Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-03-27
HE Broken Heart.

N hkS ANa CaASAA hkSssh -
BY c.. d. PRENTICE.
have seen the infant sinking down
like stricken flower, TO the grave
the strong man fcrcely breathing out
his soul upon the field of battle-the
miserable convict standing upon the
scaflold. with deep curse quivering
on his lips--I have viewed death 10
all his forms of darkness and vengeuce
with fearless eye--but never could
look on woman, young and lovely
woman, fading away from the earth in
beautiful and accomplishing melan-
choly, without feeling the very foun.
Itains OF life turned to tears and dust
Death is always terrible, but when IA
form of angel beauty is passing off to
the silent land Of the sleepers, the
heart feels thas something lovely in
the universe is ceasing from existence,
and broods, with a sense of utter dcs-
olation, over the lonely thoughts that
come up like spcctres from the grave
TO haunt our midnigbt musings.
| Two years ago took up my resi-
dence for few weeks in a country
village in the eastern part Of New
England. Soon after my arrival be-
came acquainted with lovely girl.
apparently about seventeen years Of
age. She had lost the idol of her
pure hearts purest love, and the shad-
ows Of deep and holy memories were
resting like the wing of death upon
her brow. first met her in the pres
ence of the mirthfu. She was, in
deed, creature to be worshipped--
her brow was garanded with the
young years sweetest howers-hcr
yellow locks were hanging beautifully
and low upon her bosom-and she
moved through the crowd with such a
floating and unearthly grace, that the
bewildored gazed almost looked to sec
her fade into the air, like the creation
of some pleasant dream. She seemed
cheerful and even gay! yet saw that
her gaiety was but the mockery Of her
feelings. She smiled, but here was
something in her smile which told that
its mournlul beauty was but the bright
reflection Of tear--and her eyelids,
at times. closed heavily down as if
struggling to repress the tide Of agony
that as bursting from her hearts Sc
crct urn. She looked as if she could
have left the scene Of festivity, and
laid her forehead down upon the fresh
green earth, and poured out her strck-
en- soul. gush after gush, till il mingled
with The eternal fountain of life and
purity.
Days and weeks passed on, and that
sweet girl gave me her confidence and
| became to her as brother. She
was wasting away by disease. The
smile upon her lip was fainter, the pur-
pie veins upon her cheek grew visible
and the cadenccs Of her voice became
daily more weak and trcmulous. On
quiet evening in the depth Of June,
we wandered out Il little distance in
the open air. 1t was then that she
first told me the tale of her passion,
and Of the blight that had come down
like mildew upon Der life. Love bad
been portion of her existence. Its
tendriIs had twined around her heart
in her earliest years; and, when they
were rent away, they left a wound
which flowed I'LL all the springs Of her
soul were blood. 81 am passing a.
way" SAID she. Sand il should be so.
The winds have gone over my life. and
the bright buds OF hope and the sweet
blossoms of passion are scattered
down, and lie whitening in the dust, or
roiting away upon the chill waters Of
memory. And yet cannot go down
among the tombs without tear. It's
very hard TO bid farewell 10 those dear
scenes which from day to day, have
caught the color Of my life, and SYM
pathized with its joys and sorrows -
That little grove where | have so often