenial to his 
 feelings for these, who would not pay a hearty 
 and happy tribute to this agreeable and accepta 
 ble season ? 
 
 Such was the time in which we now introduce 
 to our readers a scene in the city of L . At 
 an early hour in the evening a small party of in 
 vited guests, composed of friends and acquaintan 
 ces, were assembled in the parlor of a mansion on 
 
 street, and we need not say, the residence 
 
 of Mrs. Elliot. It was a beautiful evening, and 
 the elements were hushed to rest. But there were 
 hearts there which beat, no doubt, with peculiar 
 emotions, such indeed as they never experienced 
 before. We need not say it was the wedding 
 party which had assembled, to witness the cere-
 
 GARDEZ LA COEUR. 139 
 
 mony which should unite Edwin and Louisa in an 
 holy, happy union, than which earth furnishes no 
 dearer tie. But why did the bosom of the fair 
 and lovely Calliste beat with hope and fear, at that 
 time, when of all others it should have throbbed 
 with joy ? We will tell you : the hour appointed 
 for the ceremony was near at hand, and one of 
 the party was missing. It was Dr. Hartwell 
 and she feared he would not be there. And why ? 
 Was he not still faithful ? Had he no anxiety to 
 be present on the occasion ? Had he forgotten 
 the appointment ? or had he met with accidents 
 on his journey ? These, with a thousand other 
 inquiries, suggested themselves to the mind of 
 Calliste. And were either of them true ? Far 
 from it? He was a physician; and this simple 
 fact is amply sufficient to dispel all doubt. The 
 physician cannot always leave his patients at will. 
 He must never suffer self-grati faction to forego 
 duty. His is an arduous task, the whole truth of 
 which Calliste had yet to learn. But he might 
 himself be sick, and unable to be present, and we 
 do not so much wonder if the feelings of the true- 
 hearted and lovely Calliste were far from agreea 
 ble. That love which, like hers, is pure and ar 
 dent, finds a sweet tenderness and solicitude which 
 none but those who truly love, can ever experi 
 ence towards the object of their affection. It is 
 a self-sacrificing spirit, which is willing to forego 
 every pleasure, if thereby the happiness of the 
 object may be secured.
 
 140 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 He came at last but a few moments before 
 the appointed time and Calliste was happy. 
 
 The long looked-for moment had now corne, 
 and before the man of God stood Edwin and 
 Louisa, to take upon themselves those solemn vows 
 which were to unite them forever. Dr. Hartwell 
 and Calliste served them as grooms-man and 
 bride's maid, as had been previously arranged. 
 
 How fraught with deep and hallowed interest 
 is the hour in which kindred spirits are united in 
 an union indissoluble, save by the hand of Death ! 
 when by mutual agreement the solemn pledge 
 is given, and young hearts assume the sacred re 
 lations of husband and wife ! when life's voyage is 
 commenced together by virtuous and pious souls, 
 sealed to each other by the potent name of true 
 affection ! It is a scene indeed of deep interest, 
 and fraught with high hopes and sublime antici 
 pations of future happiness. Then, Virtue smiles 
 upon her children ! 
 
 Happy indeed that hour so sweet, 
 Which renders every joy complete 
 When Virtue's votaries combine 
 To form an union sweet, benign ! 
 
 Together in an holy tie, 
 To live in peace, in peace to die ; 
 While Heaven the union shall approve,. 
 And own the gein of faithful love ! 
 
 The ceremony was concluded, and the beauti 
 ful and accomplished Louisa the humble Fac 
 tory Girl was the bride of Rev. Mr. Barton. 
 She appeared at that time more lovely than ever ;
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 
 
 141 
 
 her sparkling eyes threw a light of joy upon her 
 fair face, and a bewitching and fascinating expres 
 sion told the deep and fervent flame which burned 
 in her bosom. True affection was there, and the 
 chain had been sealed which united her forever to 
 the object of her choice. No appearance of os 
 tentation marred the ceremony by its negative 
 qualities, but simplicity lent her store of beauties 
 to grace the scene. Louisa was happy, and in 
 deed we hesitate not to say the same spirit per 
 vaded every heart present, though doubtless in 
 various degrees. And did not Edwin take pride 
 in owning the beautiful and lovely Factory Girl 
 as his bride and the future companion of his bo 
 som ? Our readers will enjoy their own opinion 
 in relation to the question. 
 
 The party had broken up, after the usual con 
 gratulations, and the family had all retired to rest, 
 save one couple, who still remained in the parlor, 
 seated upon a sofa, enjoying a season, which those 
 who have been in like situations know well how 
 to prize we need hardly to say they were Dr. 
 Hartwell and Calliste. They had been absent 
 from each other for some length of time, and were 
 now again soon to part once more for a season, 
 and affection finds a thousand themes for conver 
 sation. And was Calliste now less happy than 
 when he first pressed her to his fond bosom, and 
 imprinted the first kiss of love upon her cheek ? 
 We believe she was not, for now she had found 
 him faithful to the holy trust of affection, and they 
 both anticipated a scene not far distant, similar to
 
 142 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 the occasion of the evening which they had wit 
 nessed with so much pleasure, in which they were 
 to act a part even more conspicuous and interest 
 ing than that in which they had figured at the pres 
 ent time. They were happy truly happy, if 
 such circumstances can afford true happiness to 
 congenial spirits and mutual hearts. Calliste, 
 though years had passed since she enjoyed the 
 bloom of "sweet sixteen," and since she had first 
 loved and been loved, had lost none of her beauty, 
 but it was rather perfected ; and as she smiled 
 with evident satisfaction at the result of her labors 
 thus far, if the bosom of Dr. Hartwell swelled with 
 pride and fervent admiration as well as affection, 
 as he again pressed her to his beating heart, and 
 kissed her fair cheeks, we are not surprised, (for 
 a physician, even, though of the so-called " hard 
 hearted class," can yet love with a pure and de 
 voted affection,) and we believe he then enjoyed 
 one of the most pleasant and agreeable moments 
 of his life. Long did they enjoy the cheerful fire 
 of the parlor, and we leave to the curious, and 
 those acquainted with such scenes, the task of 
 filling up the details of the picture. 
 
 At an early hour the next morning, the parties 
 had taken their seats at the breakfast table, togeth 
 er in that place for the last time, and soon they 
 were in readiness to accompany the new-married 
 couple on their journey to their new home. But 
 to Louisa the regret of parting with her widowed 
 mother was lessened by the anticipation of soon 
 again enjoying her society, as the worthy widow
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 
 
 143 
 
 had accepted the offer and invitation of Edwin to 
 find a home in his family for the future, as soon 
 as she could make arrangements for that purpose. 
 But if Louisa took leave of her many friends in 
 the city with some regret, we are not surprised, 
 for she had lived there so long, it seemed indeed 
 like home. And Calliste had also taken leave of 
 her city home, and to her perhaps friendship ren 
 dered many a kindred spirit dear. But there is a 
 charm stronger than even the hallowed name of 
 friendship true affection and this predomina 
 ted over all others. 
 
 The morning was beautiful, and they were soon 
 on their journey, and it was late in the evening 
 ere they arrived at the residence of Rev. Mr. Bar 
 ton. It was situated in a beautiful village, and 
 he had chosen a retired yet truly pleasant spot 
 for his future home. A small yet well-finished 
 and furnished tenement was prepared to receive 
 its new mistress, offering a home worthy of its 
 noble yet humble and devoted occupants. Indeed 
 it was just such a rural seclusion as the gentle and 
 lovely Louisa would have chosen. Here had Ed 
 win found a field for his labors, and a small, yet 
 worthy church owned him as their pastor. He 
 had been installed according to their wishes, over 
 them, and the prospect was fair for his eminent 
 usefulness in the field of his location as a preacher 
 of the gospel. 
 
 Here Dr. Hartwell and Calliste spent a day or 
 two, in assisting the worthy couple in arranging 
 their furniture, and the small yet valuab lelibrary,
 
 144 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 which Calliste had furnished for her brother, was 
 fitted up in a neat yet small apartment, which was 
 designed as a study. And what now should hin 
 der them from enjoying all the happiness which a 
 quiet home and wedded love afford ? And in this 
 enjoyment, we now, with Dr. Hartwell and his 
 fair Calliste, take leave of the young minister and 
 his beautiful bride, for a season, and accompany 
 the latter couple, in the eye of our imagination, to 
 the humble residence of Mr. Barton, the father of 
 Calliste, where they arrived in due time, and were 
 received with a cordial welcome. 
 
 The amiable and pious parents had not been 
 able to attend the wedding of their son, but nev 
 ertheless, they were happy in the belief that Edwin 
 had found a bosom companion worthy to be the 
 wife of a minister, as indeed she was. A happy 
 night, we opine, was spent in the humble cottage 
 of the worthy father, and we believe Dr. Hartwell 
 and Calliste were enjoying each other's agreeable 
 company until a late hour. 
 
 The next morning found Dr. Hartwell on his 
 way home. He had been absent already longer 
 than he had anticipated, and business demanded 
 his attention. We leave him at his location for 
 the present, busy in his profession, to speak more 
 particularly of Calliste, the subject of our narra 
 tive,
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 How sweet the thought 
 
 That we have done, as virtue's instruments, 
 A noble deed ! How glorious the reward 
 Of self-denying, true benevolence, 
 That crowns the heart ! 
 
 IF any thing can render us truly happy in this 
 life, it is the consciousness of our own rectitude, 
 and the full and conscientious conviction that we 
 have hitherto been faithful in the discharge of 
 every known duty. An unsullied conscience is, 
 indeed, the key-stone in the arch of happiness. 
 A mind ill at ease with itself, cannot enjoy the 
 calm serenity which is given to the humble, yet 
 virtuous and benevolent soul, as a foretaste of the 
 rewards of the future. Though fortune may 
 lavish her smiles, and prosperity attend us in ev 
 ery enterprise, still we shall never enjoy the happy 
 state of mind which is the reward of virtue, unless 
 we follow in her footsteps, and gain her approval. 
 But virtue is no respecter of persons. She re 
 wards alike all her votaries of equal merit. She 
 delights to recognize a gem after her own name, 
 in the humble seclusion of the mountain cot, as
 
 146 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 well as in the mansion or palace of the city. In 
 deed, we find a greater proportion of her favorites 
 among the humble poor; and full many a rich 
 gem, bearing the seal of her kiss, is found, as we 
 think we have already shown, "among the spin 
 dles." Obscurity argues not a negative, but rather 
 the reverse, since the humble seclusion is more 
 congenial to the growth of the virtues. There 
 the beauties of Nature exhibit themselves in their 
 glory. By her works is the mind led from Nature 
 up to Nature's God. And humility also bears a 
 rich jewel to the soul, and in the development of 
 the charms of virtue, she bids us love her char 
 acter, and form our own by her golden rule. 
 
 We find Calliste at her father's residence among 
 the hills once again. She had left the theatre 
 which had been the scene of her labors for years, 
 for the last time. Free from the duties of her 
 former avocation, she was to remain at home a 
 short time, to prepare for an important and inter 
 esting event, which was now anticipated the 
 consummation of plighted vows, and the union of 
 mutual hearts. Once again did she enjoy the 
 associations and friendships of early years, when 
 the young heart was in all the buoyancy of child 
 hood's fond anticipations. With what pleasure 
 did she re-visit all those haunts so dear by the 
 memory of early scenes ! 
 
 It is indeed pleasant, after an absence of a few 
 years even, to meet again all those old friends and 
 associates companions of by-gone days and 
 to exchange kindly greetings with those who have
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUB. 147 
 
 proved worthy of our confidence. The memories 
 of the past are not easily obliterated. Though we 
 should wear the silvery locks of four-score years, 
 though we should experience the most trying vi 
 cissitudes of fortune, or be blest with her con 
 tinued smiles, we cannot forget the scenes of our 
 early years. They are indelibly stamped upon the 
 memory, surviving all other scenes. We love 
 them ; and how often, when far away from the 
 home and hearth of our childhood, does our fond 
 recollection bring up the precious treasures of the 
 past, with all their still endearing and hallowed 
 charms ! Though, one by one, they have fled into 
 the back ground of eternity, and the dim veil of 
 times hides them for ever from our sight, yet they 
 are never forgotten 
 
 And think you not, gentle reader, that Calliste 
 was happy ? If real worth, and a conscience void 
 of offence, can constitute an enviable situation, 
 and desirable distinction, truly she had the pre 
 requisites. She had completed her enterprise so 
 laudable, much to her satisfaction, and in the con 
 sciousness of the performance of a noble action, 
 she had a rich reward. She had become a Fac 
 tory Girl, and by the labor of her hands had sus 
 tained a dear brother in a collegiate course, and 
 in his professional studies preparatory to entering 
 the ministry. She had seen him in the sacred 
 desk, and now he had found a bosom companion 
 in her constant friend; she had seen him united 
 to the object of his choice in the holy tie of mat 
 rimony, and accompanied, and left him with his
 
 148 THE FACTORY GIRL,, OR 
 
 truly worthy bride, at the place of his location and 
 future residence. All this, to a great extent, had 
 been the result of her enterprise ; and had she 
 not, fair reader, an enviable satisfaction in thus 
 having been successful ? A brother's gratitude 
 was not the least source of pleasure, and a broth 
 er's prayers she knew well how to prize. Now 
 he was located as a minister of the gospel, and 
 bid fair to become eminent in his profession, and 
 useful to Zion. 
 
 What can furnish to the mind a repast so grate 
 ful, as those works of benevolence and love in our 
 past life, which have rendered others happy, and 
 which Virtue has registered upon the fair scroll of 
 immortality ? 
 
 A name to live when others die, 
 And in the dust forgotten lie ; 
 A name that shall for ever shed 
 Its light when other laurels fade ; 
 Such is the part that virtue gives, 
 That in eternal beauty lives ; 
 Such is the gem that e'er shall shine, 
 And shed an influence benign. 
 Illustrious deeds, howe'er obscure, 
 Which ever still new joys ensure ! 
 Such are thy works, O ! Virtue's boast, 
 Gem of the soul, that's never lost! 
 
 The prospects of this amiable and lovely Fac 
 tory Girl were now bright and pleasing. She 
 was soon to be united in marriage to the object of 
 her early choice, and that faithful affection which 
 she had cherished for so long a series of years, 
 had found reciprocal feelings in the bosom of Dr.
 
 GARCE2 LA Ctetrit. 149 
 
 HartWell. And she was happy. The past had 
 been satisfactory, and the future presented pleas- 1 
 ing prospects through the eye of anticipation. 
 
 How beautiful the gem of true and devoted 
 affection ! How rich the halo which it flings in 
 an increasing light about the heart of its possessor ! 
 How transcendently lovely every object which is 
 hallowed by its sacred flame ! How bright the 
 associations which cluster around its hallowed 
 shrine ! And such was the flame which found A 
 home in the bosom of the beautiful and lovely 
 Factory Girl, and Was reciprocated by one in all 
 respects worthy to bear the sacred trust. She had 
 loved, and loved deeply, and that passion had not 
 been, as is too often the case, lavished upon one 
 unworthy. She found in Dr. Hartwell the same 
 true and devoted friend, who had gained hef 
 youthful affections, and in whom she had confided 
 the dearest trust that the heart can give. She 
 had been subjected to many of the vicissitudes^ 
 temptations and dangers of city life, but Virtue 
 had been her shield and safe defence hitherto, and 
 she was still the same beautiful, innocent and 
 lovely being, that she was when we had the pleas 
 ure of first introducing her to our readers. No 
 snare had caught her feet ; every temptation had 
 been timely resisted. 
 
 She had found false friends, it is true, but she 
 had never placed sufficient confidence in them to 
 be injured by their insincerity and inconsistency. 
 She had very many true and devoted friends, and 
 well she might have, for she was one of those ami-
 
 150 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 able and lovely beings who bless mankind by their 
 smiles, and win the hearts of all in their favor. 
 Fven those who, had it been in their power, would 
 have proved her ruin, admired the beauties of 
 her character, and respected her for her Virtue ; 
 for Virtue gains respect even from those who 
 practice not her precepts. 
 
 Had she escaped the envy, of the world ? Far 
 from it ! Her success in her enterprize, and 
 withal, the fact that she was a favorite in society, 
 aroused the green-eyed monster ; nor was the 
 venom of the busy slanderer's tongue permitted to 
 sleep in silence. But a heart conscious of its 
 own rectitude, heeds not the voice of detraction ; 
 though unplesant for the moment, it will, in pro 
 cess of time, fall upon the head of its guilty 
 author. 
 
 Calliste had overcome every obstacle, and now 
 was generally beloved and respected. That she 
 had faults, we do not pretend to deny, but she 
 was happy in having but few, which is the highest 
 perfection which is given in degree to humanity. 
 She was indeed liable to errors, in common with 
 the whole human family, but the precepts of reli 
 gion were her golden rule of action. In the path 
 of duty she was happy, though she doubtless en 
 countered difficulties and trials, as well as others. 
 Happy indeed are they, who heed the lessons, 
 and worship at the shrine of Truth ; they shall 
 find a sweet solace here, and a reward in that 
 rest which remaineth for the people of God in 
 the world to come !
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 151 
 
 Thus did Calliste spend her time pleasantly and 
 happily, in preparing for an anticipated scene, 
 which will be made the subject of our next chap 
 ter. And here we leave her for the present, in 
 the quiet retreat of her native home, while we 
 make a few passing remarks. 
 
 The power of a virtuous mind over temptation, 
 is conspicuously developed in those characters, 
 who, like the subject of our humble narrative, 
 have been thus by its influence shielded from the 
 many dangers which lurk in ambush to deceive 
 and ruin the fair and confiding female. Espe 
 cially do we see its influence, when the character 
 has been moulded by its power in early years. 
 Thus the mind, however exposed, which has been 
 carefully cultivated, and has received in early life 
 those principles of virtue and religion necessary to 
 its safety, is seldom shipwrecked upon those hidden 
 rocks to which every one is exposed, and which 
 bring ruin to so many noble souls. Virtue is in 
 deed the only safe panoply the only impenetra 
 ble shield and the mind thus guarded, though 
 unsophisticated and confiding, is comparatively 
 safe from harm. And we witness more striking 
 proofs of our assertion in those characters who 
 have emanated, as it were, from obscurity those 
 who, like the subject of our narrative, have gone 
 forth into the world with this panoply as their 
 only defence. 
 
 A virtuous mind is indeed rich in attainments, 
 though its possessor be a factory girl or a queen. 
 We should ever recognize those alone as truly
 
 152 THE FACTORY GIRL. 
 
 worthy, in whose minds the seal of virtue is in 
 delibly fixed. Without this character, the mil- 
 lionare is indeed poor, so long as the possession 
 of this heaven-born spirit shall be considered the 
 badge of true worth its principles the only 
 foundation of true wisdom.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 United, in an holy tie, 
 With joy to live, in peace to die, 
 The happy consummation proves, 
 Of Virtue's bliss, and faithful Love ! 
 
 THE voice of Spring had been heard in the 
 land, and all the beauties of nature at that agree 
 able season had made their appearance. The icy 
 fetters which had bound the fountains for a season 
 had been broken, and again the blue wave was 
 seen clothed in a robe of sunbeams, as it hurried 
 on to its home in the placid bosom of the dark 
 waters. Gentle zephyrs had taken the place of 
 the harsh winds of Winter, and, freighted with 
 rich fragrance, fanned the opening flower. The 
 earth, dismantled of her robe of white, had now 
 re-assumed her garments of green, and the trees 
 were putting forth their rich foliage. Again were 
 heard the rich warbling notes of the feathered 
 tribe those sweet songsters of the grove, and all 
 was life and animation. The farmer had com 
 menced the labors of the season, in preparing the 
 soil for the reception of seed, in order that he 
 might again reap a rich harvest, and the cattle 
 10
 
 154 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 again returned to feed upon a thousand hills. The 
 balmy fragrance of the air animated the physical 
 powers, and man again enjoyed the " smiling sea 
 son of the year." 
 
 The husbandman 
 
 At this delightful season ever finds 
 A theme for joy, as to his fields he goes, 
 Elated with new hopes of a reward 
 In autumn for his toil, and whistling now 
 " Speed, speed the plough," that good old fav'rite tune, 
 His labor sweetened by the joys of home, 
 He finds no task, but with a cheerful heart, 
 Follows the plough. 
 
 A Saturday evening, at this season, found Cal- 
 liste again beside the gentle rolling stream near 
 her father's residence at which place we first in 
 troduced her to our readers, and, as then, Marcus, 
 (now Dr. Hartwell) was at her side. And think 
 you not, fair reader, that the stars, those bright 
 eyes of heaven, shining in the twilight, cast their 
 rays upon happy beings, thus, after so many changes 
 and vicissitudes, brought together ? Here had they 
 years before plighted their mutual affection that 
 first, sweetest, holiest affection which is found in 
 the bosom of virtuous youth. Here they had 
 spent one of the happiest moments of their lives. 
 Now on the eve of the consummation of their 
 plighted faith, why should they not be happy ? 
 Then, they were far differently situated from what 
 at present seemed to be the pleasure of fortune in 
 their behalf. Anticipations, then only in the bud, 
 were now about to be realized. And with what
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 155 
 
 pleasure did they recount the scenes of the past, 
 and tell the power of that affection, true to its 
 trust, which, as ever, had thus been their mutual 
 solace, and which was soon to unite them in the 
 holiest of earthly ties ! You have learned their 
 characters ; and were they not, kind reader, a 
 well-matched couple ? Happy indeed would it 
 be for society, as well as for the parties concerned, 
 were every couple equally constituted with con 
 genial spirits, to render each other happy ! Too 
 often, indeed, do we find unions of dispositions 
 and temperaments totally dissimilar ; and where 
 such are the opposing elements of the mind, tran- 
 quility and happiness are out of the question. 
 Take heed, O reader with a warm heart, that you 
 do not marry an ice-berg ! You well know the 
 result of such a union. 
 
 Calliste was ever the same mild, sympathizing, 
 affectionate and lovely being such an one as can 
 cheer the hour of adversity, and snatch from sor 
 row its most poignant pang. Never giving way 
 to despondency, she was well calculated to be 
 come the bosom companion of a physician for of 
 all professions, that of a physician is the most ar 
 duous and laborious, and so great is the responsi 
 bility resting upon him, that his mind is ill at ease 
 at any time, especially if he is a young man, and 
 has acquired an extensive practice. No one, 
 therefore, we say, needs a better wife than a phy 
 sician ; for if home furnishes for him no pleasure, 
 where, indeed, shall he find it ? Calliste was, 
 dear friend, just such a being as you would have
 
 156 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 loved, unless, perchance, by the shield of " single 
 blessedness," you have been left unexposed to the 
 shafts of Cupid, and still retain your bachelor 
 heart ! But she had formed her plans for the fu 
 ture, and her heart was given and her hand pledged 
 to Dr. Hartwell, and we involuntarily mingle 
 our joy with theirs, in the prospect of a happy 
 union. 
 
 Love, if it is not pure, is the most bitter and 
 dangerous of any amalgam of the heart worse 
 than the poison of asps! It plays destruction 
 upon the confiding, and as in the case of the co 
 quette, it smiles with desperation, and poisons the 
 soul ! 
 
 The morning of the holy Sabbath brought its 
 cheering influence to the truly pious heart ; the 
 bell pealed its shrill notes from the old church in 
 
 the village of , and here and there might 
 
 have been seen groups of various ages, flocking to 
 the sanctuary ; for a scene of peculiar interest ex 
 cited curiosity. The congregation were seated, 
 and the tolling of the bell soon brought the vene 
 rable man of God to his place. A moment of 
 breathless silence, as it were, ensued, as the con 
 gregation awaited the scene about to be presented. 
 
 They stood before the grey-headed minister 
 Dr. Hartwell and Calliste and we are inclined to 
 think they might have gained even too much ad 
 miration from surrounding eyes, but that is noth 
 ing to us. The ceremony was concluded and 
 CALLISTE, the beautiful Factory Girl, was the 
 bride of DR. HARTWELL ! Immediately the choir
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 157 
 
 broke forth in an anthem, closing the scene with 
 notes of thrilling melody. The exercises of the 
 morning were commenced with due solemnity, and 
 closed in the same spirit. 
 
 But where was the brother of Calliste and his 
 young bride ? They were not present, for distance 
 and duty overbalanced inclination. But at this 
 wedding scene, those pious and devoted parents 
 were present; and think you, fair friend, they 
 were not happy at thus seeing their beloved and 
 beautiful daughter the bride of one, whom they 
 believed worthy of her hand ? If there is anything 
 that can please the heart of a tender parent, it is 
 to find their beloved child thus happy in the affec 
 tions of a virtuous and pious companion, and uni 
 ted to the object of their choice. 
 
 We pass over the two succeeding days, for their 
 scenes may be well imagined, and the parting, 
 and journey, present nothing of peculiar interest 
 to the reader. We now find them at their resi 
 dence, which has been already described. Dr. 
 Hartwell still resided in the beautiful village where 
 we have found him first located, and his prospects 
 were fair and promising. Thither he had removed 
 his beautiful bride, and we are happy to find them 
 at their future home. The neat, and pleasantly 
 located cottage which we have already described, 
 was handsomely furnished, and at her new home 
 Ave see nothing to hinder the enjoyment of Calliste. 
 Good society surrounded them, and Dr. Hartwell 
 had very many true friends to whom to introduce 
 his lovely bride. The pleasures of domestic life
 
 158 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 were theirs, though we are not able to tell by ex 
 perience precisely what these pleasures are at 
 least so far as the bands of matrimony are con 
 cerned. And what, courteous reader, could be 
 more pleasant, more agreeable to Calliste, (now 
 Mrs. Hartwell,) or more truly congenial to her 
 feelings, than a residence in such a pleasant rural 
 seclusion as this? Enjoying as she did the society 
 of the object of her earliest love, as a bosom com 
 panion, what could render home other than the 
 abode of contentment and happiness ? They were 
 blessed with ample resources, and the fear of fu 
 ture want was not staring them in the face. Dr. 
 Hartwell was enjoying an extensive practice in 
 his profession ; indeed, they were happy. Our 
 humble Factory Girl had found a home in the 
 midst of the brightest prospects, and in the bosom 
 of true and faithful affection. 
 
 Here, in the enjoyment of all those blessings 
 which serve to render life agreeable, we leave our 
 fair friend Calliste, the humble and virtuous Fac 
 tory Girl, to pursue the path which leads to hap 
 piness, and to prove a blessing to those with whom 
 she may chance to associate ; and we are happy in 
 saying that we leave her happy, as the wife of Dr. 
 Hartwell. And as we take our leave o*f the wor 
 thy subject of our humble narrative, a train of re 
 flections naturally suggest themselves to our mind, 
 which will be pursued more at length in our next 
 and concluding chapter. But we cannot forbear 
 in this place, to notice again the salutary power of 
 true affection. Had we an angel's intellect, and a
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 159 
 
 pen dipped in the fountain of sublimity, we might 
 adequately depict the beauties of this heaven-born 
 gem, but our feeble pen must fail to paint from 
 thought, the hallowed impress of that seal which 
 has power to cement mutual hearts, and whose 
 union, ab initio, is a presage of future happiness. 
 
 Thrice sacred, holy, heaven-born name ! 
 Affection's true and faithful flame ! 
 Whose radiance never fails to lend 
 Virtue's own beauties as they blend ! 
 
 Happy the heart whose graces boast 
 The light of one that's never lost; 
 Perpetual love fore'er the same, 
 Burning with an increasing flame ! 
 
 Delightful affection ! Virtue's page, 
 Delights to own thy tender age ; 
 And fain accepts, with grace benign, 
 Thy consummation sweet, divine ! 
 
 This be thy last, O ! gentle friend, 
 To find affection's richest gem, 
 Whose light shall shine however riven, 
 Begun on earth, resumed in heaven !
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Would'st thou bo happy gentle friend? 
 
 To Virtue's ways, thy thoughts incline ; 
 She shall her influence ever lend, 
 
 And guide thee to a Home Divine ! 
 
 WE left the subject of our narrative at a pleas 
 ant location, surrounded by everything that can 
 render life agreeable and happy in the scenes of 
 domestic life arid rural tranquility. The sequel in 
 part we can tell, but we will endeavor to be brief, 
 and not to tax the patience of our readers too 
 highly. 
 
 As a wife, Calliste is a model for her sex. Kind, 
 affectionate, and amiable, she has secured very 
 many true friends, and we believe, when we re 
 flect upon the past, she does not regret having 
 become a Factory Girl. Her beloved mother has 
 gone to her rest, and we trust her joy in Heaven 
 is increased, if possible, by the life of her children. 
 Edwin is now laboring successfully in the gospel 
 field, and eternity will reveal the importance and 
 value of that instrumentality which placed him 
 there. The young minister and his virtuous and 
 beautiful bride are happy, and we believe they
 
 THE FACTORY GIRL, &C. 161 
 
 have never had cause to regret the circumstance 
 that brought them together. Edwin stands high 
 in his profession, and his prospects are fair for 
 eminent usefulness and a happy life. Louisa, still 
 lovely and beautiful, regrets not the hour that saw 
 her give her heart and hand to the young minister. 
 Her mother lives in the family, and if happiness 
 is found on earth, we believe it dwells under their 
 roof. And here with our silent adieu, we leave 
 them. 
 
 Dr. Hartwell stands high in his profession, and 
 his reputation as a physician, as well as a man, is 
 indeed enviable. Calliste has become a mother, 
 and a bright-eyed boy is now the object of her 
 care and anxious solicitude ; and had she a score 
 of children, we should be satisfied that a benign 
 influence would mould their tender minds, and 
 prepare them for usefulness and happiness. The 
 aged surviving parent of Calliste dwells under her 
 roof, and finds a happy home in the family of Dr. 
 Hartwell, and a beloved daughter soothes the 
 many sorrows of age. Calliste is indeed a true 
 friend to humanity, and often does she receive, 
 even in the departing moments of the subjects of 
 disease and sorrow, thanks from overflowing 
 hearts, whose prayers ascend to call down bless 
 ings upon her head. Still does she walk in the 
 path of humble virtue, and on the bosom of af 
 fection she is truly blest. 
 
 In taking a final leave of the happy family of 
 Dr. Hartwell, we are pleased with the result of 
 the mission of the Factory Girl, and hesitate not
 
 162 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 to say, that no example more noble more be 
 nevolent more salutary, or more laudable, has 
 emanated from any source whatever, than that 
 which is shown in the life and works of even the 
 humble Operative. Would to Heaven we had 
 many more, from other, and professedly more no 
 ble ranks, as competitors for the honor which Jus 
 tice must award to MRS. HARTWELL.
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 163 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Courteous Reader, our story is told. We have 
 shown you an isolated case of " Mind among tne 
 Spindles." As we have before remarked, this is 
 but a single case among many which have come 
 under our observation. Our characters are now 
 most of them upon the stage of action. It is true, 
 delicacy has prompted us to withhold their real 
 names ; but we assure our readers, our story has 
 its foundation in real life, however romantic it 
 may appear. And as we draw our narrative to 
 a close, ere we lay down our pen, we cannot for 
 bear to draw a few inferences by way of applica 
 tion. 
 
 Should the eyes of Parents chance to fall upon 
 these pages, we would ask their attention to the 
 salutary power of early moral and religious in 
 struction upon the minds of youth, as shown in 
 the present humble narrative, and no comment 
 upon this point seems necessary. 
 
 To those who are capitalists and own manufac 
 turing establishments, we would say, remember 
 that you have within the minds of your operatives 
 many gems of transcendent beauty and excellence, 
 and forget not that they are members of the same 
 human family with yourselves. Pierce their veins, 
 and the same "purple current" will" flow, that 
 courses in your own. They are all as good by
 
 164 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 nature as yourselves. Forget not the responsibil 
 ity of your relations to them. Beware how you 
 consider them of no consequence, lest they rise 
 and shine, when you are forgotten and unknown. 
 To the Operative we would say, we are happy 
 to greet you thus ; and as we have selected one 
 of your number as the subject of our present vol 
 ume, we with pleasure take you by the hand, in 
 our imagination, and as we present our humble 
 and unobtrusive work for your inspection, we 
 would fain hope its pages may not prove entirely 
 uninteresting, or in vain. Let the example of one 
 of your number be imitated, so far as her virtues 
 and consistent life is concerned, and add as many 
 new and rare virtues in your own case, as may be. 
 Remember, O fair friends, though you are called 
 Factory Girls, it is no disparagement to you, for 
 from your ranks have we many noble and laudable 
 examples. Think not that your calling debars you 
 from excellence and real worth. Let virtue be 
 your guiding star. Resist temptation, for many a 
 snare is laid to ruin the artless and confiding. We 
 would have you remember the motto on our title- 
 page, particularly applicable to you GARDEZ LA 
 CCEUR (guard the heart.} Yes, guard the heart, 
 and you are safe from danger. Virtue alone is a 
 safe shield an impenetrable aegis. She shall 
 keep you safe from every snare, if you will confide 
 in her precepts, and walk in her footsteps. Be 
 virtuous, then, O fair friends, and you shall re 
 ceive a glorious reward. Avoid every appearance 
 of evil, and you are comparatively safe from harm
 
 GARDEZ LA CCEUR. 165 
 
 from every danger. Preserve your integrity, 
 and remember that you are forming characters for 
 eternity ! Let your every action be consistent 
 with the Golden Rule, and you shall be happy. 
 
 Again ; neglect not the cultivation of the mind. 
 Mental as well as moral excellence, is recognized 
 by Virtue as real worth, and " minds among the 
 spindles," when duly cultivated, shine no less 
 conspicuous, but even more, than among those 
 who have had greater advantages, and from whom 
 more may justly be expected. Therefore, dare to 
 be wise, however humble your origin. Intellectu 
 al and moral worth can alone ensure a name to 
 live when you are sleeping in the dust, and virtue 
 alone can entitle you to a blissful immortality. 
 Rise in your native strength and beauty, and pluck 
 a leaf from the laurel by your own exertions, to 
 perpetuate your memory, and secure you a place 
 in the constellation of virtuous female characters. 
 Let no one despair, and think they must labor 
 unknown and forgotten, and drag out a short ex 
 istence in sorrow. No! Virtue shall not forget 
 the humble votary at her shrine. In due time, if 
 you follow her mandates, you shall not fail to gain 
 your reward. Shame on that being who would 
 depress the "mind among the spindles! " Shame 
 on the narrow soul that thinks a name sufficient to 
 command respect, and would fain place the hum 
 ble and virtuous on the back-ground ! Heed not 
 such an one, O Factory Girl, for virtue shall en 
 able you to win the prize, and reap unfading lau-
 
 166 THE FACTORY GIRL, OR 
 
 rels ! Be virtuous, and Heaven shall approve 
 your works, and own you with a smile ! 
 
 And now, dear Reader, we are about to take 
 our leave of you, and to lay down our weary pen. 
 We have addressed you as a brother as one 
 who feels an interest in your welfare, and we trust 
 you will pardon us if we have taxed your patience 
 with a detail lengthy or uninteresting. We claim 
 not the " pen of a ready writer," or the ability of 
 the learned ; but if we have afforded interest and 
 instruction to even one of our readers, for the 
 passing hour, we feel that our labor has not been 
 in vain. We have written for your good, and we 
 trust the critic will leave this unpretending vol 
 ume, while he exercises his severity upon works 
 of higher pretensions. 
 
 Long may you live in the enjoyment of Heav 
 en's richest blessings. May true and devoted af 
 fection crown your heart, and you reap the rich 
 reward of constancy. May peace attend you, and 
 prosperity ever shine upon your path. May you 
 never feel the pang of sorrow, but in the ways of 
 Virtue may you live while you pursue the jour 
 ney on earth. May your youthful days be spent 
 in preparation for the future ; and when the 
 dim mantle of age has at length fallen upon you, 
 may you retires to rest on the bosom of faithful af 
 fection, and enjoy the fruits of your labors. Late 
 may you retire to dust, and when life is done, and 
 you rest in the tomb, may your soul be presented,
 
 GARDEZ LA CffiUR. 167 
 
 faultless, before Heaven's tribunal, and you gain a 
 title among the redeemed, to immortality ! 
 
 Gentle Reader, we now, in imagination, take 
 you affectionately by the hand, and with fervent 
 hopes for your future happiness and prosperity, 
 we bid you a silent adieu !
 
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