The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-08-21

dress and descend. When came in, found
the brcakfeast table set. The charming mistress
greeted me with smiling "Good morning." and
little Charley met me with picture book This,
indeed, is peace and happiness, thought l. as my
friend entered with the little sister in his arms
his face beaming with paternal pride and Joy
full contcntment. He looked younger as we'll as
happier than when had seen him several wears
| previous.
} After our pleasant meal was over, l spoke of
the necessity of leaving them. They urged my
longer stay and invited me to come and spend a
month with them. Kissing the dear little chill
J dren, who had so much delighted me, bade nv
friends adieu and proceeded on my journey. The
scenes of the last night seemed to complete the
revolution that had been going on in my feelings
With new and strange ideas and emotions,
found myself pending upon the course of my
past life, which now appeared as course of con-
tinual error, and were if not too late how soon
, would alter it.
But to enjoy domestic happiness, | must mar
ry, and | knew of but one being on earth that
could wish to marry, and she was on the eve of
marriage with another. The thought filled me
with anguish. But then it occurred to me that
there might still be even possibility that it
not yet too late. This inspired me with a sort
of indefinite hope, and on this uncertain hope
went on building many a fancy palace.
l At about three in the afternoon reached the
timent of some painful disappointment suddenly
seized me, and an nndefnable fear took posses
sion of me, which, as | neared the dwelling,
seemed about to be realized for the yard was FL
led with horses and carriages, as if there was
some considerable assemblage of people. My
first thought was that it was the wedding of Alice
Lessing, but as aighted from my carriage,
perceived that it must be funeral OCCASION
Scarce knowing what did, hastened into the
hall which found crowded with people: CLAN
ced into the paror which seemed filled with
mourners. A gentleman whose face was tami-
: liar to Inc bcckoned me in, and to seat beside
e him.
Soon as was seated gazcd anxiously around
the room to see who was missing from the num-
: Der. All eyes seemed directed to me, and there
v was each and every member of the family with
the exception Of my beloved Alice. And where
= was she: A coffin covered with flowing black
i drapery rested on a table in the centre of the
II 4, room From Its size it must contain woman's
a slight form. 1t was, it must be Alice. Every
l. object in the room whired before my eyes, and
: darkness overspread all. l was reused by some
l. one whispering, 'You i'll! drink this pre-
: sentlng glass of water to my lips. tasted the
y water and by a powerful effort conquered the
: talntness. In few minutes more the services
were ended Then the gentleman who had in
Vlted me IN, arose and putting his arm through
S mine, drew me to the coffin. There in that coffin
j. Alice Lessng. Roses as white as the spotless
robe which enshroudcd her, were laid about her,
n while boquet, made Of delicate evergreen, en-
" twined with the ever-blooming amaranth, rested
: on her bosom. There she lay, pale as the water
Higher soft eyes closed as ifin gentle slumber
her lips, on which smile still seemed to lin
ger, were just slightly parted, showing the edges
: Of her pearl-like teeth; and it seemed to me as
though | could see the gentle heavlng of her
breast, as if softly breathing. This seemed not
to me like death, for there spiritual beauty,
a something gol ious and heavenly in the express
: sion ofher face, with which, it appeared, no
+ painful feeling could be associated
But my companion moving away from my,
|. side, recalled me to consciousness that was
looking, tor the last time, upon the dear play
IS mate of my childhood and dearly beloved friend
l of my later years. 1t seemed if | could not
, withdraw my gaze from that face SO lovely even
o in death.
c 1t was one of those moments when the events
ota lifetime pass in instantaneous review before
{ the mental vision. The happy infancy and
childhood of Alice Lcssing-the bitter parting
: the love flour parcnts-the gricfs we had sue
J cessively borne in their loss-the hours when
we had talked over these sorrows and trals-the
+ ever attectionate kindness of Alice toward me,
l. and her last sad letter: in that instant of time
IL were compressed, with vivcd clcarncss, all these
e remembrances. And then the blighting, crush
ing thought-she is dead, and the grave must
/ soon receive her!-rushed like dagger through
- my heart bent over that angelic face and wept
Is like child.
II | have a confused recollection of walking,
:. with the same person who led me to the coffin,
n TO an open grave of seeing a company of mourn
, ing friends in black; of young girls in snowy
white, with roses and lilies in their hands, which
e they threw into the open grave upon the coffin;
of many children, with faces sad and sorrowful
"a long, wearisome procession. When the cof-
fin, containing all that loved, was slowly, gen
J. tly lowered into the grave-how gladly would
have laid myself beside it forever!
i As we returned to the house, DR.. Atherton
: (for he it was) withdrew his arm from mine at
: the gate, saying he must leave then, but
would see me that evening, for he had something
$ to communicate to me. His face wore sad, sub
. dued expression, and | had felt his arm tremble
and seen his tears fall at the grave Of Alice
This, thought |; was her atfianced husband, and
he looks tar worthier of her than l have been
t But there was strangeness in his demeanor to-
wards ME that knew not how to account for.
The uncle and aunt of Alice told me with ma
ny tears, of her sickness, her gentle patience in
/ suffering, and her peaceful death; how she had
t failed for few months past almost impercepti-
bly,, without uttering any complaint, till her pale
cheek, feeble step and hollow cough awakened
Y the fears of her friends They had urged the
4 necessity of journey south in the hope of
t storing her; and she was to have been married,
and Dr.. A-and her eldest cousin were to accom-
pany her. .. ... ..E-. ........- >-.u...
i. After both Mr.. and Mrs. Welston had left the
t room, Alice's cousin, Mary Welston, came in.
7 She was apparently timid, but graceful and pref
ty. When had last seen her she was but
!, child thought she resembled Alice, though
her eyes and hair were dark, and it seemed as if
she had learned something of the grace and dig
nltV OF Alce'S manners. n
$ She conversed about her cousin for a few min
: utes. Said she:
Everybody loved Alice, from the infant to the
aged; and one could not help loving her-she
1 was so kind and good.
ventured to make an inquiry respecting her
4 intended marriage She answered,
I; "The engagement with DR.. Atherton was bro
: ken of, before she became very low, at her re-
. quest. ss,s essy .atf
: Miss Welston then brought me book, con-
? tanning various pieces which Alice had written
! within the last few years, among which were
II