New-York daily tribune., 1849-02-21

pointing with bis fnger to the fringe Of little
birds perched cu the cornice of the bed. 1t isio
think that in the Spring these poor iule creatures
Of which have made M last friends. VIII seek
me yaiuly in my tower, aad that they viii no
longer lind broken pAnes TO hy 10 at nor BITS OF the
wool OF my mattress on the floor OF which % make
their nests.
But the nurse 10 whom | leave my little prop
eriy " in take care Of them as long as she lives
he resumed as il to console himself. and G!lcr
her-well God :"
"To the young birds he giveth food.
He melted 70 tears in speaking OF these little
creatures. It seemed that his tenderness OF soul
repulsed or weaued from men, had found refuge
with animals. Shall you pass some time 10 our
mountains be said 70 me. Yes, answered
We'll. 50 much the better be replied yoa
will close my eyes aid see tha, my grave is dug
as near as possible 10 that q my mother, my wife
and my child
He then asked me TO bring him q large chest Of
carved wood which was concealed under a bag Of
corn IN a corner Of the rom. placed the chest
upon his bed. He drew from It a large qasntlty
Of papers which he tore up Ia silence FOR hall an
nour begging his nurse 10 sweep the pieces into
the fire before bis eyes. There Was quantity oi
verses in all languages, and innumersbe pages
Of fragments divided by dates, as If souvenirs
"Why burn all tins ?" asked, timidly: has
not man moral as well as a material heritage -
leave for those who live after him You arc per-
haps burning thoughts or sentiments which would
viviiy soul
"Sufcr me 20 do it, said he there are tears
enough IN the world there Is no need to leave
few more drops upon the hearts OF men There
are. he added, showing me some verses, " the
hedgngs OF my thought it has mouied since
and taken its wings tor eternity And be con-
tinucd to tear and burn, while / looked through
the broken panes OF window upon the bleak
landscape without.
At the close he called me to the bedside
q" Here" said he, keep only this httle manu-
script, have not had the courage 70 burn i. ~.
ter my death, my nurse would have made boxes
Of Il tor her seeds. / wish the name with when
it's filled should not be proianed. Take II and
keep il till yo- learn that am dead. After that
you may barn 1t or keep il to your old age TO re-
member me sometimes, in turning over itspases-
took the roll. concealed It under my mantle
ana went out, promising 10 tctulh htAe "'f NJ"
every day 70 soften the end Of Raphael 10y the
cares aud conversations Of friend. In descend
iug, met along the staircase about twenty little
children climbing the steps their wooden shoes IN
their hands 70 receive tue lessons which he gave
to them even on the bedof death and ahile iariher
the ourate OF the village, Who was going to spend
the evening with him. sa.uted the Priest win
respect lie saw my red eyes and returned me
sautation of sad Intelligence
The mex, day l returned to the tower Raphael
had died during the night The bell OF the neigh
boring village beesn % sound the knell OF ms pn-
nal. The women and children came from the
doors Of their houses and wept SIS they locked IN
the direction OF the tower. In Mle green held
near the Chusch two men broke the-sod with
msttocks and followed oat trench at the foot OF
| a cross
| approached the door cloud Of swallows
ysulicd and piped snound the open windows en-.
,ering and going ont necessarily. as II some one
hai desols,ed their nests. learned siterwsrd'
in reading these pages. Why he surrounded HIM
self with these birds and what memory they re-
called 70 him until his desih.
1 r.