Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-08-01

ccro,,nd and gazed listlcssly at the head
Stones that crowd il, The vicissitudes OF
INV life. passed in brief review before me-
Here affar :; combat of fifteen years with
the world, | stood a solitary man. Ny
whole youth had been spent In exlle-Iny
knowledge of happiness was limited to the
suavity of barrick-room, and the turmoil
Of camp. The friends Of my younger
.uoars--saving you, Austin--had departed.
Some had failen i'm battle by my side--some
the yellow plague had smitten in our can
vass homes-some had pinned and died in
captivity--and few, very few, bad for
gotten me in the sunshine Of our paternal
hcarfhs. had gained some distinction in
my profession, but who was left to take
pride in my honorsl No one, save Alice
and she too was on the eve of being called
away. NV hcot grew sad even unto death.
was reused from my moralizing mood
by the sound Of wheels, and a small travel
ling car drove up to the gate at which was
stationed. 1t was occupied 10y two females
lone u grave, benevolent-iooking matron--
the other, one of those seraphic visions of
feminine beauty, that linger on earth but Tor
brief season, and then pass away forever
into the grave. She was pale--very pale
but 1t was the paleness Of perfect loneliness
that purity Of complexion, which belongs
not to- earth but to heaven. The young elo-
quent blood was visible i'll every vein that
traverSed her polished forehead; and there
= was gentle fire in her dark blue eyes, and
Il smile of innocent meekness on her lips,
that might have become seraph.
The car was attended by cearse-look-
ING hind, and politeness required me to as
sist the ladies 10 alight--t0r such percciv-
ed to be their intention. They frankly ac-
cepted ofmy services, and when | learned
hat heir obi xxyoc TO Va
cemetry, further took upon me 70 ma II
out. The task was not a difficult one, and
the elder lady knelt down p'on the green
tumulus in silent prayer. L gathered that
il was the crave of a daughter who had been
Torn from wide circle of friends, at the
very moment when fortune shed It's best
BLESSINGS around her The pale girl wept
When She sawber companion weep--wcpt,
it may be, Y gtn I If ~ ., n ,bo own APP
ponns% I'VE are going to-" heard her MUIR
~ as led them back to the vehicle, "let
ne be buried in this quiet spot; and my bro
thcr-,when he returns Her voice grew
tremulous and indistinct. rcseated them
IN their car, and they drove away.
For many succeeding hours the features
OF that pale girl haunted me like an appari-
ton. saw her darkly-fringed lustrous eyes
perpetually fixed on me-my ear recognized |
IN every gentle sound the melody Of her |
Plalntlve voice. Even in the watches of the |
night, she fitted like beautiful vision a.
round my couch | was glad when the
morning came-doubly glad, for it relieved
me from uneasy dreams, and brought the |
master ola Granville boat, who announced |
that the wind was fair, and that he intended
to put to sea. Ihastened down to the quay,
aad there, to my surprise, found the two
strangers who had occupied so prominent
place in my midnight cogtations, pre-
pairing to embark in the same vessel. The
younger one looked even more pale and
dropping than when | had seen her on the
previous evening. They had been -oused at
what was for an invalid an unreasonable |
hour; and the morning breeze, as it swept
IN gusty pufIs over the fortified height com
mandins the harbor, seemed to pierce
through her delicate frame. though CLOSELY
enveloped in fur-lincd mantle. | saluted
them on the faith of our former introduction,
and they gratefully accepted of my assis-
lance in embarking.
A dreadful storm arose, in which the |
vessel was nearly lost.
She was eloquent, too, and many Of her
remarks Indicated the perfection of feminine
intelligence. "If am doomed never to see
Alice MORE" thought /, ''here have found
her image"
The invalid suffered much for the deck
was momentarily washed by the pillows
from stem to stern. | saw her strength was
waning rapidly, and entreated her to go be-
low, and seek shelter beside her friend
She shook her head in token of dissent
81 shall suffocate there was her answer;
"and since am to die under any circum-
stances, let my last breath be the pure. air
Of heaven"
II am grateful for your anxiety to quiet
my apprehensons, said she, "but, in reali-
ty, am not afraid of the sea, whatever
may be the construction you put on my de-
Pertinent. What does it signify, since God
wills that | am speedily to die, whether |
perish in the waves, or by the sure progress
of diseascl II is here'-.-she laid her hand
on her heart. ''that / feel the monitor Of
llrnfh MhnA 4.