The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-29

| stood-spell bound!-scarcely knowing
Which most to admire,
The suns parting rays,
Or the evenings attire.
The rumbling Of approaching carriages
suddenly broke my meditations, and adj
monished me that had fingered there
quite too long. They were the wedding
guests ; come to share with Lucrelia the
fclicitics of the evening.
The morrow dawned-the parting NOR
ming when the young bride was to re-
ceive fathers kind blessing, and mo-
theirs last embrace. They had Aoated on
fortunes uneven tde-had tasted the Bit
ter cup of earlh's affection; and knew that
they were now about to commit their love
Iy and only daughter, to the same uncer-
tain winds and tickle waves. TO them it
was a moment of intense interest, and
anxious solicitude. There was a kind of
melancholy JOY in that hour. The mother
sighed-paleness was on her cheek. The
father smiled, though q tear bedimmed his
eye. Sadness was on his brow; for he
had known the danger of the seas.
Lucrctia was not so--hcr heart was Joy,
and her step was light. Life and activity
was in all her movements. Like the
morning rose that watts its fragrance on
the early breeze, her fair forehead kissed
the first beams of the morning sun, and
reflected its beauteous rays which gently
played upon her damask cheeks, Hope,
sweet hope, painted to her sunny days of
future joy. Alas how sudden and great
the change Of fortune The bright glory
OF the present morning only seems to
deepen the gloom of ihc succeeding night.
Full of expectation, and confidence in the.
future, she fondly doatcd on her years of
pleasure here. With such hopes, she left
the paternal roof, and settled in the beau
tiul village Of o, on one of the
great western lakes.
1t was the eve Of Autumn---thc shades
of night had curtained the earth, the chilly
winds of cold November were wildly
bowling. | had just seated myself in the
paTlor, and was penning few thoughts
to an absent friend, when female stran-
ger entered the room, and seated herself
in an opposite direction. She sat in pen
sivc silence, which was only now and
then interrupted by deep drawn sigh
such as bereaved and broken hearts utter,
when sorrow is too deep to be otherwise
expressed. A thousand onjectures were
awakened in my mind as 20 the cause Of
her grief. 1t is possible, thought |, she
is going to visit some sick and dying
lricnd-or, she had been driven by power
ty and misfortune to seek resting place
and 4 quiet home in land of strangers,
and is signing for the loved ones she is
Icaying--or, she is mourning the recent
loss of some dear reatiye-it may be
husband-brother-chld. At length |
vcntured to ask the cause of her sadness
and grief, hoping that might be able to
lmpart some consolation. ALI | had
conjcctured rightly. Her voice fatered
as she replied, III ANA widow"
AT the same time she gave me an implo-
| ring look. o, such look 1t was sor-
row mantled in grief. Had dared, |
would have kissed away the big tear that
rolled down her cheek. Yes, the cruel
winds of heaven, and the waves Of Onta-
rio, had opened grave for her husband.
Here she gave me brief history of his
fate. The bare mention of the little cot
tage beneath the willows shade told that
Lucretia was before me.
She had lived with the companion of
her joys but a few short weeks. His
employment was upon the seas, and he
was one of Neptune's bravest sons; he
delighted to ride upon the mountain wave,
and smiled at the storm. But now the
heavens are gathering blackncss-a black
ness Of unwonted gloom. Clouds of
dense darkness were rapidly hurled in
different directions, and the dismal roar
Of distant winds foretold an approaching
storm.
His proud ship was on the wave, her
banner gaily hoated on the breeze Night
came on-the last nlght.-the night of
death. The storm ragged with undated
fury. On an island half covered with
water, his frail bark was shattered that
night. That night brave William and his
crew found watcry grave. His dead
body was washed ashore and decently
buried. But no tears of grief were there
it was strangers grave. The little
group of spectators that had gathered
around, were indulging in conjecture who