Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-10-15
MISCELLANY.
TIE COVENANT OF HEARTS.
BY MRS. DUMoNT.

| forehead Oi his dying mother. Disease
| mad rioted on her form with lingering
| triumph, and her free spirit had sirug-
gled long with the letters Of mortality
| These letters were at length dissoIving,
hoated in her Iranced vision. Henry,
who had witne ssed the slow wasting OF
life with wordess agony, rejoiced that
! the conflict was about to cease--rt joi-
ced, did say?-the language Of earth
has no name for the feelings Of the
mourner, when the bitterness Of indiv-
idual desolauon is mingled with the as-
-urunce OF consuInmated happiness Tor
the lost object Of affection. Henry had
long known that the spirit OF his mother
| held slight communion with the things
of time that, like the weary traveller,
whose days of lourneying are numbered
she lost the passing rGal'Ies Of the pres
ent in deep and exquisite VISIONS ol APP
preaching home. Aspiring TO IA higher
and more permanent union, even the
imperishable lies of maternal love had
ceased to bind her to life; aud the pray
er that went up In secret tor the child
Of her hopes, embraced not the objects
Of decay. Her faded features were
now lighted up with an unImaginable
glow, like the reflection Of light on the
white folds Of stainless cloud-and
when that glow had passed into the fix
ed serenity OF death, Henry forgot for a
brief season that he was yet left hab-
itaut of the lonely earth. Few, how
ever, are the souls that always hold com
munion with nigh aud holy thought
young hearts a'e bound to life with sim
uous chords, though lued for time
beyord its deIusve influence, they are
again drawn back to wrestle with its
phantoins. When he had seen the
form Of ms beloved mother consigned
a. dust 20 dust, be then felt the deep
de,ola,ion Of the grave The apart
monis hitherto gladdcned by the light of
her smile, were now learlully void.--Hc
gaztL on the vacant seal, and cold
shudderIng CONFUSION of the heart pas
SD over ,,.a. There were voices near
hun, but they came not "n his ear in
the soft tones OF eifeciion-and busy
forms fitting around him--but he
vainly sought the lance of a mothers
love. Nay, the presence of father
for d moment called forth the burst of
filal affection, but il was only for mo-
mrnt; the manner of that father, even
the sound of his voice, came with
sacrlegIous dissonince upon the chords
Of sorrow. Henry felt that he MOURN
ed alone that even at tins hour of mu-
tuaI bereavement, the soul of his surviv-
ing parent had no affinity with his. The
conviction was Intensely painful; he
shrunk from "A presence that thus chill
ed the gushlngs Of tenderness, and shud-
dcrcd lest he should forget the respect
due the author oi hts being. Ills health
ALREADY impaired by long confinement
-gradually sunk under tie influence of
a morbid eXcilabilty; and desirous Of
rodsing himself to excrtlon, he sought
and ob'aned permission for tour
through the distant States. Arriving at
snail village IN -, he found him-
self, tor some days, unable to proceed.
A slow fever had seized his frame, and
forbade farther fatigue. lie lodged at
an inn in the village, and sometimes
amused himself, as relaxation from
thought, with The children Of the family.
The day consecrated TO devotion had
arrived, and they prepared for their Sab
bah school. Even the payiuIness of
the children was now chastened with
something ol u holy cast, as the little
group approached Henry and begged
hlm to hear their exercises. NWiil you
not 60 with rs? said the youngest; and
unable to resist the artless appeal, our
Invalid Immediately accompanied them.
"A few only were as yet assembled but
the intention OF Henry was at once riv-
eied by the young and lovely teacher
Her dress resembling, III its exquisite
simplicity, the purest blossoms Of spring
revealed a form of perfect aud delicate
proportion. Her features, though reg
ular, were Of a marked and decided
character. She was pale, but that pale
ness, contrasted with the deep shade Of
her dark and shining hair, and the long
silken lashes that partially veied the
light of her clear blue eye, gave a yet
stronger interest 10 countenance Of
unearthly beauty. As the youthful flock
dropped in, one by one, her features as
sumed an anxious expression, and he
watched their entrance with evident in
tcnsiiy. Two lovely children at length
entered, haCd in hand. A sudden flush
now tinged her cheek, smile, glance
Of unutterable import, welcomed the lit
tie strangers They approached and
flung their arms silently around heI neck.
There was no sound, not even breath
TO break the deep quiet of the school
but to the soul of Henry there was some
thing in this simple scene that spoke
language Of high and sacred feeling