The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-09-21
ny CHARLES pIcKgNs.

or Sne was ueau. 1neFe, upon
her little bed, she lay at rest. The
soleman stiffness was no marvel
now.
She was dead. No sleep so beau
tiful and calm, so free from trace OF
pain, so fair to look upon. She
seemed a creature fresh from the
hand Of God, and waiting for the
breath of life not one who had lived
and suffered death.
Her couch was dressed with here
and there some winter berries and
green leaves, gathered in spot she
had been used to favor.
"When | die, put near me some
thing that has loved the light, ana
had the sky above it always.
Those were here words.
She. was dead. Dear, gentle, pa
tient noble Nell, was dead. Her
little bird-apoor slight thing the
pressure of finger would have
crushed was stirring nimbly in the
cage and the strong heart Of its
child mistress was mute and notion
less forever.
Where were the traces other early
J, cares, her suiterings and latigues ?
All gone. Hers was the true death
before their weeping eyes. Sorrow
was dead indeed in her, but peace
and perfect happiness were born {;
imaged in her tranquil beauty and
profound repose.
And still her former self lay there,
uhaltered in this change. Yes. The
old fre-sile had smeled upon that
same sweet face it had passed like
dream through haunts of misery
and care at the door of the poor
schoolmaster on the summer even.
ing, before the furnace fire upon the
cold wet night, at the still bedside
of the dying boy, there had been the
same mild, lovely look. So shall we
know the angels in their majesty,
after death.
The old man held one languid arm
in his, and that the rmall hand tight
folded to his breast, for warmth. II
was the hand she had stretched out
to him with her last smilc-the hanc
that had led him on through all then
wanderings. Ever and anon he
pressed it to his lips then Rugged il
to his breast again, mnrmuring thai
it was warmer now; and as he sale
it, he looked, in agony, to those wht
stood around, as ilimptoring item Il
help her.
She was dead, and past all hope
or need of it. The ancient room
she had seemed to fill with life, ever
while her own was waning fast-th,
eyes she had gladdened--the nois
eless haunts of many thoughtful
hour-the paths she had trodden a
it were but yesterday-could know
hes no more.
cit is not" said the scholmaster
as he bent down to kiss her on tn
check, and gave his tears free vent
,'it is not in this world that Heaven
Justice ends. Think what tits, com
pared with the world to which he
young spirit has winged its flight
and say, if one deliberate wish ex
pressed in solmen terms above thi
bed could call her back to life
which of us would utter it p
When morning came, and the,
could speak more calmly on the sub
ject of their grief, they heard how
her life had closed.
She had been dead two DAYS
They we're all about her at the time
knowing that the end was DRAWN,
on. She died soon after daybreak
They had read and talked to he
in the earlier portion Of the night
but as the hours crept on, she sunl
TO sleep. They could tell, by wha
she family uttered in her dreams
that they were of her journeying
with the old man they were of M
painful scanes, but Of these who hat
helped and used them kindly, for sl,
often said, "God bless you ~ will
great fervour. Waking, she neve
wandered in her mind but once, AM
that was at beautiful music whicI
she said was in the air. God knows
1t may have been.
Opening her eyes at last, from
very quiet sleep, she begged tina
they would kiss her once again
That done, she turned to the old ma
with lovely smile upon her face
such, they said, as they had neve
seen, and never could forget-an
chung with both her arms about Ia
neck. They did not know that sll
was dead, at first.
And now the bell-thc bell 81
had so often heard by night and da,
and listened to with solemn pleasul
almost as living voice-round i
remorsles toll for her, so young,
beautiful, SO good. Decrepid az
and viuorouc life ,nj hloo,.;