Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-09-11
lFrcm the Tales of Humour and Romance I
THE HARP.

/
TALE, rAvouRING BELIEF IN SPIRITS, ny
Theodore Charles Koracr
The harp stands neglected she's gone, whose
| light fingers
| Awoke from its strings the soul-moltinu stro;,.
Touch-touch its still chords-in their echo cen
fingers
spell that can WOO back her spirit again.
| Like the harp: sweetest spirit thou'st been
my fond treasure
But like its wild notes, thou hast fitted away.
Oh could my sad soul like the tones of that
measure,
AS softly-as sweetly to heaven die away.
The secretary and his young wife had not yet
passed the spring days of their honu -moon-no
selfish motives, no transtory inclinatons had u
nited them; warm and long proved affection
was the seal of their union. Early had they
known each other: but Sellncrs unprovided eou-
ditIon forced him to defer the accomplis hment
OF his wishes. At length he received his an.
polntmcnt, and on the following Sunday lie con-
Quoted home his afrcctionatc Josephine as his
wife After the long irksomc days of congratu.
lation and family te>stimg were over. the young
couple could ut last enjoy the peaceful evening
undisturbed by the presence of any third per-
SON Plans of future life, Sclner's fate and Jo-
sephina's harp filed up the hours which to them
seemed to fit but too quickly away, and they
hailed the deep aud perfect unison of their tones,
as n friendly presage of future days of happi-
ness. 90 One evening they had been long anu
sing themselves with their music, when jose
pima began to complain of headache. She
had concealed from her anxious husband an at
tack which she had had i'm the morning, and
what was nj first n very triilng fever, had on
account of the weakness Of her nerves been
greatly increased by the excitement of the mu-
sic, and the consequent straining of her feelings:
she concealed it no louger, and Sellncr, full of
anxiety. sent for physician Iio came, treated
the matter as tribe, and promised complete
recovery on the morrow.
But after very restless night, in which she
raved continually, the ply stefan found the poor
Josephine labouring under all the symptoms of
a nervous fever. He tried every, means yet Jo-
scplina's disease grew daily worse. Selaer was
in agony. On the ninth day, Josephine felt that
her tender nerves could longer endure the
disease-the physician too had previously ac-
qualnted Sclner of it. She forcsaw her last
hour was 1T hand, ana with quiet resignation
she awaited her destiny. b" My dearest Edward"
for the last time to heI bosom, " with deep sor-
row quit this world where | found thee, and
the greatest earthly bliss upon thy bosom, yet,
though must no longer be happy in thy arms,
yet Josephine love shall hover around thee a
guardian spirit until we meet again in heaven :"
As she said this, she fell back and softly sank to
rest. 1t was about nine in the evening. What
Sellncr suffered was inexpressble +; he contend
ed long with liEe-sorrow had destroyed his
health. and when after many weeks confinement
he again rose, he had no longer tho vigour of
youth in his limbs; he gloomily brooded over
loss, and visibly pinned away. Deep melancholy
had taken the place ofdespair, and n still sorrow
haowed every recollection Of his beloved. He
had left Josephna's room in the same situation
in which it was before his death. Upon the ia
bic still lay the materials of her work and the
harp stood silent and unmoved in the corner
Every evening Sellner entered the sanctuary of
his love, took his flute, and breathcd in mcan-
choy tones his longing after his dear loved shade.
Once he stood thus, lost in the dreams of fancy
in Joscphina's chamber. A clear moonlight
night wooed him to the open window, and from
the neighbouring Castle-tower the Waterman
called the ninth hour when all of sudden the
harp, as if moved by the soft breath of spirit,
sounded in unison with his tones. Deeply af.
fected he laid down his flute, end the harp also
ceased to sound. He now commenced with n
trembling frame Josephinas favorlte air, and
louder and moro powerful the harp sounded its
notes, uniting its tones in the most perfect uni
son with his. He sank down in joyful ecstacy
upon the ground, stretched forth his arms TO en-
brace the beloved shadow, and instantly he felt
himself as breathed upon by the warm breath of
spring, while pale glimmering light foatcd a.
round him. Deeply inspired he cried out,
know thee hallowed shade of my sainte8 Josephi-
ma. Thou saidst thou wouldst surround me with
thy love; thou hast kept thy word. feel thy
breath feel thy kisses on my lips, feel myself
cmbracedby thy glorifgd spirit" With deepest
feelings of delight he again seized his flute, & a.
gain the harp sounded but always softer & soft
er. TILL at length its whispering tones died away
Sellner's whole fame was powerfully reused by
the spiritual visitation of this evcning-restess
he threw himselfupon his bed, d the whispering
of the harp ever recurted to him in his heated
dreams. Late and exhausted with the phantorns
OF the night he awoke, felt his whole frame strong
y affected, and voice plainly spoke within him
expressing as he thought his immediate dissolu-
ton, ard announcing the victory of the soul O.
yer the body. With restless desire he waited
for the evening, and with eager hopes repaired
to the chamber Of Josephine. Already had he
succeeded in lullng himself with his flute into
quiet dreams, when the ninth hour struck, and
scarce had the last sound of the clock ceased to
vlbrate, when the harp began again softly to
sound till at last it thrilled in full harmonious
chords. When his flute silent, the music
also ceased. The pale glimmering light too
| Heated over him. and in his ecstacy he could on
| " cry, @ Josephina. Josephna take me To thy