The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-01-22
NUMBER 43.

soul sent up its agonized cry for forgetful-
ness, 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, lacked his store, and leading his
horse from a near stable, took his way
homeward lie was met at the door by
his sister and mother, who faced the storm
blast with countenances of CONSERVATION.
= nne where is Anne, Charles :"
exclaimed Mrs K
Anne foolish girl I sent her home
an hour ago"
No! she is not here Her pony
came Oh, my child where IS she ~
"Why did you let the girl 60 out this
terrible day" asked the alarmed brother.
81 never knew it Charles, go, be
quick ! Oh, if her father was here !" Co.
Charles X seized lattern, and rushed
out. That night, over all the thunder of
the storm, arose the swell of human voices,
the shouts of ncighbors and friends, who
went forth fearlessly to seek the lost one.
Morning came. The wind had sobbed
its strength away, and crouched, moaning
i'll the depths of the wood, or sighed under
the wizard pines. The clouds drifted
slowly eastward, muffling up the sun, but
all was still.
They had sought everywhere else and
at last, with strange, fearfully-whispered
misgivings, thy searched among the rocks
of the swollen river. Up from that foam
canoped bed they lifted her, with the
long, loosend locks clinging about her
pulscless heart, and the inky plume weep
ing upon her shut eyes But they could
not awaken her from that nights long
sleep
The carried her--yet it was not her they
carried-to the home on which her eyes
were never to open. There, in the stately,
subdu ID agony of prided affection crushed,
the stricken band of parents, brothers, and
sisters, received the burden l have stood
on rock in the midst of that river, and
looked down on the couch where the des-
pairing girl sough her rest. 1t was a hard
pillow for so fair head and sc young
heart--one, too, that had loved so much
| looked up, and all was beautiful.
The water nymphs chased each other down
the precipice, laughing musicaly as their
white robes melted into the blue pillows at
my feet. i hbove, the sun lay cushioned
on a dreaming cloud, floating in the blue
Of a June heaven. What contrasts has
has earth upon the self-same spot
The news of the suicide few, as i'll news
always flies, through the little hamlet.
Confusion and CONSERVATION seized every
heart and household, and a thousand vague
surmises, half brighcned into realities, fit
ted from one to another Only the old
postmaster shook his head, after the first
petrifying shock, with a my>tifying air,
and silently rcseated himself on his high
stool, leaned his head upon his wrinkled
hand. Even his good, garrulous wife
could gain no mole from him.
"I think likely" said she, after the
group of gossippers had dispersed she's
been going crazy this long while. 1t ain't
in natur for a sensible body to ride so like
wild fire and I've always thought mighty
queer of her coming here so, day upon
day Oh don't tell me she wasn't out Of
her head 20
The postmaster turned his head nervous
ly at the sound of horses hOofs. 1t was
only the post boy, who had come over ealy
with the mailbag The good man sighed,
turned out his packet of letters, and slowly
unbound it. 81 shall not have to say
/" Mo- to her again to-day, poor thing"
thought he.
"What's the matter, John 7" cried his
wife, minute after, as he dropped tho
bundle with a smothered cry, almost OF
horror. Mercy on us, man! ye're as
white as if ye'd seen ghost %
"Thcre - he pointed to letter below
him, " look there !" a
"What is it : don't see nothin-I've
ost my specs"