The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04

uafHhR' Out she lOunu no opportunity nlght or
day, as Marie declared that the state Of her
mind was such it was impossible for her to
rest, and of course it was against her princi-
pies to let any one else rest Twenty times in
u night, Nanny would be reused to rub her
feet, to bathc her head to find her pocket-hand-
kerchief, to see what that noise was in Evas
room, to let down q curtain because it was too
light, or to put it up because it was too dark
and in the daytime, when she longed to have
some share in the nursing of her pet, Marie
seemed unusually ingenious in keeping her
busy anywhere and everywhere all over the
house, or about her own person. so that stolen
interviews and momentary glmpses were all
she could obtain
Il feel it my duty to be particularly careful
of myself now" she would say, "feeble as
am, and with the whole care and nursing of
that dear child upon me"
"lndeed, my DEAR" said st Clare, II thought
our cousin relieved you of that"
"You talk like a man, st. Clare-lust as if
a mother could be relieved of the care of child
in that state: but then it's all alike-no one
ever knows what feel can't throw things
] off as YOU do
! St Clare smiled You must excuse him, he
couldn't help it-for St Clare could smile yet
For so bright and placid was the farewell voyage
of the little spirit-by such sweet and fragrant
breezes was the small bark borne towards
the heavenly shores, that it was impossible to
realize that it was death that was approach
ing. The child felt no pain only tranquil
soft weakness daily and almost insensibly in
creasing; and she was so beautiful, so loving
20 trustful, so happy, that one could not resist
the soothing influence of that air of innocence
and peace which seemed to breathe around her
st. Clare found strange calm coming over
him. 1t was not hope-that was impossible;
! 4 wes ss4t rcs;gnaton It was Gn..y ea'rp"
resting in the present which seemed so beau-
:iIu, S:ist ne wisnea 70 ta!,ys ~ no fitss' i
Wa -, s.l.S n,s,A - op,rit W.T. - IN ."
amid the bright mild woods of autumn, when
the bright hectic flush is on the trees and the
last lingering flowers by the brook and we
| Joy in it all the more, because we know that
soon it will all pass away
The friend who knew most of Evas own
| imagnings and foreshadowings was her faith
| full bearer, Tom. To him she said what she
would not disturb her father by saying. To
| him she impaired those mysterious intimations
which the soul feels, as the cords begin to un-
| bind ere it leaves its clay forever
| Tom at last would not sleep in his room,
but lay all night in the outer verandah, ready
to rouse at every call
| "Uncle Tom, what alive have you taken to
sleeping anywhere and everywhere, like dog
for? :" said Miss Ophelia. 81 thought you was
one of the orderly sort, that liked to lie in bed
in Christian way"
81 do, Miss Feely," said Tom mysteriously
| II do, but now n--
"Well, what now 2"
| awe mustn't speak loud massr st. Clare
won't hear ont; but Miss Feely, you know
there must be somebody watchin for the bride
groom"
"What do you mean, Tom?p
"You know it says in Scriptur, AT midnight
there was great cry made. Behold, the bride
groom cometh' That's what I'm spectin now
every night, Miss Feely-and couldn't sleep
out o hearin, no ways
"Why, Uncle Tom what makes you think
so?n
| "Mss Eva, she talks to me. The Lord, he
sends his messenger in the soul. | must be
thar Miss Feely; for when that ar blessed
child goes into the Kingdom, they'll open the
door so wide we'll all get look in at the
glory, Miss Feely"
unwel than usual tonight"
"No; but she telled me this morning she
J was coming nearer-thar's them that tells it
|
the trumpet sound afore the break o. day."
said Tom, quoting from favorite hymn.
This dialogue passed between Miss Ophelia
and Tom between ten and eleven, one evening,
after her arrangements had all been made for
the night when, on going to bolt her outer
door, she found Tom stretched along by it in
the outer verandah.
She was not nervous or impressible, but the
solemn heartfelt manner struck her Eva
had been unusually bright and cheerful that
afternoon, and had sat raised in her bed and
looked over oil her little trinkets and precious
things, and designated the friends to whom
she would have them given and her manner
was more animated and her voice more nat
ural than they had known it for weeks. Her
father had been in in the evening and had
said that Eva appeared more like her former
self than ever she had done since her sickness;
and when he kissed her for the night, he said
to Miss Ophelia-" Cousin, we may keep her
with us, after all she is certainly better !" and
he had retired with lighter heart in his
bosom than he had had there for weeks
But ut midnight-strange mystic hour
when the veil between the fral present and
the eternal future grows thin-then came the
messenger.
There was a sound in that chamber, first of
one who stepped quickly. 1t was Miss Ophe-
liza, who had resolved to sit up all night with
her little charge, and who at the turn of the
night had discerned what experienced nurses
significantly call "a change" The outer door
was quickly opened, and Tom, who was watch
ing outside, was on the alert in a moment.
$50 for the Doctor Tom; lose not mo-
ment" said Miss Ophela; and, stepping across
the room, she raped at st. Clare's door.
Cousin" she said, 81 wish you would
come
Those words fell on his heart like clods upon
coffin Why did they! He was up and in
the room in an instant, and bending over Eva,
who still slept
Il What was it he saw that made his heart
stand still Why was no word spoken be-
tween the two? Thou scanst say who hast
seen that same expression on the face dearest
to thee--that look indescribable, hopeless, un-
mistakeable, that says to thee that thy beloved
is no longer thine.
On the face of the child however, there was
no CHASTITY imprint-only high and almost
sublime expressi0n--thc ovcrshadowing pres
encc Of spiritual natures, the dawning of i'm
mortal life in that childish soul.
They stood there so STILL gazing upon her,
that even the ticking Of the watch seemed too
loud, In few moments, Tom returned with
the Doctor. He entered, gave one look, and
stood silent as the rest
When did this change take place " said
he, in low whisper, to Miss Ophela
F" About the turn of the night" was the re-
ply.
Marie, reused by the entrance of the Doc
tor, appeared hurriedly, from the next room
: Augustine! Cousin = oh what - she
, hurredly began
Hush" said st. Glare, hoarscly; "sse is dy
ing IN
: Nanny heard the words, and flew to
awaken the servants The house was soor
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