The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-12-02
LAST DAYS OF EVE.


The following is The composition 10
which was awarded the gold medal, IN the
graduating class oi Rutgers Female lnsti
iuilou, of Richmond, Va, al It's first CON.
neucemenl:
Il approached the evening twilight
The other ol mankind was placed By her
descendants IN iront ol their lent, recin
Jug on a couch Tne wind famed her
pale cheek, aud play ed amidst her gray
locks. Near her sal her husband. Eve
turned her eve upon hlm with look oi
adness, yet deep affection, and as she saw
us wrlnkled brow, bent form, and head oi
snowy wniteuess, they seemed to call t.
mind other days.
iuwardiy she reproached herself. "Ah,
no, thus was ii saw him, when first gwen
10 him by our God. Where has vanished
that manly tofm--where is The elastic step
where The eye that beamed with bright
ness--where now the rich aud mellow
voice? Alas, how changed! And it was
who tempted, vino destroyed him--i the
wite--lhe cherished companlon--i bade
him eat, and now what is he, who but tor
me had neither pain, nor sorrow, nor age!
And what remains of her on whose
beauty he then gazed with unsatlated de
light? A trembling, wrinkled form, Jast
sinking into the grave.
"Where is now that paradise with lis
rich Iruls--lhat balmy air which bro't on
every breath tribute 10 each happy sense
those rays which warmed and never
scorched? And sadder, sadder still
where now is all that bllssful intercourse
with him, who made US rich in the happi
ness oil living? His voice is no longer in
sur ears-driven from bliss--trom scenes
so lovely-,he earth cursed--sin, sorro"
and death, the inheritance OF our chill
dren?"
Our mother was overcome by the rusl
Of recollection. Her eyes, long dry, found
new fountains, and her aged form shool
with deep emotion.
Ii may be that Adam bad been indul g
ing in musings not unllke those, for he wa
startled as il from reyerio by the emo
tons OF his wife. The old man placee
himself beside her. She laid her head on
the bosom which had SO often soo,hed il:
! lthfobbings.
"Whal moves thee, Ever
"Oh, my dear husband, how canst thor
show Kindness to her who has done al
this? Thou vast young and knewest on
| |, happiness, and all around was formed 4
delight our every sense; aud who shou!c
have strengthened Thy virtue, fell, aDc
dragged thee with me, the partner OF my
sin, 10 this depth of ruin. And after few
years toll and anxiety, we are about Il
lay these worn out frames in the dust.
but for sin we had lived in perpetun
youth, aud feared no change. The threat
eued death has worked slowly but surely
and now with US his work is nearly done.
.The first TO sin, it was mele that
should first return to dust. Had the gull
and the curse been only mine, nigh, en-
dure il; but see thee now, and compare
thee with what thou vast as it seems Il
mo but yestt rday."
"A few days will Law thee low. Let
our children place US side by side in the
cold earth. know not why il is, yet i
seems TO me there will be comfort in oul
bodies dissoIving together, as it''here wer'
something of consciousness in the liieles'
| dust.
| "I.ittle OF comfort as is now left in life
We, cannot endure The thought that
shall utterly cease 10 do'''
adam, thou hast given me words q
consolation. Is there aught that can chez