Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-02-10


The Drama of Human Life
Our party received this announcement with ac-
clamation and hardly had we seated ourselves to
await the commencement OF the expected per
torrance, when across the opposite end Of the
room which had adroitly been left vacant, cur
tain slowly descended. An exclamation OF sur
prise that involuntarily arose TO our lips had
scarcely time for utterance, when tall, venera-
bic parsonage, habited as a magician, bearing in
his hand a wand, with other implements Of the
magic art. entered from behind the curtain
Tracing a circle in the middle OF the floor, he
placed in its centre a small chafing dish Bend
ing over this chafng dish, anc chanting some un-
ineligible words in a low, earnest, and imPass-
ioned tone, as if engaged IN some mysterious in
cantation. ne threw into it some fine powder IN
stautly there arose colamn of pale colored
smoke that rolled up in deep, broad wreathes to
the very ceiling diiusing through the room de-
Hcious odor, and investing every object with ha-
~ appearance, indescribably romantic.
Hardly had this incarnation ceased, when low
wild unearthly strain Of music was heard from
some invisible performer. At first, the strain
was barely audible, but gradually swelled louder
and louder, till the whole room seemed as If filled
with that wild and melancholy music, which
made every heart in the audience throb This
strain continued for a few minutes, when the ma
gician waved his wand-the music ceased-the
curtain rose, and discovered nurse bearing il her
arms an infant, scarcely year old. Never did
mortal vision rest upon a lovelier child. Every
feature was radiant with beauty and wIeathed
with smiles. Her deep blue eyes sparkIed like
gems amid the rich clusters Of her auburn hair,
and her dimpled cheeks and coral lips might bid
defiance to the art of the painter.
At this sight every one present Involuntary
uttered an exclamation of delight and surprise
The magician took this lovely child in his arms,
and gazing on her with look Of deep affection,
mingled with sadness, spoke-as if unconscious
that his thoughts were uttered aloud--of the cold
and heartIess world to which she was yet stran-
ger and Of the changes which time would pro
duce upon her mind. as well as upon her form
lie then placed upon her neck white ribbon, to
which was appended a crucifx, which he bade
her preserve as sacred talisman and return It to
him again when next she should be summoned
into his presence He now babe her adieu for
ten years, end then waved his wand. At that sig
nal the curtain fell, aud the lovely infant and her
nurse disappeared.
Again the magician bends over the chaling dish,
and resumes his, incantations; when the same
wild uuearthiy melody, which we had heard be
fore, but in deeper tones, swelIed through the
room. AT intervals, we heard the voice OF the
magician, chanting IN a low, impassoued key as
if in response to the invisible performer. Once
we could distinguish what he uttered, sufficiently
10 catch the following words:
Now I chant the magic stave,
That can stay the rolling spheres
Now the magic wand wave,
That can speed the hee,ing years.
At length the incarnation ceased and all was
>iIeat The magician then informed his audience
that the wand he held in his hand possessed such
wonderful powers that every time he waved it
with that intent, oEe year Of the life of whoever
was the subject of the spell would roll by. He
told as that he should recall the infant whom he
had just seen, at four different periods of human
life, the four most interesting periods OF human
life. Then raising aloft his wand, he waved it in
a slow majestic manner. With thrilling interest
we counted its cvolutions. It paused at the tenth
wave The instantits evolutions ceased, the cur
tain rose, and a lovely girl Of ten years bonded
forth in all the joyousness of happy childhood.
The effect was electrical for It required but
half glance to discover that II was tie same
child we had seen but few moments before in
the nurses arms. There could be no possibility
of a mistake, for every feature was precisely the
L. l. 81 I1rra
eyes. and the same rich curls of auburn hair
The white ribbon and crucifx were still upon her
neck that were placed there when she was an in
FAINT
As she ran towards the sorcerer, she clapped
her hands in childish glee as If utterly unable to
rePress the joyousness that was gushing up from
her young heart. A brighter picture Of child
hood-happy childhood-before the cares and sor-
rows Of life have left their impress, either upon
the features or upon the heart, was never beheld.
The magician took from her hand the charmed
talisman, which she restored to him, aud Tepac-
ing it again upon her neck, he bade her improve
well the leeting years of her young existence
Then, imprinting upon her lovely forehead a fond,
afiectonate kiss, he informed her that in ten
years more she would again be summoned be
fore him. The curtain then fell, and this bright
vision OF childhood disappeared.
A few minutes elapse. The incantations Of
the sorcerer are renewed and again is heard the
same low deep, strain. Again he holds aloft the
magic wand. He is once more about 10 summon
before him that being who has twice been the
subject Of his spells, He waves the wand. Il
ceased at the tenth wave. Instantly the curtain
rose. and 20 our surprise and astonishment there
stood before US the very girl whom we SO lately
seen. but she was now ten years older. She was
the same, except in age. Her glrhsh form had
noey been rounded iato the full graces Of woman
hood. Her air and manner were more sedare-
Thought had given tinge Of seriousness TO her
beautiful features, that rendered her still more
lovely than in her childhood.
she returned the laIisman to the magician. AS
Z L,