The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-11
WASHINGTON, ID. c.
CHAPTER XXVI.

hushed breathings and mutfled footballs were
heard there, and the light stole in solemnly
through windows partially darkened by closed
blinds
The bed was draped in white, Sd there, be-
meath the dropping angel, lay little sleeping
form-sleeping never to waken.
There she lay. robed in one OF the simple
white dresses she had been wont to wear when
living-the rose-colored light through the cur
tains cast over the icy GOODNESS of death warm
glow. The heavy eyelashes dropped softly on
the pure cheek-vthe head was turned little
TO one side, if in natural sleep, but there was
saSs'>s -nsss. go - - ~ 'NN 80 th"'
high CELESTIAL expression--tnat mlngling OF rap
lure anu fe{osel, y, ror ~siss.,. -J.----
or temporary sleep but the long sacred rest
which " He giveth to his beloved
There is no death =. srcii- ss mon, dear Eva!
neither darkness nor shadow of death-only
such bright fading as when the morning star
fades in the golden dawn. Thine is the victory
without the battle-the crown without the con-
hict. - kxM
So did st. Clare think? as with foldsdAfMs
he stood there gazing! All ! who shall say
what he did think for from the hour that
voices had said in the dying chamber, she is
goneD it had been all dreary mst-a heavy
" dimness of anguish He had heard voices
around him-he had had questions asked, and
answered them--they had asked him when he
would have the funeral, and where they should
Law her. and he had answered impatiently that
he cared not.
Adolph and Rosa had arranged the cham
ber-yolatile, tickle, and childish, as they gen.
orally were. they were sOft-hearted and full of
feeling and while Miss Ophelia presided over
the general details of order and neatness it was
their hands that added those soft poetic touches
to the arrangements that took from the
death room the grim and CHASTITY air which too
often marks New England funeral.
There were still flowers on the shelycs--all
white, delicate, and fragrant with graceful,
dropping leaves. Eva's little table, drapcd in
white, bore on it her fayorite vase, with single
white moss rosebud in it.. The folds of the
drapery the fall of the curtains, had been ar
ranged and re-arranged by Adolph and Rosa
with that nicely of eye which characterizes
their race. Even now, while st. Clare stood
there thinking little Rosa tipped softly into the
chamber with basket of white flowers. She
stepped back when she saw st. Clare, and
stopped respectfully but seeing that he did not
observe her. she came forward to place them
around the dead. St. Clare saw her as in a
dream, while she placed in the small hands a
1alr cape Jessamine and with admirable taste
disposed other flowers around the couch
The door opened again, and Topsy, her eyes
swelled with crying, appeared holding some
thing under her apron. Rosa made quick,
forbidding gesture, but she took step into the
room.
You must 60 out" said Rosa, in sharp,
positive whisper "you haven't any business
here"
"Oh, do let me! brought a flower such a
pretty one" said Topsy, holding up a half
blown tea rosebud. ado let me put just one
there
Get along said Rosa, more decidedly.
"Let her stay +" said St Clare suddenly
stamping his foot. She shall Gomez
Rosa suddenly retreated, and Topsy came
forward and laid her Offering at the feet of the
corpse then suddenly, with wild and bitter
cry, she threw herself on the floor alongside the
bed, and wept and moaned aloud
Miss Ophclia fastened into the room, and
tried to raise and silence her, but i'm vain.
ooh, Miss Eva oh Miss Eva ! wish lis
dead, too; do"
There was q piercing wldness in the cry
the blood flushed into ST. Clare's white, marble
like face, and the first tears he had shed since
Eva died stood in his eyes.
Get up, child said Miss Ophelia, in
sottened voice; don't cry so. Miss Eva is
gone to heaven she is an ANGEL
But can't see her said Topsy. I" never
shall see her and she sObbed again.
They all stood moment in silence.
" She said she lored me-" said Topsy; :" she
did Oh dear oh, dear there amt nobody
left nowhere amt y
That's true enough said St Clare "but
do" he said to Miss Ophelia, see if you can't
comfort the poor creature
II jist wish hadn't never been born said
Topsy. " didn't want to be born, no ways ;
and don't see no use ont"
Miss Ophelia raised her gently, but firmly
and took her from the room but as she did so,
some tears fell from her eyes
"Topsy, you poor child" she said, rs she led
her into her ROOM don't give up can love
you, though ] am not like that dear, little
child | hope Pve learnt something of the love
OF Christ from her. can love you'll do. and
III try to help you to grow up good, Christian
girl"
Miss Ophelia's voice was more than her
words, and more than that were the honest
tears that fell down her face From that hour
she acquired an influence over the mind of the
destitute child that she never lost
"Oh, my Eva, whose little hour ON earth did
so much Of good" thought ST. Clare "what
account have to give for my long years."
There were for while soft whisperings and
footballs in the chamber, IA one after another
stole in to look Mt the dead and then came
the little coffin and then there was funeral,
and carriages drove TO the door, and strangers
came and were seated and there were white
scarfs and ribbons and Grape bands, and
mourners dressed in black Grape and there
were words read from the Bible, and prayers
offered and st. Clare lived, and walked, and
moved, as one who has shed every tear-to the
last he saw only one thing, that golden head
~ 'he coffin but then, he saw the cloth spread
oier y, the lid OF the coffin closed and he
I"ked' when he was put beside the others
ao"n 70 little place ut the bottom of the
sarueh, and there, by the messy seat where
cue ana Tom had talked, and sung, and read
~ on Ten, was the little grave ST. Clare stood
beside Hooked vacantly down he saw them
'ower the little coffin, he heard, dimly, the
Tiie'nii words III am the resurrection and the
,le he that believeth in me- though he were
uead yet shall he live - and "a the earth was
e's' IN and filled up the little grave, he could
no, realize that it was his Eva that they were
hiding from his sight
Nor was it--not Eva, but only the frail seed
OF that bright immortal form with which she
Jesus w " '''' ''''"
And then all were gone, and the mourncrs
went back to the place which should know her
no more, and Maries room was darkened, and
sue lay ON the bed, sobbing and moaning in