Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-09-03

been tranquil on the surface.-but it wa
as deep as it was pure. 1t was poe
which had granted its healing inhuenc
TO one, but could never repeat the mir
acle, though an angel should trouble it
waters. AssuredIy he that could mi
death in the cup Of love which he offer
ed to one go young, so fair, and so true
was guilty as the priest who administer
ed poison in the holy eucharist.
Lucretia, now an inmate Of the family
read to her, supported her across th'
chamber, and watched her brief, gentl,
slumbers with an intense interest, pain
fully tiDged with self reproach. She
was the cause Of this premature decay
innocent, indeed, but still the cause
Under such circumst anccs, the consci
ence is morbid in its sensibility,
reasonable in it's acuteness; and the
smiles and forgiveness Of those we have
injured, tear and scorch il like burning
pincers. Yet there was one who suffer
ed even more than Lucretia,-thoug h
he was never conscious Of giving one
moments pain to the object Of his earIi-
est affection. During the winter, every
leisure moment which Doctor Willard 8
numerous avocations allowed him, was
spent ia Miss Osborne's sick chamber;
and every tone, every look Of his went
to her heart with thrilling expression,
which seemed to say, "Wou!d | could
dio for thee! Oh! would to God | could
die for thee!
Thus pillowed on the arm Of Friend
ship, and watched over by the eye of
Love, Grace languidly awaited the re-
turn Of spring; and when May did ar
rive, wasted as she was, she seemed to
enjoy its pure breath and sunny smile.
Alas! that the month, which danced
around the howery earth with such mirth-
ful step and beaming glance, should call
so many victims Of consumption 10 their
last home! Towards the close Of this
delightful season, the invalid, bnlstered
in her chair, and surrounded by her
affectionate family, was seated at the
window, watching the declining sun.
There was deep silence for long while;
as if her friends feared that a breath
might scare the fitting soul from its
earthly habitaIon. Henry and Lucre-
tia sat on either side, pressing her hands
in mournlul tenderness; Doctor Willard
leaned over her chair and looked up to
the unclouded sky, as il he reproached
it for mocking him with brightness. and
her father watched the hectic flush up
on her cheek with the frmness Of Abra-
ham, when he offered his only son upon
the altar. Oh! how would the heart oil
that aged sufferer have reioiced within
him, could he too have exchanged the
victim.
She had asked Lucretin to place Som
erville's rose on tho window beside her.
One solitary blossom was on il; and she
reached forth her weak hand to pluck
il; but its leaves scattered beneath her
touch. She looked up to Lu-
cretia with an expression, which her
friend could never forget, and one
cold tear slowly gided down her pallid
cheek. Gently as a mother kisses her
sleeping babe, Doctor willard brushed
it away; and, turning hastily to conceal
his quiverng lip, he clasped Honry's
with convulsive energy as he whispered,
"Oh! God Of mercics, how willingly
would | have wiped away all tears from
her eyes!"
There is something peculiarly impres-
sive in manly grief. The eye of wo-
man overhows as readily as her heart
but when waters gush from the rock, we
feel that they are cxtorted by no gentle
blow.
The invalid looked at HIM with aifec-
tionafe regret, as if she thought it a
crime not TO love such endearing kind
ness; and every one present made a
powerful effort to suppress painful, sut-
locating emotion. on.--Lucretia had bunch
Of purple violets fastened in her Cir
with forced smile she plac-
ed them in the hands of her dying friend.
She looked at them moment with a
sort Of distracted attention, aud an ex-
preston strangely unearthly, as she said,
"l have thought that wild flowers might
be the alphabet Of angels, s,-whereby
they write on hills and fields mysterious
truths, which it is not given our fallen
nature to understand. What think yon
dear father"
81 think, my beloved child, that the
truths we do comprehend are enough to
support us through all our trials
The confidence Of the Christian was
strong within him when he spoke; but
he looked on his dying daughter, the on
ly image Of wife dearly beloved, ,-and
nature prevailed. He covered his eyes,
and shook his white hairs mournfuly, as
he added, God in his mercy grant, that
we may find them sufficient in this strug-
gle.' All was again still. still, in that
chamber of death. Tho birds SUNG az