Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-06-11
Hsssul.I.ANu.
THE DYING GIRL.

IHts DfING ClKL.
Open the window said the diving
girl. that may feel the wind ON nv
forehead for the last time forevcr-raise
me up that | may look upon the sun
once more before / die As she re-
quested. l placed my arm under her
head, and raised il from the pillow
How beautiful was her pale face living
there so helPlessly, with her large bright
eyes turned up TO the sun like a wor-
shipper, the black hair sweeping over
my arm TO the pillow, and the golde;a
light lying upon her thin features, i'm
buing them as IL were with glory and
vitality; till the whole form seemed
consuming in bright essence. burning
intensely within, and radiating without.
Her eyes grew brighter as she gazed:
and she seemed refreshed with the son
wind stirring about her. How brightly
and quietly she whispered, does he gu
TO his rest, melting away, tint by tint,
from the sight Then turning her head
YEARLY away, she sunk to the pillow
murmuring, oh, that nv departure
may be like that-may I sink to my
death calmly and painless, leaving be-
hind me the bright reflections of briel
existence
for few moments she languidly
closed her eyes and remained motion
less; then opening them again she gazed
IN my face and said death, death
II this is il, it is neither sad nor painful
1t Is only going home to meet parents,
sisters, friends, in glorious world, a
region OF spirits. bright, high, beautiful,
nowhere her voice again died away
IN soft murnuring sound. She gath
cred strength moment and contin ned.
My brother, he in strange land, how
VIII he grieye when he hears that
am dead-tell him | prayed for him.
THAT | shall meet him in that eternal
world OF glory, where we shall live
forever and ever-when | am gone
give him one OF these-and she at
tempted 10 raise her slender hand to the
mar lying IN mass upon her pillow
But the transparent fingers wandered
Tor moment in the air, and then fell
ieebly over the bedside. Her lips
moved again. III is all fading, floating,
she said; how gloriously the angel.
throng above me, smiling, becAonins
with wings so acknowledgements they
hover, settling on my pillow-softly
softly, they, heavenly smile broke
over her face, her voice grew fainter
and fainter, then stopped like a tone OF
smothered music. The features set.
ued, shivcr ran over her frame, and
all was over. Her spirit had gone tc
congregate with sister angels in hap.
Piness. l laid my hand ON that fore.
head--it grew fearfully cold. M,
heart eramped; the siren 9TH of nv man.
hood gave way; | sunk TO nv knee,
and wept bitterly.
Again / stood beside her when hel
friends had done their Office of love-
outstrctchedin her shroud OF pure linen
she lay, her stifIened hands confined
over her bosom with white riband
and the dark laShes lying, so like sleep
ON her marble cheeks. That smile
] "a '"NANf HIT star ttrlll ON CIuSy-
ed snow--it was buried with her.
As she had requested. | took LONG
curl from her head-thai head on which
had so often tossed flowers in childish
play. ! stood gazing ON the corpse
tlll strange, mysterious feeling of ano-
ther world crept over me, felt as If .
dark spirit was overwhelming me-
Awe-struck. | held up the ringlct ana
gazed upon IL. No touch OF death wa,
there. Bright and beautiful as ever. +
strear4ed from my hand. Hooked al
1t seemed to grow alive in my grasp
Again turned "a the dead. and the
wandering of my soul ceased. Iknelt
down and prayed Eervenily tina. INV
death bed might be like he's.
enclosed the hair in purse LOUIS
had worked during her ,llness. and
gave IL TO her brother, he who after.
wards raised the white slab over he,
grave with the inscription Of " My Sis.