The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-07-01

his friend $ arm within his, to lead him to the
chamber, said
"Now compose yourself, Ny dear sir Remem-
Der that Mrs Howard is not in a situation to bear
strong excitement"
Mr. Howard spoke not; but the doctor felt his
whole frame tremble as he leaned on his ARM
Ilelcns eyes were fastened on the door as it open
cd They sparkled like diamonds, and her cheeks
were like the rose. To the inexperienced eye, she
might have appeared the picture of health, us she
was ofbeau,y She made an effort to raise her.
SELF but in vain; and by forcible grasp of his arm
the doctor constrained Mr. Howard TO walk across
the floor, instead of sprnging toward her, When
he had led him quietly TO the dside, and had
seen his wife s hand casped in his, he left them.
What world of joy and grief can the human
heart endure at the same moment Of time! How
sweet, yet how agonzing was this meeting! How
did Helen drink in tho words Of love and tender
ness that her husband murmured in her carlow
ed brow-and how precious to him were the
words of whispered love, that fell from her culver
ing hps,-aye-a treasure TO be the solace of
years!
Beyond expectation, Helen fingered week af-
ter Mr. Towards return; and he scarcely left her
by day, or by night,-For SON, time the children
had been at Mr. Aiwood's as the sight of them
seemed too exciting ia their mothers sinking state
but once, after their fathers return, they we've
brought homo, TO give, aud to take, the last, fond
parting kiss AS the youngest child was taken
from her, Helen looked at her lalher,-looked at
the little ones, and then raised her fearful eyes to
heaven. Words would have been useless, had she
been able to utter them Her face expressed far
more than language could have done and its mean
ing was engraved on her husbands soul. Two
days after parting with her children, Helen breath
ed out her spirit, while her head reclined on the
bosom Of her husband, as peacefully and as gently
as an infant falls asleep in its mothers arms
In the solitudc--the utter dcsonton that follows
the last sad Offices 10 departed FRIEND nothing is
so natural as to examine every relic they have left
behind, Particularly do we love to touch, and
look at those things, which have not been removed
from the position in which the last oae placed
them. Above and beyond all, is the value attach
ed to any memoranda any diary, in which the
thoughts and feelings of the dcpntcd have been
last recorded
One of Mr. Towards first occupations, when left
to himself, after the narlncnt Of his wife, was to
examine the contents Of her secretary and writing
desk, the keys to which had been las, turned by
her own hand. He suffered not sc,ip of paper
that bore the mark of her pen, to pass unread
He found much that WIS interesting; much that
calculated to cyult his wife in his opinion, in res
pect to the qualities both of her head and heart
In searching the desk, he found in its most secret
compartment, largo packet, carefully euyolopcd
in white paper, aud tied with rihand. This he
laid aside until he had examined all the Loose, and
apparently less important papers, This done, he
took The chair which Helen used to occupy, ard
placing it at her table, he proceeded to open the
packet. 1t contained all the letters he had written
to his wife before their marriage; one, written by
herself to each of her children, to be handed to
them at future day., md last of all, one to him
self, This he opened with trembling eagerncss,
aud Il lhiohbing heart, 1t was dated few days
later than the last he received from her while in
Washington; but it was written at intervals, and
with evident effort The writing testified how
weak and tremurus was the hand tina, guided the
pen, 1t was as foIlows-
Ny dear, dear Hasjaa5,-
The days of your own Helen are numbered and
almost finished. Yesterday I solemny adurcd
DR. Miller to tell me the worst Of my case; and he
says that few weeks must finish my earthly
course, And must we pau!-forever--and 50
soOn!--Ihc very morning of my life is scarcely
pas, land yet am summoned away! How shall
bear to leave my husband, and my children'
For many long months past, my heart has SEEM
ed AS if conscaled in my bosom, in ookns
back, all seems like troubled dream. lave
been in a kind Of sleep' Thank heaven, am
now awake-and my heart beats with feyent love
md gratitude, though soon to cease beating for
ever.
My dear husband, You were my idol. | lived
'nly for you and myself, llappy--O, ho,c happy
n your love. forgot the hand that loaded me
with benefits, that showered blessings in such
,rolnsou upon me! needed all the chas,semcnt
have received. to arouse me from my forgc,lnl
nsraiude. Bat o, what cause for humiliation.
ouow, and regret, THAT until my hear,-strings
we're breaking, should never think of consccrating
myself to him, who has done so much for me-
Dearest husband, avoid my example as you would
VOID the pnngs Of rcmorse, and perhaps final
esrucion.