Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-09-09
Whole No sos.


ny colors, aud her shawl, on mantle, worn
and torn, until il was all open work and
fringe. The remainder Of her miserable
wardrobe she carried in bundle, on her
arm, and sometimes she had number Of
parcels Of old rags, dried herbs, &c.
In the season of flowers, her tattered.
bonnet was proiusely decorated with
those which she gathered in the wood or
by the way-side. Her love for these aud
her sweet voice were all that were lett
her of the bloom and music of existence.
Yet no,-hcr meek and chld-like pi,fy
still fingered. Her God had not iorsak-
en- her down into. the dim chaos Of her
spirit, the smile OF his love yet CLEANED
fain'ly-m the waste garner of her heart
she still heard his voice at eventide, and
she was not afraid" Hen Bible went
with her every whese-a torn and soiIedi
volume, bot as ho4y s.ll, and it may DO
as dearly cherished, my reader, as the
gorgeous copy now lying on your table.
bound in ''purple and gold" and with
the gliding untarnishsd upon As delicate
feaves.
i remember to have heard my mother
relate Il touching little incident connect
ed with one Of Lucy's briefvisits to us.
The poor creature once laid her hand
on the curly head of one Of my brothers.,
and asked him his name. William
Edwin he replied, with timed upward
glance. She caught away her hand and
signing heavily, said, as though thinking
aloud, 81 knew an Edwin once, and he
made me broken-hearted.
This was the only instance in which
she was ever known to revert TO the sad
event which had desolaled her life.
Thirty wears from the time Of the COM
mencement Of this mournful history, Oh,
bleak and autumnal evening, a rough
country wagon drove into the village of
C. IT stopped at the aims house.
an attenuaied form was lifted oni, and
carried in and the wagon umbled away
Thus was Lucy Dutton brought 10 her
ndtiUe t0gn to die.
She had been III a decline Cor some
months, and the miraculous ssrenCth
which had so long sustained he, IN her
weary waDderings, at last forsOok her ut
terly. Her sister had died some time be-
fore, and the widowed husband had soon
after removed with his family to the far
West ; so Lucy had no friend, no home
but the alms-house.
But they were very kind to her there.
The matron, true woInan whose soft
heart even the hourly contemplation of
human misery could not harden, gave,
herself, with unwearying devotien, to the.
care ofthe quiet sufferer. With the eye
of Christian faith, she watched the shat
tered bark of that life, as borne down the
tide OF time 1t neared the great deep of
eternity, with an intense interest, as
though it were a royal galley.
One day about week from the time
of her arrival, Lucy appeared to suffer
greatly, and those about her looked for
her release almost impatiensly ; but as
night she was evidently better, and, 6r
the first time, slep. TRANQUILITY until morn
ing. The mairoD, who was by her bed
side when she awoke, was startled
by the clear and earnest gaze which met
her Own-but she smiled, and bade the
invalid good morning % Lucy looked
bewildered, but tie voice seemed TO re-
assure her, and exclaimed
"Oh, wha, long, long night this has
been :" Then glancing around, mQur-
ingIy, she added, where am and
who are YOU ? do not know you"
A wild surmise flashed across the mind
Of the matron-the long lost reason OF
the wanderer had returned But the
good woman replied calmly and soothing
ly, "why, you are among your friends,
and you will know me presently"
"Then, maybe you know Edwin and
Ellen :" rejoined the invalid "ha,e
they come Oh, had such a terrible
dream (! dreamed that they were mar
led Onlylthink, Ellen married to Ed
wn-it's strange should dream that"
My poor Lucy" said the matron.
with a gush of tears, "that was not
dream-'twas all true"
"All true" cried the invalid, "then
Edwin must be un,rue-and that cannot
be, for he loved me-we loved each other
well, and Ellen is my sister. Let me see
them, will 30 to them ?'
She endeavored to raise herself, but
fell back OH the pillow.
"Why what does this mean p said she,
"what makes me so weak |"
Just then, her eye fell OIL her hand =
She gazed on it in blank amazement.
/ Something IS the matter with my
sight" she said smiling iain.l.s. "for my
hand looks to me like an ole woman's."
-. lso .l b" said the mat,o.i, gently,
"anl so is moe aud yet we had fair,
plump bands ben young. Dear Lucy
20 ,ou not Nnow me am Maria Al
lem was TO have been your brides
maid y
can say no more--I will not make
the vain attempt to give in detail all -.
revealing to reduce TO inexpressnt
words the dread sublimlty Of that no. .
less sorrow
To the vretched Lucy, the last thirty
Gears were all as though they had never
| been. OF 40, a scene, not an incident,