The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-08-28
a thought Of one yet more beautiful in hsav-


and happy but some said, that whenever
they were met walking alone, solemn ii not
mourntul expression was on their countenSn-
ces and whether Il was so or not, they GER
tainly summed society rather than sought it,
and seldom. partook OF the innocent amuse-
ments natural to youth, and to which youth
lend so much grace and attraction. No one
ever saw any of them unamiable, or ayeIse
from the gladness Of others; but the shade of
sadness was now perceptible over all their de-
meanoar, and they seemed bound together by
some lie even more strict than that Of sisterly
affection. The truth was, that they felt God
had given them but short life, and that when
the bier of one was carried into the church.
yard, that the other would not be long Of fol-
lowing it to the place of rest.
Their mother died first. and her death had
been long foreseen by them; for they, who
spoke together OF their deaths, were not likely
to deceive themselves with respect to that of
one so dear to them all. She was ready and
willing to die; but tears were on her cheek
only few hours before her decease, for the
sake of her three daughters, left to themselves,
and to drop away, as she well knew, one af-
ter the other, in the fats: disease which they
inherited from their father. Her death was
peaceful, almost happy but, resigned as she
was, it could not but be affecting TO her part
ing spirit to see those three beautiful spectres
gliding round her bedside, with countenances
and persons that plainly told they were fast
Fastening on to the tomb.
The funeral of the mother was conducted
as it deserved to be; for humble as she was in
heart, yet she had been highly horn and ma
ny attended her body TO the grave who had
almost forgotten her when alive IN her simple
retirement. But these were worldly mournA
ers, who laid aside their sorrows with their
suits OF sable; many who had no right to walk
near her coffin telt they had right to weep
over her grave-and for many Sabhaths after
her burial, groups collected beside the mound,
and while many OF them could not but weep,
none lett 1t without sigh and blessing.
When her three daughters, after the intermis-
SION OF lew oabbaths, were again seen walk
nag, arm IN arm, into the church, and taking
their seats IN their own pew, the whole con-
gregaton may be said to have regarded the or
phans with compassion, which was heightened
into AM emotion at once overcoming and con-
selling. when It was visible to all who looked
upon them, that ere long they would be lying,
side by side, near their mothers grave.
After her death, the three orphans were sell
domer seen than before; and pale as their
sweet faces had seemed when they used to
dress in white, they seemed even paler now,
contrasted with their black mourning garments.
They received the visits OF their few dear
friends with the warmest gratitude, and those
of ordinary condolement with placid content;
they did not appear weared of this world.
but resigned to leave it; smiles and the pres.
sure of affectonate hands were still dear to
them, and, if they kept themselves apart
from society, it was not because they could
not sympa'bize with its hilarity, its amuse-
ments. and its mirth, but because thew were
warned by feelings close upon their BRAN and
heart, that they were doomed soon 10 lay their
heads down into the dust.
Some visitors, on first entering their parlour,
in which every thing was stil as elegantly and
gracefully arranged as ever wondered why
the fair sisters ehotrld oeldesn be seen out
of their own dwelling; but no one, even the
most thouehtless and unfatling, ever left them
without far different thoughts, or without
sorrowful conviction chat thoy were passing.
in perfect resignation, the remainder of their
life, which, in their own hearts, they knew to
be small. So, week after week, visits Of idle
ceremony were discontinued; and none now
came to Calder Cottage except those who had
been dear to their dead mother, and were
dear, even for that reason, had there been no
other, to the dying orphans.
They sat in their beauty, within the shadow
Of death. But happiness was not, therefore,
excluded from Calder Cottage. II was even
sublime satisfaction to know that God was
to call them away from their mortal being IN
severed; and that while they all three knelt
in prayer, it was not for the sake of one only
who was to leave the survivors in tears. but
for themselves, that they were mutually be.
seeching God that he would be pleased to
smooth the path by which they were walking.
hand in hand, TO the grave. When the sun
shone, they still continued to wander along
the shaded banks Of their beloved Calder. AID
admire its quiet junction with the .gide-fowing
Clyde.-They did not neglect their flower
garden, although they well knew their ewes
were not TO be gladdened by the blossoms of
another spring. They stSewed, as before.
crumbs for the small birds that had built their
nests among the roses and honey suckles on
the wall OF their cottage. They kent the
weeds rom overgrowing the walks that were
soon to be trodden by their feet no more and
they did not turn their eyes away from the
shooting towers which they knew took anoth-
or spring to bring them to maturity, and
would be disclosing their fragrant beauty in the
sunshine that shone on their own graves. Nor
did their higher cares lose any Of the interest
or the charm which they had possessed during
their years Of health and hope. The old pco.
pie whom their charity supported were re-
ceived with as kind smiles as ever, whom they
came to receive their weekly dole. The cIil-
dren whom they clothed and sent to school.
met with the same sweet voices as before.
when on the Saturday evenings they visited
the ladies' at Calder COTTAGE ind H. 49,