Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-01-05

| revere. he held no discourse with his
fellow passengers, but wrapped himself
up In rich dream of anticipation. His
heart was full Of happiness. He thought
himself, as he entered his house, too
happy for mortal man. He was pre-
Parlng to pay her the first visit, and
dwelling in his mind on her pleasing
welcome, when her brother came to
see hlm-he did not observe any thing
peculiar about him at first, and not till
the warm, afectionate shake of the
hand was over, did he notice that his
eyes was filled with tears, and dismal,
gloomy, black Grape hung from his hat.
he started, and in hollow voice, that
had desolate dreariness in every tone,
he said,
Elizabeth is dead!''
AT first he was not comprehended. A
vacant, horrid laugh, that echoed
strangely through the still room, was his
only answer-then he repeated the
words, and the features of my friend be-
came pale and motionless as marble
then ne sat down in chair, and cover
ed his face with his hands, but not a
word-a breath broke the silence.
There was something alarming in his
calmness; itseemed like the silence of
the heavy, black cloud Just before it
launches its destructive lightning from
lis bosom. He beckoned, and wished
to be left alone. He was left in soIi-
tude. would not profane the subject
by any attempt at describing his feel.
lngs. There was dark, horrible, con-
fusion in his mind, like some accursed
dream glazing around him, and the night
rolled away lis long hours of sleepiess
agony.
The next day was the funeral; and
when the sun rose in his same glory,
and all the" pomp and circumstance Of
day began to beam upon the face of ma
ture, and the merry voice of men some
times came upon the breeze, ard the
carts ratified rudely along, and all around
was business and adventure, unaffected
by the great event that had come like
an ocean OF scorchiug fire upon the par
adISe OF his heart-he recollected, and
he said g. to-day is her funeral-her f1-
oeral!' His benumbed mind dwelt upon
the words, but there was something I'M
defined, and almost incomprehensible in
them. She was to be buried at five in
the afternoon. The clock struck four
he put on his bat, and went steadily No.
her house. He thought twenty times
ne heard her sweetly-toned, laughing
voice, as he passed along. He turned
his head once or twice TO see if she was.
not at his shoulder, but there was moth
ing, and he walked on. He saw the
mousse and his eye sought every window
but Elizabeth was not there He
rang the bell-the servant came, weeu-
lng--he looked at him, and walked on
ne passed into the paror-the chair
which she had occupied, when he was
there before, was standing in the very
same place-and there was her piano
ne almost thought be heard music--he
listened; sob from the next room
came like Ice upon his heart, and he sat
down. Her mother came into the room
ner lace was serene in grief, but the
nrst burst was over, and she was COM
paratlvely calm. She asked him if he
would look at the corse. He knev she
was dead, but the blunt question shook
every nerve in his frame, and seemed
TO breathe death upon his soul. He a.
rose and followed the bereaved mother.
There was the air of death In the apart
ment; and vanished coffin was on
the table, a white cloth flung carefully
at the head; a few friends sat and went
In silence, musing on the beauties and
virtues Of the being they we're about to.
consign to the cold earth. He walked
up to the table and stood as still and
pale and motionless as the form that
lay stretched before him. He would
have torn away the veil that covered
that face, but he could not-he felt that
ne might as well have attempted to
heaVe mountain from its rocky base.
The mother saw--she feIt-a mother
ca" iceland she silently uncovered
that beautiful countenance. II broke
upon him in all its loveliDess. There
was the same white forehead--the Sleep
ing eye--the cheeks that he had kissed
so fondly--the lips that had spoken such
sweet sounds-he gazed at her corse
with intensity of thought Her living
image was before him--he saw her
smiling--he beheld her in graceful mo-
tion--now her figure passed before him,
beautiful in the may dance--and now
he gazed into her full black eyes, and
read unutterable things. He had ring
on his finger, present from her-he
tried to speak-he looked at the ring,
then at her--agony swelled his heart /;
he gave one loDg gaze-and looked no
more. =