Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-08-13
THE BEREAvED SISTER.
BY d. G. PRENTICE.

In the Spring of 1924, I contracted
an acqnantnace in one nf the cities ~
the south, with gentleman, who had
removed from England to this country
with two small children, the one a hoy
of ten, and the other girl ofnlne years
ofaye. These children we're the most
lovely beings ever saw. Their ex-
treme beauty, their deep and ar,lass af-
lection. and their frequent bursts of
childish and innocent mirti,, made them
as dear to me as If htd been the COM
panion Of their infancy They were
happy in themselves, happy in each
other, d. in the whole world of life &.
nature around them. Ihad known the
family bit few months, when nv
friend WAS compelled To make sudden
aud unexpected voyage to South Amer
lea. Ms feelings were embittered by
the thought of leaving his m,therless
children behind hun, and as was on
the point of emba, king FIR Liverpool.
Ipromised t, take them to their friends
.anh relations.
My departure WAS delayed two
weeks. During that period | lived
under the same roof with the little ones
that had been consigned IT, NV cinrge.
Fbr few DAYS they were pensive and
made frequent inquiries for their absent
father, hui their sDrrOw3 were easily
assuaged, and regret for his absence
changed into pleasant anticipation Of
his return. The ordinary SORROWS of
chrldh,nd are bui dew- upon thu eagles
p'umage, which vanishes at the moment,
when the proud bird springs upward
INT" the air to WOO the first beautiful
flashes of the morning
The day for our departure at length
arrived. and we set sail on quiet alter
noon OF Sumner. 1t was scene OF
beauty, aud my heart flutered as widely
and jpypusly as the wing of young
bird spring-time u seemed.in truth
as II "mau's control had stopped with
the shore" that was retreating behind
us, and left the world of waters to give
back the blue Of the upper skies as
purely and peacefully as at the first holy
Sabbath Of creation. The distant
hills bent their pale blue tops to the
waters. and, as the great Sun, like
the image of his Creator, sunk down
in the West, successive shadows Of
gold, aud crimson, and purple, came
floating over the wave, like barks from
fairy land. Ny young companions
gazed on these scenes steadily, and
when the last tints Of the dim shore were
melting into shadow, they took eanh
others hands, and few natural tears
gushed forth as an adieu TO the land they
bad loved
Soon after sunset, persuaded my
little friends To let me lead them To- the
cabin, add then returned to look out
again upon the Ocean. In about half
an hour, as | was standing musingly
and apart, felt my hand gently pres
.sed, and, OIL turning around, saw that
The girl had s:olen alone to my side
In few moments, the evening star
began to twinkle from the edging of
violent cloud. At first it cleaned faint
iy and at intervals, but anon it came
brightly ont, and shone like holy
fh'bS WD'bb tUC Vf'bW vi tstC CsttIIUI.
! he glrl at my side gazed upon it, and
hailed it with a tone which told that a
thought Of rapture was at her heart.
She inquired, with simplicity and eager
ness, whether, in the far land TO which
ve were going that same bright star
would be visible and seemed to regard
1T as another friend that was to be with
her ," her Ting and lonely Journey.
The first week Of our voyage was
unattended by any important incident
The sea was at times wild and stormy,
but again il would sink tn repose, aud
spread itself out in beauty IN the verge
OF the distant horizon On the eighth
day the hoy arose pale and detected
and complained Of indisposiiio6. On
the following morning, he was confined
by fever 10 his bed, and much doubt
was expressed as To his fate by the phy
sician Of the vessel can never for
get the visible agony, the look Of utter
wo, that appeared upon the face Of The
little girl, when the conviction OF her