The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-10-02


with the intelligence that bel was i'll. All
well understood the cause of his illness, ano
felt then presentment that his doom had
gone forth. A week passed away, and was
told that he grew worse. l called upon him,
and was astOnished at the change that had
passed upon him. He seemed pleased TO see
me. from that time / called frequently
but as he never asked for Rose, | still forbore
l to name her TO him. Spring came, but still
n she remained in the city, and still Jasper ia
ded away. 1t was midsummer when letter
= came announcing her engagement with Mr..
Willard.
, That evening as sat by his bedside, he
started suddenly, as if from sleep, and said,
earnestly, Tell Rose, when you reply to her
letter, that Jasper who loves her as no other
can love, wishes her all joy, and would con-
graduate her. but that his broken heart has
only prayers to offer. You did not like TO
tell me, and thank you foryour kindness, but
| have seen and felt it all. Poor Rose, she is
happy now, but her dream of happiness may
be brief as mine. | was very happy in her
presence, and the light Of that presence, peo-
Piled with glowing me mories of her words, her
smiles, her tones of music, was with me day
and night when she was away. / forget my
orphanage, and all sorrow in the happiness of
/ loving her. | did not once think that | could
! be less dear to her; forgot all else in the
bliss of loving. But that day on the rock,
when she said she would go to New York,
the shaft of fate transfxed my heart ] open
ed there before her the casket of my hopes,
and there she crushed them ALL All my treas
ures, the delicate buds that had grown in my
secret soul-she broke them all. / strove 10
express my emotions, and felt my heart as
it were swelling with the restrained tide, I'M
I'll gush within my side, accompanied by a
pang Of agony, told that some chord of life
was broken. Since then have wasted away;
no power could re-unite the broken ligament.
and from that hour have been dying. Do
not deem me suicide. have not wiliully
nurtured hopeless passion to consume my
life; my disease is of the body though itcame
of mental anguish. | thank the Lord | am
ready and willing to die. IfRose would give
me her heart and hand, | would not, even for
her sake, forego longer the perfect happiness
of heaven. have cherished fond imagin-
ing that the departed hover around the loved
on earth and now feel that no earthly love
can possibly win the happy spirit from the
presence of the God who is Love, Light and
Happiness. | have loved Rose as few have
loved. My love was devotion of my whole
/
felt her rejection Of my fervent offering, can
never be painted in words. My fancy had
gathered all the beautiful and bright treasures
of earth, and woven them into tissue around
my heart, on which every gem reflected her
image in its own peculiar lustre. Her hand
rent the veil away, and my heart was undone,
naked, and desolate. No power could restore
its treasures-they were scattered away
Tell Rose that my last prayer for her is, that
she may be happy in the enjoyment Of that
peace which shall endure forever-which is
like perfumed oil on the stormy sea of life,
soothing its boisterous waves TO rest. You
will find in the bureau, Wonder, copies of her
letters, with such comments as my wlthered
heart prompted. Give them TO her if she he
unmarried, when | am gone to heaven; she
be then wife, they are yours. OH that L
could express to you my gratitude for your
uuwearied friendship. Reward for such kind
ness must come from a higher hand. Do
not weep. 1t is no sorrowful thing to die
young. Those who live long, suffer much,
and death comes surely last. Why should
we wish to fitch few years from a blissful
eternity, to spend them here in pain and sor-
row. deem myself peculiarly blest in be-
ing so soon dismissed from the conflict
You may live to wish it had been your lot
to pass TO heaven in the morning of life
Oh, blessed are the early dead who die in the
Lord
i listened tearfully to his calm philosophy;
yet felt that if the life he so sincerely con-
temned could bring him the gift of the one
sweet Rose, he could grasp it eagerly despite
its pains and sorrows.
l received a letter from Rose written at her
fathers containing an invitation to her we'd
ding as bridesmaid. The wedding was % take
place on the 9th Of June. | cannot possibly
go, said to my mother. for Jasper would
know it and it would kill him. The next
morning went to him as usual. He caught
my eye as l entered, and l felt at once the
strange fascination of his gaze, for he would
sometimes hold my eyes by seeming magic,
while felt that his were searching my soul.
Presently he drew quick sigh, mufied his
face in the pillow and wept for could hear
his stifed sobs. was much distressed, and
laying my hand on his, besought him to be
comforted. But be only wept the more con-
vulsively. l sat down and cried for COM
pany.
At length he grew calm, and looking up,
said: 1t is past now. l shall never weep
again. You can go to her wedding. l shall
then be in Heaven. 1t will not grieve me
there
Jasper said what makes you think that
Rose is soon TO be married 2
Il felt it in your presence he said, 'and
read il in Your eyes. She will be bride on
the ninth of June. But my bridal couch will
be made before hers
Twas overcome and left his room. This
was on the 9th of May. That evening he
was greatly changed, and continued TO fail
gradually until the 5th of June. That day he
was in great agony, but at every interval of
ease strove to comfort us with assurances that
i he should soon cease to trouble and agonize
us, with his helplessness and agony. At sun
set his pains left him, and he poured out his
gratitude to the God of mercy, that the Bit
teness of death was past-and about three
O'Clock on the morning of the sixth, just as
the day-star arose, he broke out into singing, |
and with triumphant ecstacy his spirit pas
sed away in a flood ofmelody; and we fancied
we heard the seraphic strain rapturously on
our ears while he passed eastward to the glo- |
rious gate of Heaven.