Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-11-04
From the Georgia "Orion."
THE ANGEL BRIDE.
A T A L L.


FROM the MSS. OF LATE PHYSICIAN
II was evening-the evening of a summer
Sabbath The sweet hush of Nature, I'M
broken by a single sound Of busy life, har-
moniZed but too painfully with the oppressive
stiffness which pervaded the chamber With
er my footsteps were bent 1t was on the
ground floor of pretty residence in the out
skirts of the village of C. Its open
windows overlooked garden where Taste
aud Beauty reigned suprcme-a second
Eden, which extended with a scarce percep-
tibe declination to the very margin of
stream, where it was bounded by white
picket, aud hedge of low trimmed shrub
berry. over which the eye caught the flashing
waters as they swept on glowing in the GRIM
son radiance of the sunset
/ entered the house, and stepping lightly
along carpeted passage, tapped softly at
the door of chamber Of sickness--aye of
Death. - .
Welcome, Doctor" said the silvery
voice of lady, who sat by low couch,
partially hung by white drapery. "Wel-
come the dear sufferer is now in quiet
.slumber-but must presently awake, and
one of her first enquiries will be for you"
How is your sweet Lucy now"
.. "She has been quiet and apparently COM
Portable all day. 1t is her Sabbath, Doctor,
as well as the worshippers' who go up to the
earthly courts of our loved Zion Oh p she
added, while the sunlight of JOY irradiated
her features, pale with long vigls at the bed
side of her sweet Lucy-"Oh! how full of
consolation is this scene of mortal suffering
of earthly bitterness, of expiring hope
Eyes, my dear friend,' replied, "your
cup Of affection is indeed sweetened from
on high. have seen Death to-day, clad in
his robes Of terror. He took from my hope
less care victim all unprepared, even after
long and fearful warning; and the recollec-
ton of the sad struggle, the terrible anguish
of the vanqushed; the fierce triumph of the
Conquerer, and the piercing wall of exhaust
ed Nature, haunt my memory still and
even in this earthly paradise | cannot forget
them"
''And is poor Edwards gone at last to his
dread account? Oh! how fear(ul" and
the gentle lady covered her face and wept.
Sometime elapsed. / fingered at the
couch of Lucy till she should awake, and
taking from the stand small though elc-
giant copy of the Bible, opened its silver
clasp, and my eye caught the simple inscrip.
ton on its fly leaf: "To my Lucy-a part.
ing gift from Clarence" had designed
to read portion of the word, but thought
was for the time engrossed.
had known Lucy May from her infancy
and she was scarcely less to me than m,
own daughter. Indeed, they had grown W
like twin blossoms, and were together al
mos: every hour of the day Seventeen
summers they had each numbered-thougf
Lucy was some months older. No brother
nor sister had either of them, and hence the
intensity of mutual love. Their thoughts
their affections, their desires, their pursuits
were in common. They called each othe
SISTER" and their intercourse honored thu
endearng name.
And Clarence-the Civ ,r of the little vol
ume in my hand-who was he! Clarence
Hamilton was the son of my best earthl
friend, and noble youth-in all the loft,
faculties and endowmeIts of the heart il
early manhood To him had Lucy beer
betrothed for more than year, and he wa
now absent from the village, though w
trusted when each sun rose, that its settin!
would bring him back in answer to our eau
tious summons. Especially had hope AM
expectation grown within our hearts tina
evening, yet had not word been spoken Oh
the subject by the widowed mother q
the lovely Lucy. At length, however, sh
raised her head, and observing the open vol
ume in my hand, she said, in an assumes
tone Of che erfulness
II trust Clarence will come this evening
1t is now"
Clarence !" said the sweet patient, open
ing her dark eyes, and looking eagerl
around. Her eyes rested only on her moth
er and myself, and with slight culver o
her lip, and sad smile, she said
ale is not come p
"No, my darling he has not yet come :
but there is more than an hour to the clos
ofthe day, and them"
"God grant he may come, said the ma
den, and she added with energy-"if it h
His holy will Oh Doctor, my kind, des
friend, your Lucy is wearing away fast,
she not?' and then observing the emotio
which attempted to conceal, she said =
"But am better to-day, am not Wher
is Ellen--why does she not Gomez liz