The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-05-03


so she crept silently to her side, and looked up
silently into her face and felt her heart sad within
| her.
| A little time, and the sharp winds Of an unusual
cold spring sent Qhe physician sad) poor Rachel
Morrison to her grave. There was one who knew
otherwise, who knew the iron had entered into
her soul, and festered its core, and that her body
was too delicate to withstand the struggles OF her
mind. Her mother closed her eyes, and sorrowed
over her bier-but not as one having no hope, for
her last blessed words were 81 know that my Re-
deemer liveth." There was much mourning in
the bereaved dwelling. Kate was able to feel and
| tell how truly she missed,
ssThe glancing of her sisters eye,
The waving of her hair,
The footsteps lightly gliding by,
| The hand so small and fair"
But little Miriam soon forgot all her troubles in the
excitement of black frocks and Grape bonnet
| Years pass, as well as months; and when we
review them we think they pass as quickly. The
retrospect of both is nearly the same but the pros
pect how different! Katharine Morrison had CON-
pleted her seventeenth year, and was already
and beauty. She had almost ceased to remember
that her sister, whose once beautiful form was now
part and parcel of the earth wherein it lay had left
"a written testimony of her trials; that she had laid
open her hearts feelings, hopes and disappont-
ments, for her advantage; that to prevent her sis
ter's tears she had re-shed her own-for she had
torn afresh, wounds which time had comparatively
healed, and had again counted the drops distilled
from her acerated heart.
"My blessed chd!'' said her mother, "have you
forgotten poor Rachel's legacy'-how she be-
queathed the knowledge of her temptation, that
your fate might not be as hers" She laid few
leaves of paper upon her table, fairly and plainly
written; and Kate retrimmed her lamp, and flung
the garland from her brow, that she might be able
to read the story of her sister.
ga scoman's, Kate! a young unmarried woman's
tiials, are generally of the affections-uials of
judgment;-tr Of power come afterwards; but
young girls trials are of the heart.
81 hope you will not understand what it is to
love; unless, indeed; you love what is lovely, not
only for time, but for eternity. The impression
made on young heart may be considered light;
and yet, Katharine, it is long-oh! how long before
it wears out. found it 50. You know the pains
my dear mother ever took to impress upon US our
religious duties; to teach us Christ all-in-al suffi-
cient, and to manifest our faith by our works.
fear that trusted too much IN my own strength
that thought too much Of my own acquire
ments. The pains bestowed on my education
made me superior to my companions, but not, alas!
superior to myself The remembrance OF your
sister-of the once living reality of her who pens
these lines-will, before you read them, have faded
to an outlined vision. You will remember thin,
pale girl who loved flowers and music, and for
whom you gathered the fine grapes, and the
thought of her will bring back her last kiss, her
white brow, her death hand the never to be for
gotten touch of death the tears, mothers pre-
cious tears! then the funeral! Ay, my beloved
sister, all will be as vison but we may learn
wisdom from such.
al did think highly of my requirements, and
practised them more for the sake of display than
for desire to give pleasure. They attracted the
attention of one who possessed of much talent,
deficient IN the great requisite for domestic, much
less christian happiness. For time, we were as
two gay butterflies, sporting in the sunshine;
learnt to see with his eyes, to hear with his ears,
to live but in his presence; and yet hardly knew
twas not that strange! One of the mysteries
of love, perpetually denying his influence with
my lips, lying to my own heart, practising self
deception, but however might have succeeded
in deceiving myself, did not, could not deceive
him. He knew his power, and while he loved
me, (ah, Kate, take my experience with you in
the world, and remember that while men talk,
of love, women feel it,) he believed, well, yet
endeav orng to laugh at my "amiable weakness"
"early prejudices," and "want of worldly knowl-
edge.' Such he termed, in honied words. wo-
mans best and surest safeguard, her refuge, her
hope, her shield and her buckler At first was
alarmed. but he never wounded by feelings.
Day by day, secure of my affection, he became
more free in his expressions, though he gave me
no reason to suppose he was guilty Of infidelty.
] wanted the courage, and, in truth, the christian
knowledge, to combat his assertions, and for long
time, sheltered myself under the hope, almost
the belief, that he did but jest And awful as it
was, still it was a comfort, towards comfort,
truly, that had no truth in its foundation. My
dear mother, too, trembled while she prayed for
my happiness; but my father thought of the splen-
dor of the alliance Twas to make, and rejoiced in
it..
"The time appointed for our union, and the care,
attention and tenderness of my afianced husband,
made me almost forget what then / had hardly
time to think upon amid the congratulations. and
preparations and festivals that were to celebrate
our marriage. Every one, too, assured me how
certain was Of happiness, and endeavored to-
yes, did believe it. | gave myself up to the
ntoxication of unsanci6ed hope, and / have fought
against my doubts and Christian terrors; it was to
be the last Sunday before our marriage, and we
were to take the sacrament together. He had