The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-05-29

and simple girl who carried your image
on her heart TO the dark grave and III
INV memory will restrain you from one
wrong act shall not have died in vain.
She stretched her hand TO him, he
grasped it in silent and fearful agony
she then turned, and, with firm step,
sought her home.
Samuel followed her with an almost
frenzied gaze, and when he lost sight
OF her form, he sank in utter senseless-
ness to the earth, and hours after was
found aud carried to his house by his
father and brothers, who, fearing the
truth, had, in consequence of his unusu-
al stay, gone in search of him. The
next day, without information 20 his
friends, he gathered together his effects
left his home for the sea side, whence
he embarked for n southern port.
About four years after, one delightful
afternoon in June, u stranger was seen
riding furIously into town. He might
be about twenty-one though care and
decision had wrinkIcd his brow and
drove the bloom of youth from his cheek
As he passed the farm-houses the labor
ors stopped their work to look at his
large muscular limbs and brawny chest.
He seemed one that had undergone toll
not from necessity and with the depres-
sion of mind that accompa nies hard Ia
Dor, but as a pastime, as a scene of cho-
sen pleasure. Every feeling of boyish
youth appeared to have. left him, and
premature manhood had embrowned
and hardened his face, and scattered
with thin grey locks. his hair. As.often
however, as the passers turned to gaze,
SO often were they checked by n glance,
from an eye so keen, so large and black
and 6ery, that they wondered in them.
selves. afterwnrd, who that could be,
TINT made them shrink within themselves
and feel abashed.
1t was beautiful mild evening Of n
warm day. The sun had hardly yet
reached the shade Of the western trees.
but had gathered round his course n
gorgeous attendance of bright but mns-
sive clouds. The deep green of sum-
mcr covered the whole earth, and smiled
IN the suns vivid rny. So calm was ov-
cry gale so gentle every sound of ma
ture's music; so blue the broad expanse
above so soft the coloring of the fold,
the grove, the sky, that it seemed the
death hour ofsoms fair snint pure on
earth, passing "to heaven unchangc1 !, an
angel still"
As the rider asccnded little rising
ground, he saw on the right the eleva-
vation of the village burying ground, full
with funeral train turning his horse
towards group of children he asked,
in hurried ,onc, whose funeral was
attending. SARAH HopgINs' sir"
said II little lad, ''shc died Of the con-
sumption Yesterday" Tho stranger
sprang from his horse. left it loose in the
path, hurried through the train aud
rsached the grave just MS. in accordance
TO Ncw-Eneland custom, the coffin
was opening for last look to sorrowing
friends, "Sarah," said tho youth frantic
ly, flinging himself on the coffin, "was
it for this | have toiled in trophlcal
sun and heaped up riches to sec you
thus at last : would to heaven l lay
sheetcd corpse by your side, my long
and loved You told me this-but ] did
not believe il. could not believe that
so much young and tender beauty, such
worth and such heart, could ever see
corruption"
My uncle Joel nnd our other friends
now in,erfcred and gently drew the woe
struck Samuel from the cold clay of the
now sainted Sarah. The funeral rites
went on the coffin was lowered into
the earth, few shovels Of dirt were
flung upon it, and the minister returned
thanks to the neighbors Of the deceased,
in behalf of the surviving friends, "for
having buried their dead out Of their
sight" And, ns the earth was henped
upon the remains of one so fair, so loved
the sob of anguish ran thi ough the
whole collection Of the living now as
semblcd in this repository of the dead.
Samuel reused himself from his grief as
the mourners left the grave, and. step
ping quick through the crowd, he came
up to Deacon Hopkins and seized him
by the arm. "Old man." said he, in a
low deep tone, that chilled the very
blood in the heart Of the bereaved fa-
ther--"old man, you have your wish |;
your daughter, the pride of your house
hold, is now welded TO the grave worm |;
the fringe Of the shroud and the cold
clay are now pressing her cheek instead
Of my bridal ornaments. You have
your wish. You have killed your child,
old man, and you have ruined the (; and
may TINT child's death haunt you in
your down sitting and in your up rising,
may II poison your cup aud poison your
loaf and bring your grey hairs in sor-
row IN thu nrave I cnnnnf fnrn;ua unn