The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-25

the reins to the neck of her horse. and, clasp
ing her cold hands pressed them against her
scared eye-balls as though to bar out some
terrible sight
"ObliviOn or death ;" she groaned, vehe-
menty
But oblivion never yet came at the cry of
the despairing Then she grew stronger, as it
seemed, for she threw back her tangled hair,
tossed back her crushed hat, and laid bare her
forehead to the pelting of the storm. She
laughed low shuddering laugh, as the icy
drops trickled upon her fever-hot eyes.
Anne had placed mortal on the shrine of
her Maker--the creature on the throne of the
Creator Not content to give the unselfsh,
unutteTable love of womans heart she had
poured on the altar of her idol that sacred
oil" of worship and alteration that is not with
impunity withheld from Heaven. She had con-
centrated the universe into one point-and
where was her universe now Where was her
idol-shrine
"The storen of the country for miles around,
with its much be-chalked sign Of +" fish, fan
mel, flour, dry goods, groceries, and dozen
other indispensabilities, stood just on the rocky
bank, fronting the crescent fall, whose foam-
wreaths now dashed against Its back wall. IL
was kept by an older brother of Anne. The
bay pony, by force of habit, slackened his pace
before the plank platform. Anne looked about
her in momentary bewilderment; then sud
denly checking him. she threw herself from
his back, and dropped the bride to the ground.
The little building shook with the strife of
clouds and river mists that seemed rushing to
close combat beneath its foundations, when
Anne stepped over the threshold 1t was dusk
within, unlighted for want of customers.
Annes brother started forward from his desk
in surprise, at the sound of a step, and brushed
against his sister before she was aware of his
"Wkat Gre you about. Anne - exclaimed
ne, cuurl,5,ng nor aoagmJ -, y,.o ,.rSSs >,4 :
believe you are beside YOURSELF Drenched
and dripping sight to behold and you
were half dead before What in the name
of the four elements sent you out on such
night!"
| came" answered Anne, confusedly, and
rather incoherently, 81 came-the children
wanted some gingerbread, and l"-
Nonsense ~ exclaimed her brother. tho
roughly provoked at her rashness and heed
lessness. This is all of piece with your
woman-caprices. Go home Immediately, and
tell mother that will carry you to the Insane
Retreat to keep you out of your coffin, if she
does not bolt you into your room, out of the
reach of fire and water There, there go
don't wait to catch your death cold As If |
could not bring that foolish gingerbread!
Childish there go!"
How little we know tchere our harsh words
are falling, when they drop bitterly from our
lips All there are wounds that cannot be
healed in time--nor yet in eternity
Would he not speak one kind, brotherly
word to that anguished sister? If he had
looked into her haggard, despairing face,
perhaps he would not have turned away so
abruptly as he did after this TRADE, and hidden
himself again behind the high front of his count
ing-desk, assured by the patter of the pony's
feet upon the pebbles, that he had taken the
homeward road.
Home the faithful pony went, after waiting
his time for his rider; but Anne did not 60
with him. She only shrunk back into the
shade, until all was still again. Then she
glided like guilty thing, noiselessly through
a long, dark passage, to the back door of the
shop She lifted its latch carefully, and went
out into the gathering night
Wild warfare was beneath her Billows OF
mist rolled and swayed hither and thither in
the abyss and where they parted for mo-
ment, the inky waters appeared, lashing the
trembling rocks with mad turbulence
There was no eye but the eye % Omnipres-
ence, to look upon the passion-binded girl
and to that she looked not up. Where was
her guardian angel to whisper, await wait
pc patient" 1t was the hour of darkness,
and of fierce iends who famed the storm in
her soul, so family emblemed by the elemental
raging without That soul sent up its agonzed
cry for forgetfulness for rest for peace !!
Death is an eternal Sleep" her mother had
taught her. Alas that mothers words
should ever come between the young heart and
Heaven
An hour went by. Anne's brother buttoned
his storm proof overcoat around him, locked
his store, and leading his horse from near
stable took his way homeward. He was met
at the door by his sister and mother who faced
the storm blast with countenances of conster-
nation.
"Annel where is Anne, Charles +" excam-
ed Mrs. X.
"Anne foolish girl sent her home an
hour agop
"No! she is not here Her pony came! Oh,
my child where is she?0
"Why did you let the girl 90 out this terri
bic day ?" asked the alarmed brother.
IL never knew it Charles go, be quick
Oh, if her father was here u
Charles X. seized lantern, and rushed out
That night, over all the thunder of the storm,
arose the swell of human voices, the shouts of
neghbors and friends, who went forth fearless
ly to seek the lost one.
Morning came. The wind had sobbed its
strength away, and crouched, moaning in the
depths of the wood, or sighed under the wiz
ard pines. The clouds driited slowly eastward
muflng up the sun, but all was still
They had sought everywhere else; and at
last, with strange, fearfully-whispered misgiv-
ings, they searched among the rocks of the
swollen river. Up from that foam-canopied
bed they lifted her, with the long loosened
locks clnging about her pulseless heart and
the inky plume weeping upon her shut eyes.
But they could not awaken her from that
nights long sleep!
They carried her-yet it was not her they
carried--to the home on which her eyes were
never to open. There, in the stately, subdaed
agony of prided affection crushed the stricken
band of parents, brothers. and sisters, received
the burden. have stood on a rock in the
midst of that river, and looked down on the
couch where the despairing girl sought her
rest. II was hard pillow for 80 fair head
and 50 young heart-one too, that had loved
30 much.
l looked up, and all was beautiful. The
water nymphs chased each other down the
precipce, laughing musically as their white
robes melted into the blue pillows at my feet
Above, the sun lay cushioned on a dreaming
cloud, floating in the blue of a June heaven
What contrasts has earth upon the selfsamc
spot
The news Of the suicide flew, as i'll news
always flies, through the little hamlet. Con-
fusion and CONSERVATION seized every heart and
household, and thousand vague surmises, half
frightened into realities, fitted from one to an
other Only the old postmaster shook his head,
alter the first petrifying shock, with a mystify-
ing air, and silently reseating himself on his
high stool, leaned his head upon his wrinkled