Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-04-20

was DOW Jar away, Perhaps even then
ms eyes. like hers, nigh, be directed to.
wards it.
!" so not Thursday \" she inquired Of
her mother, who drsw<near her bedside.
4 She replied that il was.
Thursday evening" she resumed, IS,
as you may remember, the last we ever
Il spent in our home. Edgar Ashton was
Il witE Us, and before We parted we all sang
our aavori;e evening hymn. Let me lis.
ten 10 iLnow for ihe last time"
i Many persons have heardthe Evening
HyAn. coWmepcinE with tile line
The day ~ past aud gone, -
beautiful for i:sgsimplicity. and which in
\ forreryears. might often, have been heard
i BY 1 New England Preside, sung by the.
funised voices Of a household, before retir-
Ing rest. Now, for the first time, lis
music rose on the still air OF the lonely
and solemn wilderness. The clear, deep
voice Of Mr., Osborne trembled not, even
when the voice Of Rosa was heard joining
inthe hymn ia accents sweet, vel low
and ;broken--for The iron nerves Of a.
sirong an are not easily shaken, even
when the heart is bleeding with anguish
Sut the voices oil the mother and brothers
l'were faint and unsteady. and sometimes,
almost ceased Tor they knew that il was
the last time Rosa would ever sing with
them. She had, before they commenced
their hymn, been removed 10 The shelter
Of the bower, but SO. near the entrance.
which bad BY her request. been made 10
look towards the home Of childhood, that
she could still behold the star which had
attracted her attention when II first began
TO kindle lis fires IN The heavens.
! She. spakesof Edgar Ashton. and holdiag
up her hand, SO az 10 display plain gold
ring be gave her At parting. requested il.
10 bereturued TO him when she was dead.
"Oh, Rosa" said Robert, sobbing as he
spoke. "you willget well-I know you
4 will [4
"No, Robert, Ishall die, and you ana
father and mother and James will all have
10 60 away and leave me here alone. You,
mother must write 10 Edgar Ahston, and
! tell him you left me resting IL a pleasant
! spot near a stream Of clear water, almost
Jas beautiful as thhtR runs near the
! home we left. Tell him the song of birds
will Aoat over me by day, and that a star
sweet and mild as the one we loved toim-
bgine was the home of minsterfng spirits,
wiltshire upon my grave by night. Mark
, the spot where you bury me, SO that il
[ ever be should be a wanderer in This coun-
try, he may find where / lie"
She now7closed her eyes, and seemed
: inclined TO sleep.
I u The night wore on, and the father and
mother watched together blythe low couch
Of their dying daughter. Even The boys,
' SO light were their slumbers, reused them
: selve al every noise, were itonly the low
! twi!ter Of bird as il moved on lis leafy
a perch.
J, The day Star had risen 10 the east. when
e Rosa awoke from herheavy sleep. Mr..
2 andg Mrs. Osbortte bent earnestly forward
4 to catchthe low nurmur on Der lips Her
!, words were broke and indisinct, but they
3 knew that she. sRske ot.the blessedness Of
!. that land whereEfriends meet TO part nc
II more, and where sorrow and signing flee
Z away. She beeame silent, and they saw
!, that il was death that had hushed 2siel
d voice. Mrs, Osborne and the boys covered
y their faces and wept; but Mr.. Osborne
. as be turned bis eyes toward heaven
J. now glowing with The first beams Of day
e said in a low, We; unfaltering voice, "Tht
I. Lord gave, and the Lord hath Ia ken away
j. blessed be the name Of the Lord
$, All the next day tney watched beside
their dead. Her shroud was carefully ar
p ranged by the mothers hands, and be
e long. golden lresses, which used 20 spor
Is with every breath Of wind, were darted OF
j, her cold forehead and lay motionless ami,
q, rs snowy folds Robert and Jane ssgalh
~ cred yiolets and wild roses, for these wer
g New England flowers, which they knew
" she loved, and placed them upon her Do
II. som
le The twilight shadows began 10 gather
"A grave had been dug in the shade c
in The, largest and most beautiful Of the treel
ne mid whose branches birds were now1sing
i. ing their evening song. They knew thi
the lime bad come for them toa comm
her to thedust, and kneeling by the bieI
ne woven Of green boughs, Mr.. Osborn
a ofsrd up prayer. fervent and humble
d, heart thrilling, vet full Of trust. Whe
be they arose, they fell Strengthened for the
be mournful task. They placed her gently
q the grave they had prepared. looked ni
lie on her for the last time then, all but ii
T. father turned away. for they could n,
lie bear 10 see The earth fall upon thessw
he face that had so often smiled upon then
be and which was beautiful even in dealt
D. Mr. Osborne leaned for few minutes I
ed his spade, and bIeathed silent prayer,th
er he might not.shrink from this trying d
is ", which be owed 10 the dead
ID By the time the grave was closed al
10 covered with The fresh green sods !; 4 4
at light had entirely faded. All was gal
ID and silent. Even the voice Of the wint
e. was hnshed yet as they sat together
Id the spot Where they had laid their pot
er Rosa. IA floating whisper such Is
in heard onIy IN the deep hush Of The ever
a. ling or night time. seemed 10 come
le them like low and very distant mOsI
ed None spoke, yet il fell on The hearts Of
Up with deep and soothing power. II ~
er peareJI 70 Them like The echo Of sPIrI
lis voices singing some sweet hymn, such
lie one as Rosa used to love lilo breathe VII
he bet clear. musical voice on still saboai
Ell evening ID summer.
ns The morning rose bright and balml
IL ana MI. OsbpFne. with the assistance
his family. having enclosed the grave d
IN dav before with logs prepared for The occ