The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-04-03

| rise AZ Lel,od,pe her daurh ief IN such compa-
ae. but etprexscd lively concern af the sltns-
TN offhe Invalid Afsr having been seated a
| few moments he was sufficiently recovered 10
| Express MS thanks and TO explain 10 me the
esuse ofthe embarrassment from which mad
ua oppor,,ncly arrived 10 relieve him. II ap-
| peared. nai he had taken apartments IN we
| widow ; roff,-e N the hope OF brnNhimg ny 'he
change If air. hut had, for some days past
been alnios, prisoner 20 his room On hiai
mornine however be faucied himself stronger
AID, towards noon expressed an anxious nc
sirf 10 walk out and, rs hrs servant had Den
| despatched 10 negh''oilne tpNh, 'ot so'he
| medicine 10 had ayail,d himself Of the sup
port and Guidance ofhis hostess daughter.
Mar, A. soon ~ she had relinqnlshed his
arm. retired from fhc aps simrnt, but, upon a
I simmons nom the invalid, soon re.entercd !
/ aul ilie anxiety with which shr appeared to nd
/ minister N his wanfs was strangely blended
! pith 'he respectful bearing which Their relative
situation uonld command from her, wbilf IN"
! dcpartinent NJ the young gentleman, although
! he addressed her with Kindness aud courtesy
no. usually accorded 10 dom"f ie. wore no
thing Of Familiarity hat appeared the result oi
q grateful snnsr Other kind Offices.
| Iwas much struck by the elegance Of his man.
uers there was nothing oycrsiramed, nothing
| commonplace His voice, although somewhat
| hollow. was snRularly musical. His forehead
was hirb and cnpaeous. and strongly lndica-
tive 1f mind aud genius and his whole coun-
tenanoe. although exhibiting the ravages Of dis
ease was radiant with expression.
On looking round The apartment observed
that his windows were piofusely aud tastefnlly
decorated with flowers, and upon his table, was
the identical basket which had seen so often
ran bpA As ct n
versniion wns necessarily. limited soon took
my leave, but not without receiving an invita-
ton, or rather request, 10 repeat my visit, which
promised to do.
The deep interest with which the appearance
of the invalid, and the circumstances under
which fmct him, had inspired me, induced me
10 some inquiries concerning him, and, from
the imperfect particulars CLEANED of his histo-
~ il appeared. thai he was one and the suryi-
vor, Of hve children, and the sole remaining
branch Of a family of some runt and consider
able wealth. HIS parents died in his boy hood,
and bis brother and three sisters had NIL been
swept from the earth by that which has carried
desnltion into the families OF thousands, spar
Ing neither youth nor comelincSs, blossom nor
fruit
Agroeaby to his wish, repeated my call nj
the cottage at short intervals, and, gradual as
was perceptibly worse /; and, at last, the thread
OF his life appeared to be 81 finely altenuatod
ms 10 want bui breath TO sever il. But the de.
cay affected his frame only IT appeared power
less upon his mind which shonc with brillian-
cy and strength which were, oftentmcs, too
much for the frail casket in which IL was en-
shrincd.
There was, however, another being in that
house, from whose check the roses were wither-
ing, and every day saw some ofthcir bloom de
part but, although her spirits were wasting
like the wan form she watched with SO intense
and absorbing an interest her assidultcs mp
pcarrd 10 multiply, as the period approached
when he would require them no more She
cldcd ahout himwith noiseless step, like some
beautiful spirit sent TO soolhe him, in his pain.
fu passage from traublouS world and such
OF his wishes which she could anticipate, and
there were few which she did not, were exceu-
ted with CELEBRITY bui IN a silence which indica-
ted heart too full 70 trust her tongue
What was there IN that pale cheek aud wnsi-
ed FORM that should have won the regard of
beauty IN hci hour Of bloom Why did She
not turn away, and abandon him to the grave
that was gaping TO receive him Ask the cues.
ton OF Philosophy, and she viii search among
hrr cold maNlms, for Il solution of the mystery
in vain Woman's affection Is like the ivy; il
doth often attach itself 10 the rum aud the cold
frost OF ncglect, aud the bleak storm of adver-
sty, are alike pnwcrless against il ; its yerdurc
Is undying-fs tonacity mYincible. Unweared
devotion to the object which hath once inspired
her affection, ~ woman's distinguishing charac-
tcrstie-a property peculiarly her own Of
tcntimes. it is the only gem ofwhch sin has not
plundered her f; the lone flower 10 the weedy
wilderness of her mind, that nouishcs with un-
4. Al, III.
have eonsecrated it, be withered for ever. But
the feelings which Mary felt for her invalid
guest were cDnsecratcd by the mos exalted yir-
tue; they were pure, because unalloyed with a
ny thing selfish or sordid if, indeed, there
were anCht OF passion involved in them, ii was
so refined and submated, that we know il not
as the gross feeling which passes by that name
IN the world.
The last visit paid the invalid, was the con-
sequence Of 4 summons received from him
and, on entering the cottage | found him recln.
ing on his couch, with his face towards the win.
dow 1t was evening. and the rays of the de
Ginning sun shed their red glare over the apart.
ment. lie extended towards me his pale thin
hand, and, feebly pressing mine, he motiened
me 10 sit down beside HIM. Ii was very eyi.
dent that the hand of death was strong upon
HIM. But he hadnot viewed the grim destroy.
Ct ) appIodCn iulphgh vista OF uurcpCntcd
crimes, aud, therefore, dreaded not his pre-.
sence nay, lac hailed him as "A messenger sent
to conduct him TO Him, with whom his PRAYER
bad found acceptance, and who had given him
peace At the last After pause. he looked
up into my face, with a faint smile, aud said
" You see, my friend that the tame, whose nick.
ermg you have so long watched, is going out at
last You have been kind, very kind. to me.
aud have been with me in the season of sickness
aud sorrow; andl have sent Tor YOU that YOU
might also be present at the hour ia which D il
aud sorrow will loose their hold on me for ever
My Journey hath indeed been weary one, but
the cross OF my Redecmer hath been my staff
and my stay aud now | go TO his bosomi"
Mary Wildng, who had been, previously.
summoned now entered the room looked at
her and perceivedth that she was enduring a VIC.
lent struggle, in the attempt TO repress her feel
ings whether from fear of disturbing the
few moments which was LEFT to him. or from a
conviction that their relative situations rendered
indeeorous any expressions of inordinate grief
on her part, know not He beclioned her 10
his side, and stretching forth his hand, said
fepbly but distinctly. " Farewell Mary msy