The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-03-20
VOL. NO. %.

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distant sound of military music. and The
! measured trampling OF many feet. u wzs
The regiment departing. Gremblingly she
listened 10 the air, which SOUNDED, as =
knelL III her ears; and hen the last faint
notes died away in the distance, she !e;
her work fall On her lap. and covered her
face with iGev hands. 4 few tears trick led
between her fingers, but she speedily
wiped them away, and resumed her work:
she resumed II for the rest of her life. On
the evening of this dav Of separation
this day when the sacrifice was consgm-
mated-Ursula, after having bestowed her
usual care on her parents, seated harseli
at the foot of her mothers bed. and
bending toward her with a look, whose.
fearful tenderness the blind old woman
could not know, the poor deserted one
TODD her hand, and murmured softly,
"Mother! you love me; 10 YOU not? l.
not my presence q comfort TO YOU -
Would you not grieve 20 part Wilh ne,
my mo!her!"
Ihe Old woman turned her face 20 the
wall, and said in lreiful tone, Nonsense,
Ursula. I'm Tired; lei me 90 to sIeep,"
he word Of tenderness waich she had
sought as her only recompense was not
uttered; the mother fell asleep withog;
pressing her daughters hand; ard the
poor glcl, falling on her knees, poured ou,
her sorrows III prayer 10 One who could
both hear and heal them.
From that time Ursula bscame more
pale, more silent, more east down thar
ever. The last sharp sorrow bore away
all traces OF her youth anu beauty. "Ali
is ended - she used to say; and all, save
duty, icGs ended for her on earth. No
ulings came of Maurice d Erval. Ursula
had pleased his Imagination, like some
graceful. melancholy picture, but time ef-
faced It's coloring from his memory, aud
he forgot. How many things are forgoite;i
in This life How rarely do The abseni
mourn each other long
One year alter these events, Ursula's
mother began Ylslbly 10 decline, vet with
our suffering from any POSITIVE malady.-
Her daughter watched and prayed by her
bed, ana received her last benedicgion
"Once more she Is with iaee, Martha -
sighed Ursula: DE II thine to watch over
her IN heaven" She kneit down, aud
prayed by the side OF the solitary OLD
man. She dressed him IN mourning with
out his being conscious OF i; bur on the
second day he turned toward The empty
armchair next MS own, and cried, MY
wife -
Ursula spoke 10 him, and tried TO diver,
bis attention; but he repeated, My wife !'
while the tears rolled down his checks
In the evening, when his supper was
brought, he turned away from il, and FIX
ing his eyes on the vacant chair, said.
my wife -
Ursula tried every exPedient tha. love
and sorrow could suggest; but in vain
The old man continued watching the place
which his wife was wont TO occupy; and
refusing food, he would look at rsuls.
and with clasped hands, in the querulous
tone OF q child imPiorlng some forbidden
indulgence, repeat, My wife - 10 =
month aiierwar4 the died. His last move
ment was TO raise his ciasped hands, look
up 10 Heaven, aud cry My wife - a.
lhongn he saw her waiting 10 receive him.
When The last coffin WAS borne away
from the old gray house, Ursula murmured
sohly, My God cUuldsl thou mol have
spared them 10 me q little longer p She
was left alone; aud many years have
passed since then.
leit the dark old Town and Ursula 10
travel into dis,an, lands. By degrees she
ceased 10 write 10 me. and after many
vain efforts 10 induce her 10 continue the
correspondence, gradually Ioss all trace
OF her. | sometimes ask myself, "W ha,
has been her tate ! Is she dead ?" Alas
the poor givl was ever unfortunate: / fear
she sIii! lives!