Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-12-23
FEMALE FIDELITY,
BY L. r. FISHER.

visit young lady residing about - miles
distant from the beautiful village of Port E.
s*""", in which, then resided. She was
one whom had known from infancy, and
had long been intimately acquainted with her
the idol Of his aged heart, and the hope and
solace Of his latter days. Just entering her
seventeenth year, with a mind highly cult
waited, and sensibity alive 10 every amia-
BILE impression, she became a fit object to
love and be beloved. Her youth had been
passed IN quietness and seclusion, in a cee.
bratcd female seminary a, Burlington. Grief
aud sorrow we're unknown to her, and she
knew not Of the troubles and trials Of this I'M
friendly world of woe. Because Mary was
innocent.
The communication received, strongly
excited my approximations, that without inn
mediate haste, my presence or services
would be entirely unavailable. According.
ly, without delay, was soon fast approach.
ing the object of my visit. The light of
another day had just begun to dawn upon the
world; the calm and quiet hour of morning
twilight, when the dark shadows of nigh, are
fast mingled with the rays of approa ching
day. Twas at that bewi,ching and enchant-
ing reriod Of time, when all creation seems
to feel and acknowledge the supreme and
overwhelming power Of Omnipotencc; all
nature, smiling in terminated beauty, pay.
ing homage and alteration to Him who is its
great Divine Creator. Whether the high
mountain peak that mingles with the clouds,
clothed with eternal SHOWS, or the low Sc
questered glen beneath, carpeted with the
verdurc Of nature-wliether the tall, sturdy,
towering oak that decks the forest, or the
tiny bird which MARBLES among its branches
all eloquen,Iy proclaim the wisdom and
power Of that hand, which has been the Au-
thor Of them all.
A thousand reflections hurried through my
mind, as travelled along the lonely road
which led to the abode of Mary and her aged
parents. Can it be possible, thought |,
again and again-,hat she whom ! had
seen so recently, flushed with health and
beauty-the charms Of cheerfulness upon her
lips, the joy and pride of her family, was now
the victim of disease and probably Of death
Relentless, cruel spoller how dost thou love
to revel and riot among the charms of female
loveiness, whitening like an early blight the
rose that blooms On beauiy's cheek, dashing
at one fell swoop to the grave, all their hopes
and expectations here, there to lie, and fade,
and perish How dost thou, with thy stur-
dy foot. love to trample over the fair, fragile
forms Of those we once loved, but now can
love no more.
INDUCING in this sad train of melancholy
musing, found had approached the house
without being conscious Of the distance pas
sed over. was soon ushered into the cham.
Der OF the sick. There lay the wreck of one,
who, hut short time since, was glowing
with health and vigor, exulting in the buoy
ancy of youth, and the " consciousness Of
existence. Deaths dark doings were de.
picted on her countenace. advanced to the
bed-she seized my hand with convuls,ve
grasp (Which can never forget pressing i,
with power as if all her expiring energies
at that moment we're concentrated in her fin.
gers-slIe exclaimed" Doctor, am l no,
,, dying l have not sent for you profession.
ally. we'll know it is now too late to de.
rive any benefit from your skill. have s""
! for go" all acquaintance, as friend, AND
{ especially so, as the esteemed friend o.
( Frank Woodville. You know him, Doc.
> tor ,"
Intimately well, Mary. He is now"
. remarked, I" absent on visit to his Friends
in Massachusetts.
eyes," she replied, 81 know it, and i'm
mediately after his return, we were to b.
: united in marriage. He is making the pre-
: paratory arrangements for that anticipated
3 yful event-and must make preparation
;. for the sad solemnities of death and tn
;, grave, with all their dreary APPENDICES.
b | endeavored to soothe her by stating sh
i might not be so near her end as she appre
: hendcd. But if she believed life 10 be S
u nearly at its close, her mind and all its affec
,ions should be directed and fixed upon Hin
n only, who was able and willing to supper
I; her in the hour of affection and distress.
u She bestowed on me an inexpressble loo
Of caln,ncss and composure IA faint smil
u playing around her mouth - remarkint
Al Doctor, this have attended to, long he
II fore sickness brought my head TO this pillo'
q and can now say with the Psalmist {
old, though walk through the valley Of I'll
shadow of death, will fear no evil, for tho
a art with me-, thy rod and thy staff they CON
" fort me-. Doctor, have few words
Is say 10 you, and feel by my increasin
If weakness, that they must he said soon. -
m With an earnrstness Of expression which
,c shall ever remember, she said, "you will Sc
lie Frank Woodvllle again-l never shall J.
&c Tell him love him dearly and sincerely
,e lie has made that avowal time without nun
IL Der. Inever have. This has not arise
10 from want of anection-but from my youl
y. and the naturl diffidence and tim,dity Of nj
n sex. Doctor, please ren'o'
" this lock of hair" Immediately separ'
u, ted the large black ringet which she held
", her hand, overshadowing her brow and col
trasting beautifully with the marble whi.en
of its surface.
g. Give this to Frank Woodvile, and II
me him it is gh from Msryl Tell him 10
~ ~ him. Oh, could only sound those fe
YER short words in his hearing, l would leave 4
es. world conlentedly, yea, triumphantly. II
cs HIM the last words his dear Mary ever Z
] tered-,he last accents that Quivered up
he the cold, pulseless lip Of Mary. was the e