Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-01-20

ni6cant only Of serenity and peace
Ruth could not have passed hsl
young days more happily than with
Ada. She loved her as a mother
and always called her by that hal
lowed name. She grew up to wo-
manhood and was plighted to a man
worthy OF her. When in the very
height of Der happiness q cloud
darkened her life, and her first seri-
Gus sorrow came when Ada was
stricken with a fatal disease.
Calmly and patiently the sufferer
endured days Of anguish, and well
she knew that life's struggle would
soon be at an end.
Her mind throughout her sickness
had been clear, and knowing that
she was failing fast, she called her
adopted child 10 her side, and said
very feebly, yet distinctly: "My
dear Ruth, my life is ebbing away
rapidly. There is picture next my
heart which has ever been worn
there since the day it was given me
by him who loved me; let it be
buried with me. This ring which
you know contains his hair and
mine, you will take from my finger
when | am gone, and wear it as a
memento of one who sought to be a
mother to you; and, dear child, in
every trial of life remember the
motto il BEARS"
"Dear. kind, noble moiherI' sob
bed Ruth: "my more than mother,
because not my mother, cannot bear
to lose you!"
"Donot weep, my child" said Ada,
calmly; "death has no gloom for
those who have truly lived; we shall
meet again where there shall be no
more partings."
The short effort OF speaking had
exhausted her strength, and she lay
for some minutes with closed eyes
and heaving breast.
Rallying from her exhaustion, Ada
lifted her wan hand feebly, and took
from her bosom a miniature. She
looked at it steadily, and as she look
ed, a light beamed from her eyes, and
a smile dawned upon her lips; she
turned her glance from the picture
upward; as if TO compare one pic
ture with another; the hand that
held the miniature, fatigued with the
effort, fell by her side on the bed, but
her gaze was more intense than be-
fore, and fixed as on an object before
her; her face became spiritualized, as
il she was breathing a celestial at
mosphere; The light in her eyes deep
ened; the smile on her lips bright
ened.
The room was so still that Ruth
scarcely dared to breathe. She turn
ed as if for help, went 10 the bed
room door to summon the nurse, and
then fearing that death might ensue
in her absence, returned and looked
again on Ada, and was startled by
the change.
The eye had lost its expression and
was partly closed; the light had pas
sed from the countenance, but the
smile was still on her lips.
"Motherr' exclaimed Ruth: "Moth-
er, dear u.otherr'
Alasl the silence spoke!
The girl laid her hand on that OF
Ada, and the icy chill confirmed her
fears.
Ruth removed the miniature from
Ada's grasp, and before laying it on
the bosom of the dead, looked on the
picture; il was that of young man
in military costume, and his counte-
nance beautiful in features and intel
ligence, was made peculiarly attrac-
tive by a smile iull Of serene and
sweet nobleness.
Struck with the expression, Ruth
looked from the portrait to the form
before her, and the same smile rested
On the lips of the deadl
Restoring the miniature TO the
place from whence Ada had drawn
it, Ruth 'iimidIv and reverently re-
moved the ring that had been be-
queathed her, and looked for the
motto; as she read it, her face glowed
with emotion, and changed 10 an ex
preston OF tender but resolute calm
ness, as she read again the words en-
graved on the inner circle, 'Faithful
unto DedthP