The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1839-05-18

seemed the home OF some mischievous fay
and every glance wave of its magic wand.
Her hair clustered in natural ringle's around
a forehead like ivory, and was entwined
with the summers fairest flower. Her voice
was like the glad gay notes OF bird singing
merrily from the evening skies, and as she
moved in the dance she seemed a wander
ing Peri, which the spell-bound gazer ex-
pected every moment to float away to its
paradise. Have you seen butterfly waving
its wings against the breeze? Have you
seen a rose leaf ere the lip of morn had
kissed away its sparkling dew? Have you
seen the feet antelope wildly bounding owe,
its native hills.-She was lighter, fresher,
wilder than them all. The hours winged
by, and was still listening to the full rich
voice, the sweet words, and the touching
sentiments of my fair companion. Her mind
was spring of crystal waters; and her
thoughts were like the elements which,
borne above the earth, partakes not Of its
mists and impurities. There was something
so rare and beautiful in them, that long after
she had ceased, and her voice had been
hushed forever, they thrilled upon my heart
/" like the remembered tones of mute Tyre"
called at the cottage next morning, but
could not see her, as she was confined with
a slight cold. Day after day / called, and
she had not recovered. The sixth day came,
and again walked towards the house. As
approached it, the physician whom l had
seen in attendance, passed out, and could
see that his face was stained with tears -
The aged mother stood in the door, and the
traces of tears were also visible on her with
cred cheek. Ienquired after the daughter,
and without word she led me into the sick
chamber. With gentle hand she drew the
curtain of the bed aside, and | beheld the
bright girl whom had met but few days
before in the flush of health, but oh! how
wasted! The voice with which she welco-
med me was faint and indstinct; her eyes
were dull, her cheek was pale and hollow,
and moist with death dews. 1t was fearful
and sickening sight Day succeeded day
until another week had gone, and was often
at her side At length, all hope Of recovery
had passed away. shall never forget her
appearance when this was told her. The
recollection Of that despairing look is forever
treasured in memory. In short time, how
ever. che spoke of death calmly. 81 know
that am DYING" she said one evening, "but
am prepared. l feel my breath growing
fainter, and l must say that mine is not a
bitter fate. Perhaps my life would be a
long fellowship of pain and sorrow, to which
the grave is preferable. Yet cannot die
without a murrnur. The valley where
have so often wondered, the tree under
whose branches have sci, the flow srs that
have tended, the stars that have watched,
the mother that l have loved, the father
whose eye has frightened at my approach,
ah! it is bitter thing to part with them, to
bid adieu to all love on earth, and sink
into the grave with none to gladden. me
but it must be 500
The next day was the sabbath. / arrived
at the cottage early. The stars had faded
one by one from the sky, and the sun was
Just rising over the distant mountains. The
dew covered scythe lay untouched On the
grass; the laboring bee had not yet left its
golden hive. All was silent; not breath
stirred the slumbering leaves, or the droop-
ing flowers. The old forest and the rushing
stream were
"Quiet as a nun.
Breathless with alteration"
stole softly into the room. There lay the
cottage girl with her head buried in the pill
low, and her hair falling in careless clusters
upon her bosom. Alas! the breath was still
led; the eye had looked its last upon earth.
The garlands of life had been suDdered, and
her gentle spirit had passed to its far home
in heaven. They buried her in green and
pleasant place. The stream on whose grassy
banks she had spent the April Of her life
passes by her grave, and the old trees be.
meath which rang her merry laugh, over.
shadow it like a temple. And often have
left the noise and strife of the living world
around me, and sought that quiet grave, from
| which has arisen a whisper of something
dearer than all this wide and teeming eartf
la whisper of an Immortality beyond the
tomb.
/ have beheld woman in many scene
I have seen her when she first treads the
paths of pleasure, as her eye trembled ant
her cheek was flushed with hope; | have
seen her versed in all the pagentry Of fash
ion, in the halls of mirth, painting for con
quest, and eager for praise; in the still nigh
through glade and by watch fire, have wan
dered with beauty at my side, and by thu
curtained bed have viewed her ministerins
to the sick, and to the dying breathing words
which fall upon the ear like choicest music
have seen loneliness in all its angel forms
vet never did it awaken such thrill a
when first beheld the fair girl of whom
! save spoken. But in her young years, witt
her affections still unwithered, she had beer
stricken down. And such is life; a flowe