The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-04-18

to my fathers chamber, A faint fire was
burning on the besrih. BY its waverine
and inconslant light, recognized my falh.
er, my mother, aud my four sisters. They
were sitting around the fire and rose a, see
ing me, was going TO throw myself into
my fathers arms but he motioned 10 me,
with a solemn gesture, not 10 do it. j
stretched ou, my arms to my mother, bu'
she drew back with look Of sadness. j
called each of my sisters by name, and the,
took my hand, but made no reply. All then
took their seats again.
! 'Dun't YOU know met cried l. is this
| he manner in which family ought to re-
ceive a son and brother, after 50 many
years Of separalion9 Have you, then, al
ready learned that have entered into the
service Of Ptu,sia! But could not do
otherwise; my Liberty, the happiness ol
seeing you, was at that price Think, then
han for sixteen years have not heard q
single word from you. Separated from
Won by inccessant wars, in the service OF
Sweden, prisoner of war had nothing
10 soOhe my cares and doubts.-And YOU
see, That the 6rst use have made OF ms
liberty has been 10 search for you here
here, where had scarcely a hope of find.
ling you--but where, at leas', believe thai
it might be possible to learn whittier should
90 for you. ALI! my father, don't You an
swer me! Ny mother you are silent!
Have You forgotten my sisters, the love and
the sports of our childhood' those sports
which these walls have so oftened witness
ed!
At these last words my sisters seemed lo
be aflecled. They whispered among
themselves, they rose and beckoned to N,
10 approach, and one Of them went and
kneeed down before my mother, and hic
her head between her knees, as she wert
rIaying hot cookies. Surprised al ,hi'
strange fancy at a moment OF such solemn.
Y touched her hand, and not lightly witt
the whip which ( had. A mysterious pow
er compelled me 10 70 this. Then it wa
my turn to kneel down before.my mother
and hide my head between her knees. {
error! felt through her silk dress and
clothes, her cold and lfeIess form; hear
a slight noise, as of bones rafting sgains'
each other, and when hand was placed it
my hand that hand remained there. Ii wa.
that Of corpse. started up, and uttered
a cry Of horror, al had dsappeared and
all that remained to me Of lha, frdhnul Wis.
ion, was the human remains which | still
cIsspe6 ccnvusveIy.
Beside myself, my reason unsettled, j
e(l the horrid place; rushed into the cour
where found nv horse, and moun, ng him
| was not aware of what was doing. Start
led al fu'lPace through The forest al random.
Al day break my horse sunk beneath me
and died. fell myself insensible. Ny
attendants, alarmed at my disappearance
found me at the foo, Of tree with nay scul
broken. just escaped death, and il was
not unIll after three weeks suffering with
cold, fever agony, and delirum, that re.
turned TO my reason, and hopes were enter
aimed Of my recovery. Then was in,
formed that my whole family had perished
victims to the pliIess war which had desc
lated Luxembourg, and that the castle of
Gross Renzuw, had, after several attacks .
been pllaged and sacked.
While scarcely co" velescent, repaired
= second time to the castle, To perform the
last dntes TO the mOltal remains Ofmy fam
| y. The most scrupulous search which |
Nade was Of no Avall in discovering the
cas-, sign Of these sacred relics. a single
land. a wOmsn's hand, encircled by gold
hahn, was lying in the chamber where the
fatal vision had appeared 10 me. IOoh
he chain, which you see here, and the hu
nan boner were deposited in The oraiory Of
he castle.
Many years rolled away. About two
months ago, was sleeping in this armchair
where you now sss me, when slight nos.
awoke me. My faIhSr, my mother. and
my -four sisters were before me, ss | form.