Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-21
Faithful Forever.

fa'th OF another. II makes pillow of sof,ness for
the chesk which is burning with tears and the touch
of pain ltpours balm into the reIy source of sor-
row. It's hope undeferrei, a1xsry sociu,ion into
which the mind, when w,ary of sadness, may resree.
for caress of constant love- warmth IN lhs cIasp
of frienpshp forever lingering on the bana; c5nso
ing voice that dwelIs az with an cternai osso On The
ear; dewof mercy falling on be bruised as ,roubad
hcsrts Of Iris world. Bereayuents and wisbes long
withheld descend sometimes az eha.tening grgss uron
our naure but there is soace 70 the bitterness Of
broksn faith. e
jennie vas t1e llo-ning star OF my life. Long be-
fore trod the many vide deserts Of the ,sb-ld, I
pledged my Aope q her. Sh: was so yoeuz that my
aaeoiion came frosh dew upon her heart. Shs wss
gentle to nos, and tender aad FIND, ana sometimes
thought that che loved us less for my own sake than
for tho sake Of love- So watched the ogcping bson,
Of her nicd. / ssndered what springs sf truth were
bursting there, to make hsr joy ard ssing on The
earth. kne@ that every puse was warm With ss-
cred love; but IL not then that learned all the
deep and asoundng faith that had Is home in tie
heart of my Jsnnis.
jennie was slim aad graceful, with Eight step aud
gentle dignity of deraeanor, watch, wis her jsygul
ways, was like the freshness Of shade near rrnny
place. Her face was fair, with semSiipes peusive
expression; it was good loving face, With soft blue,
'ating eyes, full of beauty and tend.r thought. A
smile always played on the iips-nct forever Of glad.
ness, bat of charity and content and trust in the fa
lure to which her hole was turned And often q song
poured through these lips though scms happy bird
were nestled in her BOSOM and sarg with her breath
its hymns Of delight in tie joys Of life.
this did JepY;s raopn A., ,n} -.
she was; and she loved me- and was conf lent in her
affection. For was then young, and my heart was
warm and my hope was strong. l was buoyapt a,
the breeze and my life for years pstaa sum-
rner's dsy II was tho tine when the pure springs Of
nature lad not been wasted among tie kle and the
c9ld; it was the golden when trnas is tho com
panon of luth it The fsst harvest which garasrs
into the bosom those thoughts and emotions amid
which, as cn bed of wsrs, "hoTe clinge, feeding
like bee." fhs heart Of Jennie was as deeply stir
rd. tut her soul was more serene than NINE
There was fearful storm in Europe heard of
gr: tyrants sitting on thrones, whence they gave
sher mmsnis to armies, which marched to the east
and to the west, and tore up the vineyards, and troi
dowa the gardens, and botted out the peac. Of the
world. Anon, there came rumors of mighty hest
that had lneed away in the ncrth and gIuttea With
rs blood the Russian SHOWS.
Taen there cana strong ambition into my mind.
Ny tlocd became hot. A calsmi,cus frenzy filed nv
brain. Tue name cf Glory cohsecrated all these mur-
ders to my imagination. I would carry deg ia one
of those armies. would mix ia the crimson throng
W, urd myself bear saord amid these forests of
shpg Steel
Aad told tbs to ny Jsnnie. Thought shs would
certainly bless me as hero. thought shs would
bind scarf about my ~ais, and bid rDe, Go where
glory waits thee" If I s;ill remembered her. But
when said sheuid leave her ior while, and come
back with honor and pride ana the memery of brave
acts and the cong tnlasions of breast that never
new fear, she became paie and lsskea at NE sorrow
fully, and fell upon my neck, weeping most bitter
tear. asked her Why she could grisse ard said the
danger was cnc Glance among nnumerable probabili-
ties 4 sussess But SIZE only sobbed and trsmbled,
and pfssssd me to her bosom, aud prayed not to CO.
reasoned With Jennie. tried to persuade Der Of
tAe 81 ~ of the war. told her how much more wor-
thy OF love she would think me when came ad rned
with iaures. (0i, how greee are tho leaves that
bocn from siaugAtefl said her image would be
mY coDPanon--her voice would be Dy yesper bell
hex smile my star Of the morning her fase would be
the visitant of my dreams-her love tho mercy that
would shield me from every danger. She listened,
with suspended sobs, and trembleI, and all the while
her eyes were appealing to my own, and penetrating
70 my heart to invoke its faith, that l might no,
tempt misfortune to blight the early bridal of our
hearts.
VIII n had done, her answer was as if had not
spoken, fer still she only said that must net CO.
She gave no moro now. And l. did deae1 70
Der love, when l thought that explaining ard per
suadng were answers TO the pleading tears and swell
ins bosom aad auiyerng frame aad speaking eyes of
that msidea N.vbs, shaken by her m msarnfu! fears?
"Ycu will be changed wien you return" she said
change! I knew 1 could rot change. WHY
should Jsalie doubt my truth? would prove il.
My mind was fxed. ny fancy was Gashsd by amb-
tious an,icipauoRs. I reSo,y TO Leave. Jsnnis at
length, when her entreaiss failed Iepsoached me, bat
SO gently, that her very upSrading sounded ike a
bsnedictieP. And SO 1t was. 1t was not even ths
sslfshness Of affection 1t was pure. tender, ear
nest solicitude. She told me | was breaking faith
with her, in thus going away to engage in var. Was
it for this that sse bad become tho sfiAnced OF my
heart! Was it for this that bal pledged her love-
with every sacred vow, to answer mine? Hss il for
this that should take my hand from the pleasant
cares Of Peace to corrupt it in the yilanes of wal?
that should mix with the worst Of my kina? tha,
sheud ride ever the hsryess of the POOR and carouse
in the glare of their burning home, and see sweet
babes made fatherles and wives ersaysd and brides
left desolate in the rorid7 Va, no. II was that
broke my pledge. was rot true to nay earIy VOW.
was not all for her. had mads mex iaol for NV
heart. had declared weuld never cause any s,r-
row to her, by denying to her love ons Of il. ea.ns,
wishes. Aad now was doing this. was making
her greve was rssing the leaving her dssoia,o 10
the end Of her days. For the sake Of what? For the
sake OF . soldiers ambition. Ambition As though
to wear the gray hairs of good oil man were rot
nobler hope than to die in trench, or vs shudderpg
with the memory Of carnage and Ere and blood, and
all the namsless horrors of war.
Icannot tell ali the sorrows of that parting An
infatuation burned in my lead and blinoed me. At
length went. Jenne's last blessing upbraided me
more deeply than her 6rst reproaeh. Wnen she knew
thai should 20, she said not more despoadiae
word; sud then did fse how gentle SIZE was i'm sor
comforted myself decided that Jennie coed as she
was-dear, loving noble -eSu'd no, comprehend the
idea ct patriotism. And a thought "a falsrhsod
crossed my mind. T,Ascted that had never tried
her; che might not DO the asssnt it wouiI be
good to test her faith.
Andso vent. Let me forget the horrors and
crimes Of that long adventure Inste ID Of two years
was away seyes; and from the first was sad sick,
rsmorssful. Nothing but memory recalled ms TO the
thought OF love- And teen did Jeniie's reproaches
rise up IN Judgment sgaii ct was lens lest to
her during the confusion Of that terrible campsiyn.
sold continents row lay between U.s. and an ocean
heard not Of her during four yesIss An, she has
forgotten, said l, tina 6ary, wiful whom she
a U ~