Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-16
MISCELLAN EOUS.
From he Ladies KceYsqke.
Sketch from Nature.


lie was proceeding with his soliloquy,
-"Yet little while-and then" -
"And then, WHAT" continued plaintive,
.Gamale voice, from behind the curtain, that
concealed her SLENDER but lovely FORM
ais that you, Julia, my lovei cried the
unfortunate invalid, as he stretched forth
his thin, white hand, to welcome her
His eyes cleaned with unearthly bright
ness, his cheek was suddenly flushed with
the hectic ofjoy, and then gradually re-
sumcd It's wonted paleness. 81 had quite
given you up; was endeavoring to per-
suade myself it was all for the best-that |
should never see you more-that | must
pass into eternity without receiving and
ilnparting the farewell blessing. know
you will forgive me, but | could not help
thinking there was something like unkind-
ness in this last neglect; but now" and
his eyes sparkled as he spake-''but now
my fears are vanished; | feel as though n
load were removed from my heart-as if
happiness was yet in store for u.s. The
tone of tender melancholy in which he ad-
dressed her, had thrown her into tears: as
he pronounced the last sentence, her face
was, for Il moment, enlivened by CLEAN
of hope, and she involuntarily exclaimed,
"Indeed!" He saw, he heard her not; he
was wrapt in his subject; and Julia's soft
blue eyes We're again suiiused with tears,
as he mournfnlly concluded,-"but not
hcrc-not in this world
He was young man, apparently about
twenty-five; he could not be more than
twenty-five. He had been in the army,
abroad-had undergone the perils and
fatigues of two-years' campaign. He
was advancing in his PROFESSIONALISM at
tanned the rank of licutenant-whcn his
health declined, his strength gaveway, and
he returned home with the prospect Of re-
covery. He hoped, in the caresses Of his
parents and the smiles Of his Julia, that his
health would be quickly restored; but, from
tire hurry OF travelling, ere Ire reached his
home, decay had made rapid inroads on his
constitution. He arrived, and his parents
knew not of it; they thought him on the
plains of Mexico-and he was on their
threshold. Ovcrpowercd by a multitude
of feelings, scarce was he able to throw
himself into their arms: they bore him to
his bed, and he had been there ever since:
it was only three days-to him it appear
cd an age His sole inquiries were for his
Julia. Theytold him She was from home.
1t evidently preyed upon his spirits; itwas,
therefore, deemed prudent to deceive him
no longer. She had been nigh him, and
he saw her not; she had heard him, and he
knew it not. This was their first inter
view since his return from Mexico. Julia
endcavored to cheer him; she spoke Of the
war-ot the hardships he had endured, of
the laurcls he had rcaped of the prospects
before him: she faltered as she spoke. Eve
ry effort to avert his mind from gloomy
iorcbodings was unavailing; he saw through
the aiiectonate little artihce-smiled his
thanks-and she was silent; the tide of
feeling was at its height-one word would
have told all; she arose to retire; the big
tear trembled in her eye-and ere she had
closed the door, convulsive sob burst on
the ears the wrctchcd William, and thrill
led thorugh his frame with indcscribable
anguish. Oh, but there is something in
woman's sorrow that insensibly wins the
heart, and engages the best feelings OF our
nature in its behalf. The lamb-hkc resigna-
tion-the VAIN attempts to arrest the ebulll-
ton of fccling-thc retiring meckncss, that
seeks to withdraw itself from the public
gaze-the calm despair, and the wildthrob
Of agony alternate-all tend to show ma
ture lovelicst in her weaknesses. 1t was
IL 1
not inwardly curse the fendish monster,
War. My soul took an expansive glance
over the unknown thousands this single war
has swept to an untimely grave, on the tens
of thousands it has heggarcd, and on the
multitude Of hearts ii has widowed. | ask
mysclf-and will it notbc asked in another
worldl "Why should man raise his hand
against his fellow7" His faculties, his feel
ings, lis pleasures, and even his pains, be-
speak him formed, not for himself alone,
but for society; and yet, in this particular,
we run counter TO naturc-wc become
lions-we glory in rocking the blood of
thousands, and, like Indians DER their sac
rifices, turn midnight into day, with light
ed windows, bonfres, loud huzzss: and
thus deluded thousands, whilst they mourn
husband, father brother, shout for the
general veal; when falls the conqueror
many nations mourn, bards swelth song,
and statuaics join to tell posteIty his
dcathless fame: but sons of mercy die, and
none regards; they pass, untrophied, to the
quiet grave-but not forgotten, Oh, no!
their tribute is the bounding of the CRATE
ful heart, not shouts Of mullitudes I1..nsled
with dying groans; not widows tears, but
widows blessings; not the bereaved or
phans' anguished cry, but songs of graft
tude; not dying soldiers curses, but their
prayers: not the world fear, butthe world s
veneration.
l know not how much longer my revcrie
might have continued, had not the return
of julia called my attention to what was
passing around me. There was a calm
ness In her aspect that might easily be ac-
counted for; The full heart had ovcrhowed
the tide of her feeling had subsidized
and she was now sunk into deep and
settled melancholy. During her absence,
her lover had fallen into gentle slumber;
! fearful of disturbing his repose, she APP
preached his bedside on tip-toe, ADD, las-
ing seated herself beside him, watched has
pale and haggard looks with the mos fixed
and solicitous regard. He appeared to be
dreaming; his lips mu,tercd inar'iculate
sounds, his face became flushed. his brow
bcdewed with pcrspira;ion, his whole
frame seemed agitated. She was alarm
ed; she took his hand, and gently pressing
it. exclaimed, William, love.' He rais-