The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-05-29

with smile OF satisfied happiness, as, lean
ing on her husbands arm, she stopped before
the hut which was to be their future home
The miners hut became daily more happy
abode; the eyes Of IT'S inhabitants were soon
accustomed TO the dim light, and all that had
seemed so wrapt in darkness when they first
entered the mines, gradually dawned into dis
hnetness and light. Blanca began 10 look
WIN real pleasure on the walls and rude fur
nilure OF her too-narrow room. She had no
umc 70 spend in useless sorrow, for she was
continually employed in the necessary duties
OF her situation; she performed with cheerful
aiacriiy The most mental offices, she repaired
her husbands clothes, and she was delighted
II she could sometimes take down from an
old shelf, one Of The few books she had
brought with her. The days passed on ra-
pidly; and as the young pair knelt down at
the close of every evening, their praises and
thanksgiyings were as feryent as their PRAYERS.
Ernest had not been surprised at the high and
virtuous enthusiasm which had enabled BIZ
anca TO support, at first, all the severe trials
they underwent without shrinking; but he
,rds surprised to find thai in the calm, the dull
hopeless calm OF undiminished hardship, her
spirit never sank; her sweetness Of temper
and nnrepining geniieness rather increased.
Another trial WAS approaching. Blanca,
the young and tender Blanca was about 10
become mother; and one eYeaing, on re- !
turning from his work, Ernest found his wife
making clothes for his unborn infant. He sat
down beside her, and sighed but Blanca was
singing merrlly, and she only left off singing
TO embrace her husband with smiles, he
thought The sweetest smiles he had ever seen.
The wife Of one Of the miners, whom BIZ
anca had visited when lying i'll of danger
GUS disease, kindly offered 10 attend her during
her confinement; and from the arms Of this
woman, Ernest received his first born son
the child, who, born under different circum-
stances, would have been welcomed with all
the care and splendor Of noble rank. But
he forgot this, in his joy that Blanca was safe,
and stole on tptoe 10 the room where she was
lying. She had been listening for his iootstep,
and as he approached, he saw in the gloom Of
the chamber her white arms stretched To-
wards him. - have been thanking God in
my thoughts" said Blanca, after her husband
had bent down TO kiss her; I" but | am SO
very weak Dear Ernest, kneel down beside
the bed, and offer up my blessings with your
own" Surprising strength seemed To have
been given to this delicate mother by Him
who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb ]"
and she recovered rapidly from her confine-
ment ..
Shortly after this an express arrived from
Vienna. inq,liring if Albert or his wife were
still alive few hours after, another person
arrived with the same haste, and on the same
errand they were. the one near relation Of
Blanca, the other Alberti's fellow soldier and
most intimate friend. Pardon had at length
been granted to the young exile, at The petit
ton of the general officer whom he had
wounded ; and Albert was recalled by the
Empress herself to the court of Vienna.
The bearers Of these happy tidings nme-
diately descended into the mines. As they
approached Alberti's hut, the light which glim-
rnered through some nperures in the shattered
door, induced them to look al its inmates be-
fore they entered. Though dressed in n dark
coarse garment, and wasted awayto an almost
incredible slightness, still enough of her for
mer loneliness remained to tell them. that the
paid female they behcld was the young Conn-
tess; and the heart admired her more, as she
sat leaning over her husband,and holding upto
his kisses her small infant, her dark hair care
lessly parted, and bound round her pale brow,
seeming 10 live but in her husbands love;
than when elegance had We'd with splendor in
her attire, when her hair had sparkled with
diamonds and in full health and beauty, she
had been the one gazed at and admired in the
midst of the nobest and fairest company Of
Vienna. The door was still unopened, for
Blanca was singing to her husband, she had
chosen a song which her hearers had listened
to in her own splendid Solomon the last night
she had sung there; the soft complaining
notes of her voice had seemed out Of place
there, where all was careless mIrth and fes-
tvity; but its tone was suited to that dark
solitude-it was like the song of hope in the
cave Of despair.
There were many hearts that sorrowed over
the departure of the young Albert and his
wife from the mines Of ldria The miners,
with whom they had lived so long, bad learned
to love them, at a time when too many heart
had almost forgotten to love and TO hope;
had learned from their kind words, but more,
oh much more from their beautiful example,
to shake off the dreadful bands Of despair, and
daily to seek, and TO find, peace which
passed all understanding. Ernest and Blanca
hadtauaht them to feel how happy, how cheer
fu, thing religion is !! Was it then surprls-
ing, that, at their departure, their poor COM
panions should crowd around them, and weep
with monrnful gratitude, as Ernest distributed
among them his working tools, and the simple
furniture OF his small hutl Was it surprising
that Blanca and her husband as they sat on
the green grass, with waving trees and cloud
less sky above them, while The summer breeze
here with its full tides of freshness and ira
GRANGE from their magnificent gardens, and
thew beheld the pure rose color Of health begin
to tinge the cheek Of their delicate child, vas
it surprising that they should turn'wiih feel.
ings of ahectionate sorrow TO the dark ana
dreary mines Of ldria
| must not forget to mention, that Ernest
and his wife were publicly reins,ated in all