Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-03-03
THE ANGEL BRIDE.


was on the ground foor OF pretty residence IN
the outskirts OF the village of c.. Its open
windows overlooked garden where taste mud
beauty regned supreme-a second Eden, which
extended with scarce percep,ible delinea,ion to
the very margin of a sirenm, where il was bound
ed by white picket, mud by hedge of low trim
ed shrub6ery, over which the eye caught the fash
ing waters ms they swept on, glowing in the GRIM
son radiance Of the sunset.
entered the house, aud stepping lightly nlong
carpeed passage, tapped softly at the door OF the
chamber oil sickness aye of death
welcome, Doctor, said the slvery voice of
Indy who sat by low couch, partially hung with
while drapery Welcome the denr sufferer is
now in quiet sunher--but must presently awake,
and one of her first inquiries will be for YOU
How is your sweet Lucy now?'
She has been quiet and apparently cou1fbrta-
BILE nil day. 1t is her Sabbath, Doctor, as well
the worshirpers who go up To the earthly courts
Of Zion. oh she added, while the sunlight of
Joy irradaied her features pa with long vigis nj
the bed.sd Of her swee, Lucy oh how full Of
consolation is the scene OF mortal life and suffer
ing, of earthly bitterness. Of expiring hopes =
Yes 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 hopeless a victim all unpre-
pared, even after long and fearful warning and
the recollection of the sad struggle the terrible nm
guish OF the vanquished, the fierce triumph Of the
conqueror, aud The piercing wall Of exhausted ma
ture, haunt my memory still and even in this
earthly paradise cannot forget them
And is poor Edwards gone ut last to his dread
account? Oh how fearful and the gentle la
dy covered her face and went.
Some tune elapsed. fingered at the couch of
Lucy ill she should awake, and taking from the
stand small though elegant copy OF the Bible,
opened It's silver clasp and my eye caught the sim
rle inscription on the fly leaf To my Lucy-a
nnrt n ~ gilt frorp f'larpucpD | hind desiuppI In
read portion OF the word, hut thought was for
the time engrossed.
had known Lucy May from her infancy, aud
she was scarcely less dear 10 me than my own
daughter. Indeed, they had grown up like twin
blossoms, and were together almost every hour Of
the day. Seventeen snmuiers they had each NUM-
bered-,hough Lucy WINS some montho older. No
brother sister had either of them, and hence the
intensity Of mutual love. Their thoughts, their
affections, their pursuits were in corunon. They
called each other sister," aud their intercourse
honored that endearing nnne.
Aud Clnrence-the giver Of The little volume in
my linnd who was he ? Clarence Hamilton was
the of my hest earthly friend, and nobler
youth, IN all the lofty endowmenls Of the heart
and intellect, never reoced in the viror OF life aud
enrly manhood TIC him had Lucy been hetroll-
ed for more than year, and he was now absent
from the village, though we trusted when each
sun rose that lis setting would bring him back in
WSWeT W out ESSVtCdily Hdu
hope and expectation grown within our hearts on
that evening, yet had not Il word been spoken on
the subject by the widowed mother of the lovely
Lucy. At length, however, she raised her head,
and observing the open volume ia my hand, she
said, in an assumed tone Of cheerfulness--
Il trust Clarence will come this evening. 1t is
now
Clarence; said the sweet patient, opening her
dark eyes and looking eagerly arouud. Her eye
| rested only on her mother and myself. and with u
slight quiyer, aud a sad smile, she said--
He is not come!
mo, my darling he Inns not yet come; bu
there is more than an hour to the close of the day
and them
! God grant he may come said the maiden, anc
she added with energy ifit he Ills holy will
! Oh Doctor, my kind, dear friend. your Lucy il
wearing away fast is she not 2 aud then observ
ing The emotion which attempted to conceal, sh'
said, But am better tot day, nun not?' Wher,
| is Elen-why does she not come" Her mother
| turned an inqulring glance upon me as took thu
thin white hand OF the young girl into mine, ant
marked the regular but feeble bealiugs of III,
| pulse.
Shall send for your daughter, Doctor" sh'
! asked.
acquiesced and in few minutes Ellen wa
sobbng violently, with her face hidden on the DO
SON of her sister.
Ellen, my sweet sister, said Lucy, your faith
er has told me that must leave; and her voice
filtered my own dear mother, aud : but sh
did not utter the name of her lover, for at that
ment the voice OF one of the domestics WA
distinctly heard.
'fle is come Mr.. Clarence is come! Now
God bless my dear young lady, Lucy uttered
scream Of JOY, and clasping Ellen around III
neck, mnrmured-' Father in Heaven, j than
thee and then tainted with excess OF happines;
!; Her swoon was brief She recovered almost i'm
meda,ely, and her face was radiant with happiness
Clarence Hamilton was pursuing his studies a
, a distant College, and the letter which sun,mone
him to c. had scarcely ntimaed danger i
the illness ofh, berollled Ii had been delayed o
, the way, and but half the lime of the journey ha
sutiiced TO bring The eager anxious student 10 III
spot where his heart had stored its affections, mn
a cenIered It's hopes, next TO heaven for Clarenc
D was more Than noble hearted, hgh-souled man
r he was a disciple of Jesus Christ and he WI
/, fitting himself to he an Apostle OF his holy Rel
3 gon. He had nearly completed his course
i studies, and then to be united TO the beaulii,
y Lucy May.
y Three months before the Sabbath evening
h which we write, Lucy was in health and with III
e companion Ellen was performing her delighti
# dulles as Il Sabbath school teacher. Returnir
IS home, she was exposed 20 sudden storm OF raj
II and took cold. Her constitution, naturally wea
e was speedily affected, and consumption, that teri
a bic foe of youth and beauty, seized upon her
q another victim for its holocaust Of death. AT fir
the type OF her disease was MIDI hut within thr'
is weeks il had assumed fearful character, and no
it her days were evidently )ep.
II For This dreadful intelligence Clarence WINS n
d prepared. He feared, hut he hoped more, AT
r. though his heart was heavy, Hope kiudled brig
Al smile on his manly face, as he entered the lin
Of paror, where he had spent so many hours OF e
quisite happiness. lie had alighted from the sta
just before it entered the village, and proceeded
once to the residence OF Lucy.
Aa Mrs NAV entered the ron m. the Rmile on
m lips faded Tor her pale face told tale to his hea
b. Clarence, my dear Clarence, you have The w
m come of fond hearts,
st How is Lucyi Why is your face SO dead
W pale Oh say she is not dangerously i'll: I
a. me'--and thought OF misery entered his hear
OF she is--oh, my God, my Father in Heav'
or strengthen me = she is dying-even now dying
l. NAY, nay, Clarence said The mother, soothir
IT. ", Lucy lives, and we must hope for the be,
=. but be not alarmed Il YOU see her face even ra