Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-08-07
LANCASTER, SATURDAY, AUGUST !, ls47

4 cry, winch couiq out ring forever lhrO
the souls of that guilty pair. and fell
in death like swoon at their feet.
! After the insensibe girl had been
removed to her chamber, a stormy
scene ensued IN the room beneath
The parents and guests were alike en-
ragged against W, but the tears and
f prayers of his Young wife, the pcttcd
beauty and spoiled child, at last soften
ed somewhat the anger of the parents,
and opportunity Of explanation was
accorded to the offenders.
| A sorry explanation IT proved. The
gentleman affirmed that the first sight
of ElIen's lovely face had weakened
| the empire of her palmer sister over
his affections. Frequent interviews
had completed the conquests of his
loyalty; but he had been held in check
by honor, and never told his love, un-
til when on his way toespouse another
in an ungarded moment he had reveal
ed it, and the avowal had called forth
an answering acknowledgment from
Ellen.
They had thought it best, in order
to save pain to Lucy, and prevent o2-
position from her--and TO secure their
own happiness, to be married before
their arrival at C.
Lucy remained insensible for some
hours. When she revived and had APP
parentlY regained her consciousness,
she still maintained her strang, ST.
lence. This continued for many weeks,
and when it partially passed away,
her friends saw with inexpressible
grief that her reason had fled-she was
Ihopelessly insane! But her madness
was of mild and harmless nature.--
She was gentle and peaceable as ever,
but sighed frequently and seemed bur-
dened with some great sorrow she
fcould rot herself comprehend. She
had but one popularity, which all who
{ knew her in after years must recolect
this was wild fear and careful
avoidance of men. She. also seemed
possessed with spirit OF unrest. She
could not be confined, but was contin-
ually escaping from her friends, and
going they knew not whittier.
While her parents lived, they, by
their watchful care, and unwearying
efforts, in some measure controlled
this sad propensity; but when they
died, their stricken child became a
wanderer, homeless, friendless and for
lorn.
Through laughing spring and rosy
summer, and golden autumns, and tenn
pestous winters, it was tramp, tramp,
Itramp--no rest for her Of the crushed
heart and crazed brain.
| remember her as she was in my
early childhood, towards the last Of
her weary pilgrimage. AS my father
and my eldest brothers were frequent
lily absent, and as my mother never
closed her heart or her door on the
unfortunate, crazy Lucy often spent
an hour or two by our fireside. Her
! appearance was very singular. Her
gown was always patched with many
colors, and her shawl, or mantle, worn
and torn, until It was all open work and
fringe. The remainder Of her miser-
able wardrobe she carried IN bundle
on her arm, and sometimes she had a
number OF parcels of old rags, dried
herbs. &c.
In the season offowers, her tattered
bonnet was profusely decorated with
those which she gathered in the wood
or by the wayside. Her love Of
these and her sweet voice was all that
!, were left her Of the hl"om and music
OF existence. Yet no-hqr meek and
childlike piety still fingered. Her
God bad not forsaken her; down into
; the dim chaos Of her spirit, the smile
fhis love yet cleaned fainily-in the
waste garden Of her heart she siiIl
heard lis voice at eventide, and she
7 was not afraid Her Bible went up
i Nth her eyerywhere-a torn and soil
ed volume. bot as holy still, and it may
be as dearly cherished, my reader, as
the gorgeous copy now lying on your
table, bound in purple and gold,' and
with the gliding untarnishcd upon its
+ delicate leaves.
I ! remember to have heard my moth
er relate touching little incident con-
nectod with one Of Lucy'S brief visits
/ to us.
The poor creature once laid her
hand on tie curly head Of one Of my
brothers, and asked Of him his name.
William Edwin he replied with
timid, upward glance. She caught a