Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-03-31


of the living original!
Say we who read-know ye what I
mean by spiritual beauty? Have you ever
in your walk through life, met with love-
illness, which must inevitably pass away,
before age had in any measure tarnished
its exceeding purity. Such there is. have
met it more than once and as surely as
have seen it-so surely have read its ear
ly doom. Down it goes to the grave-too
fleeing, too spiritual to remain here.
Of such style was the surprising beauty
of my first and only love. kneao she could
not liue I'll felt that was embarking the
whole treasures of my heart on that which
was totally untitled to encounter the battle
of life. Young as l was, felt this and
straightway made vain effort to free my
self from what | considered infatuation.-
Albeit, the more struggled, the deeper
did sink in the flood of iheAable love-the
more palpably did read my fate; and
yielding at last to the hourly promptings of
my heart, did finally and forever surrender
it to -. My love was returned, and
our love was even as the love OF the SOUL
Yes she was mine, and mine alone, and is
mine still, albeit the King Of Terrors hath
taken her mortal body: for in the still and
quiet night, when the moon is up and things
that are Of the earth earthly, sleep,-her
spirit clothed in the undying purity OF a
far land, visits me here, and we hold sweet
converse together. But to return.
Months, years passed away, and -------
became if possible, dearer to me than of
yore (: and why? Consumption, the terrible
Unsuitable tyrant Consumption, had marked
her for his own, and read her DOOM
The plague-spot added fresh bloom to her
cheek and light so holy, so unearthly
beamed from her soft blue eyes, that her
beauty became such as is never seen on
earth, save under similar circumstances.
NV cup of bitterness was not yet full
Her physicians urged the necessity OF re-
moving her 10 more genial climate-vain,
fruitless attempt to impede the advance of
the Destroying Angel! At
the same time, my fathers affairs becom-
ing embarrassed, | was constrained to re-
iiuuish all ideas of entering the Army s
thus, about to be robbed of my poor,
disappointed and thwarted in my projects,
l determined to risk my future in one of the
Colonies.
1t Was in the late Autumn. The trees
were bare, and, the "soughing" Of the
low wind through the branches, made quaint
music. The sun had not yet risen when
left the paternal roof. That morning is
stamped on my memory IN black charac-
ters truly. = | kissed them
all-mother er,-sisters-a brothers-and it
was past but my doting father clung to
me as to his last hope, and followed me
with slow and wavering step to the convey
ancc which was to bear me TO the sea-coast.
We reached the place of departure, and
taking me by the hand he looked in my
face with such inefable love and pity that
my heart beat thick and fast, and what
would not have given tothr0T myself up
on his neck and hush his Fears But |
would not could not brook the sympathy
of the bystanGers; and such pcrforce is our
reasoning through life. marked the CO.
lour leave his check, the muscles of his
mouth quiyer. and saw his nostrils di-
late Il waved a last adieu, and looking
back as l was borne away, saw that his
bald head was uncovered, and knew that
prayer had ascended to merciful God,
for wayward and reckless son. Nature
obtained her sway. | buried my face in
my hands, and shed tears of the deepest
anguish. And this was the first time ] had
wept BITTERLY
In 4 law hoGrs we reached the seaport
at which was to take ship on the follow
ing morning, and from which, by astrange
coincidence, the dearest treasure ofmy heart
was TO aall for the "sunny south at the
same time.
sought the house where knew she was;
and found her amidst throng Of gay friends.
could not remain.
and rose to depart. babe her farewell -
and, oh God thus looking on her already
altered features, how did the star of my
-pale-ficker-an die out took
her hand on this our final separation in the
body, and we looked in each others eyes as
though our hearts would break. Even now
when | write, the brilliant room, the smil-
ing faces of the company, the jest, the as
surances the ringing laugh,-each and all
stand cut IN my memoryj mockihg my
gloor, as does the shining tinsslry about
the pail of dead man. AND we said "good-
bve'' with smooth foteheads and smiling
lips, through our breaths came thick and
heavy. All - can forget for a
moment thy strange, quiet speaking smile
when thus we parted So full of love, OF
inenable, uncarth!y love-yet oh how sad
withal | took her hand once again-the
6 mo-
ing to me in that dark hour: and imprint
ing one last kiss upon her lips, left the
room, unconscious whittier went, till find
ing myselfalone with the dark night, wept
long and bitterly. 1t is terrible ordeal,
wcepii g in sorrow. Thrice have under
.-one the tral,-and now again recalling
. Scenes, 50 frau9ht with sadness, and plac-
inc them as it We in tangible form before
me, again do my tears fall as companion
drops OF sorrow. :.
Two years had passed since we parted,
when lay encamped on the shore of lake
The chase led me thi'her, and |
was alone. 1t was in the late autumn, and
the trees of the forest whispered to me OF
natures decay. There and then, had a
vision in my sleep, thus.
appeared 20 me all pale and
withered Poor girl her SURPRISING beau
ty had disappeared; there was fearful hol-
lowness in her ashy checks; the light of her
once lovely eyes was quenched and her
fair hair was brailed beneath shroud.---
She placed her iev finger OIL my heart s sand
she would come again
Straightway, many dark and dim figures
passed in succession before me, while a
dismal bell pealed through the darkhess,-