The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-11-09
her 18th year.


! could have baan nrg;Ven, thouSht lheIi, ny
the whole world for weeping, and believed her
fresh grave with such tears man can shed but
once For there is one fountain and it lies in the
very depths of the soul, which be unsealed on
y by such misfortune this. ltopens for those
tears we shed when we kneel Tor the first time o.
yer the ashes ofour first and only love, and then
leaves the heart desoate as it closes forever.
Here opened a sealed packet that Frances had
committed to Marys keeping to be given to me,
with her last request that would read it for the
first lime at her grave.
found letter written with her own hand,
few days before she died.
"MY OWN DEAR EDWARD: | have waited long
months for your return, and it has been m, only
prayer for this world that ] might see you once
more before die But feel that the sands of
life are fast falling &tbat in little while this feeble
hand will grow cold IN death. Since the evening
that we parted at our door, q YOU held me in your
arms every throb OF my heart, its last puIsa on
has beat and shall beat for you'll have loved you
better than all else this side Heaven. But my on
ly concern now is for you; for myself have no
soIicitude You have received my letter-you
know how deeply love you, and you will try to
reach my arms before die, but you cannot; l
|
lone in the world when am gone. But let the
thought that have loved you, deeply loved you
to the last sustain you. And oh! Edward when
you come to break this seal, and wept my
grave, cast your eye beyond it for we shall meet in
Heaven,
| Where no farewell tear is she'd"
Oh! what glorious thought it is, that in Heaven
there shall be the rapturous meeting of friends
there the cold mildew of dsappoint ment shall new
er fall to blight the flower of Iove--tIere the wick
cd shall cease from troubling and the weary and
aching heart of man shall find eternal repose.
you will find in the hands Of your sister my uu
iatuie and some other little treasures priced; ac
cept them: they my parting gifts. Let me ask
| of you one dying request and will make you dy
ing promse-Oh! Edward follow the Saviour and
BIO Christian, and then separation will be on
| ly for a season. For myself let me say: we know
little it is ue but promise you i'll shall be pei
mitted, will hold communion with you. ] will
come TO you and be ministering spirit. will
cheer and console you in every hour of sadness
and drive grief away from your heart. l will be
your guardian angel through life. III can l will
visit you when you come to my grave, and give
you if possible, some token of my presence
will be as near you and constantly as can. II
we knew that this could all be, it would be bles
sed assurance. We do not know but can hope
"And now, dear Edward, the being have low
cd best on earth-the one whom have prayed to
see but once more before de-the one whom
hope to greet in Heaven and sing his sale arrival
there farewell. My latest thoughts and prayer
shall BIZ for ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Your own
FRANCES.
There was spirit in these lines which breathed
of Heaven. They expressed the last fond feeling;
of her SOUL and would not have parted with the
conso laton they afforded my wounded heart fol
the whole world, recalled her request and he
promise. l could not separate them. | knelt be
fore the Father of the Universe, and by that grave
| sealed my vows to be his obedlent child. In
moment the deep struggle in my bosom ceased land
| felt sweet submission to Gods will. For the
first time in my life looked up to heaven, anc
with TENDER confiding, and gratet full love, exclaim
ed, "Oh my Father"-and then experieucedsi
calm Impression that the ground on which l kneh
and the air around me was holy. l heard no voice
which spoke to the outward ear; but retreatins
within my soul l seemed TO no Id communion with
that pure and gloriied being had loved. And
not an hour has since PASSED that have not fell
that tho smile of God and the guardianship of my
sainted Frances fingered around me. i stayed in
that peaceful church-y yard for hours. hut did not
feel that was alone pressed those parting gifts
to my heart and left her grave.
| Since that time, a almost every anniversary OF
her death have gone to her native village to visit
| her resting place 1t was but few days before we
sailed that stood there. Fifteen long sad years
had rolled away since her death, and yet it seemed
but brief period. The green grass had overgrown
the mound and the same broad arms Of the syca-
more still sheltered her repose Her parents, too,
were resting by her side
You cannot wonder, now, my dear sir-my com
panlon said--that TIL has been to me a somewhat
dreary world. have fel. disposition win
the love of another, for my heart is still, pledged to