Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-10-13


amaciated corpse, "a miserable wreck OF what he
had been. stretched upon the floor with an empty
bottle in one hand. and a fragment OF chair IN
other, both held. appa rently. with the same mus
GUAR force with which they had been seIZed
perhaps bu, n few moments before the vital spark
had fed. His hazel eyes werc protruded from
their livid sockcts--his thin blue lips and dts
torted features, showed how his vexed spirit had
struggled with the grim monarch-hs glossy
brown hair hung in short ringIets, which were
beautifully contrasted with the fair complexion OF
his exposed neck and shoulders, over which also
hung the hair Iocket of Mary Summers! In hast
ily casting my eve the roOm, found that
every thing within his reach had been broken
and his bruised and decorated body also showed
that the unh ippy youth had waged war against
IA thousand imaginary enemies. among which
were his own tender limbs. We promptly re-
moved him to another chamber, and bestowed on
his remains every attention that might, as far as
possible, remove from the eye Of affection, soon
to visit h.m, the tokens of his miserable end II
was a sad scene, in few hours after, to see his
aged parents kissing his forehead and lips; his
lovely sisters. with deep affection. and IN voiun
tarv horror blended, embracing his lifeles corpse
Some Of she sad tale Of the preceding night, had
been related to them by the host, and was nr
gently invited bv the afflicted parents to their
house. and that should extend my kindness still
farther, by witnessing the interment The heart,
in such a case, needs not the ties OF b!oo1, nor
vet of acauaintauce feel for the dead or warm
lv to sympathze with the living; and, In a snort
time after, l found myself domesticated IN the
comfortable mansion of Virginia gentleman OF
the old school, Here. all that met my eye, at
once told me that il had long been the home OF an
intelligent and worthy family; one of an extend
ed hospitality, but whose progentors had prob
ably seen brighter and more prosperous days
than had shonc on its present owners for some
time past, at least.
| retired to my chamber. and slept soundly for
some hours, TIL the dinnerbel sounded, and
pretty little colored boy softly tapping tiny Goor
cd me forth
entered the dining room much refreshed, Out
with little appetite; death-like silence reigned
there, interrupted only by those occasional sub
ducd, but heartfelt kindness, which sprung from
the newly kinded affection towards me, blended
with that hab"al and noble Politeness which
characteriz manners in the "Mother State"
As we approached the table, covered with the |
savory products Of the surrounding manor, the |
old gcnem IN placed his hands in mine: 81 fear !
my friend, we must dino to-day without the la |
dies: but Genss~ ard JaInes VIII accompany us,
md we shall do better. hope. in n few days.
Then pausing for moment, he added. my wife
md daughters were nearly prevailed on to JOIN
Is, but poor Mary Summers has Just arrived, |
md their wounded hearts are now all bleeding a |
rcsh'
sit is better So gently replied; 'ther tender
~ they can weep
Dear Mary does not weep rejoined the at /
1icicd father; 'wE have been, in some measure
for the sad event--not with Mary |
Summers, to whom we never ventnred to COM
n,nicatc all that took place with efflicted
,on.' !
We dncd in sadness; the day and night pass .
ID of. and the hour of four in the afternoon OF
he following day, appointed for the inter
ncnt.
AT breakfast. all were present, except the eld-
'st daughter and Mary Summers. So much had
,een said to me by the landlord, as also by the
Younger sons, whom have named, in pra Use OF
Nary, that felt, for moment, greatly disap-
ted at her absence; but, how soon were all
ny feelings the other way when seifishness gave
DOM, moments reflection, to far better SEN
iment.. Sweet sufererr said /, mentally, Il
alue thee greatly more for thy absence, for,
urely, retirement and silence better harmonic
18th thy affection, than the rudy light Of day,
nd the unavoidable courfesies Of life But,
,usug myself from this reveric, | inquired,
low is Miss Summers-how did she pass the
igh,?'
Julia, a tall, blue-eyed girl Of seventeen, as
sau,ifu fresh May morning, garnished ;;
it'll dewy flowers, and rednlent with their sweets
,pied my question: Il fear, sir, she did not
eep at all she neither weeps speaks, bot
nv means continually, think her heart will :
.eakr
AT this moment, Eliza. the eldest daughter, !. .
shed into the room, and exclaimed, Miss Sum- :.
ers is very I'LL fear past hoper )
All were in her chamber in an slant, and l .
und my self also there, witness oe the melan- =.
oly scene. Dear Mary Summers was then ex- :.
ring. and my first acquaintance with her was :
adc IN performing the sad office of closing her :,
es forever.
'Oh! thou great and unsearchabe Being ] 6
id inwardlv, show unfathoinabe arc thy ways? =
&c young, and beautiful, and, as all saw, full !.
angelic virtues-and We. this fair and lovely =
eaiure dies martyr to love. for man who !.
ardoned himself. his God, his loving parents, y
atfectionate and beautiful ssters.the uxuries
his home. the respect Of his friends and, finally,
Ell his betrothed-all, all for a nauseous, sick =
ing poisonous draught! But what can conquer =
mans chaste cit is as fathomess as the -
ep, deep sea,as high heaven,as expansive and :.
,vading as the atmospheric And there was !"
Dr Marv's lifeless body. faithful witness Of ~
truth of this rush of thought. that for mo- :, :.
mt occupied me in this chamber of death. and Of "
Dnizing grief! ~
Charles funeral was of course postponed for =.
ouplc ofdays more to prepare for the joint OBJ Sc
Jules OF the youthful lovers,
During this interval. | occasionally sought re- nc
IN the library, which occupied a very retired -
{ of the venerable old building. the windows % u
which were shaded by honeysrrckle and erlan. )"