The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-10-16

F" ain cOnlsll! 10 die, but CHI /, not EOE.'
Eva was young, beautiful, and below
cd. Her happy heart vibrated with af-
lection and hope. She had never tasted
the bitter portion of mortal suffering
No cloud had ever cast a shadow on her
nor chilled the full stream of her ardent
feelings. She was a being that seemed
scarcely "of the earth, earthly" Her
intelligent eye was lighted with beam
more bright than nature is wont to shed
and oh, how lovely was its brightness
when believed and soflened by the tear
awakened when tale of sorrow reach
ed her ear
Eva was the first born of her doating
parents, and an only daughter. But ne
yer did she exercise the prerogatives, that
their fondness vouchsaled her, with aught
but gentlcness, towards her young broth
ers, whose highest pleasure was to gather
for their sweet sister the flowers of their
own little gardens, to deck her hair, and
to pour their simple troubles into her
sympathizing bosom.
How proudly did her fond father look
on his beautiful and gentle girl, when
returning from his avOcations abroad, to
his quiet threshold, the first smile and
accents that welcomed him were those of
his Eva.
1t was a starlight evening, and the air of
spring, scented with the fragrance of
young flowers, played lightly with the
flowing ringlets Of the laughing girl, who
was carolling pleasant lay, in the buoy
ancy of her innocent spirit.
Suddenly gentle bu, pehsivc thought
(for all her thoughts were gen,le,) came
over her spirit. 1t was a lho't of death.
Strange that in scene so lovely, and in
a breast so little used to sadness, the I'M
hidden reflection should find room. Blu.
it came like shadow flung from the
darkening future. $40 die'' she muir
INJURED, "to pass away from these pleas
ant and familiar things, to be laid in
clay cold tomb, where my mothers kind
voice will be heard no more, and my lit
tie brothers. merry shout shall never
come, and my fathers kiss shall never be
impressed on my cheek, while calling me
his dear, dear Eva! How delicious is
this moonlight view--how pure and fresh
this blessed air-how freely does my
heart beat-how brskly does life run in
my veins 20! trust it may not be my
lot to die, while yet it Is SO sweet to
live"
The maiden hcaved a light sigh, she
knew not wherefore. 1t was an unfa-
miliar eflusion of her young breast. A
wild vine had, by her own hand been
trained around her chamber window, and
she rested her wet cheek, (for she had
wept in the fitness of her emotion,) on
she leafy pillow, that few intruding
branches had luxuriantly spread.
The balmy stiffness of the evening
hushed her to slumber. How long she
slept she knew not, but when she awoke
she felt her blood chilled, and morbid
sensation run through her slight frame.
The morning found her feverish and i'll,
and. a lingering though not violent sick
ness ensued. Weeks passed languidly
away, and Eva was changed. Not chang
ed in sweetness and tenderness, scarce
changed in beauty-yet she was not now
found at the streamlet's bank, tending the
tottering steps of her mothers infant, thai
had just learned to swell the shout of the
elder boys, when launching their fairy
boat into the sparkling stream. Hel
tame deer frolcked no more with the
bounding nymph, on the green sward a
her mothers parlor door. Her guital
Law unheeded with its loosened cords
Just where her hand resigned it on tina
eyening-the last which ever heard tn
sweet voice tuned to melody.
Months passed on. The winter cam'
with its clouds and hl.eknass. The par
ciiiic,i, MA en( 1ff2 49,