Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-07-23
TIL E HARP:
A CONTRIBUTION TO SPIRIT-LO

The secretary lived with his young
wife in the as yet untroubled bliss Of the
honeymoon. No worldly motives, no
passing passion had united them. No
Ardent and long-tried love had been the
seal Of their union. Very early in life
had they learned to know each other but
the delay attending Sellner's appoint
ment to his secretaryship, compelled him
even to postpone the attainment of his
wishes. Finally he received his patent,
and the Sunday following he led his true
maiden, as wife, into the new abode.
After tho long, conetreined days of CON.
gratulations and family festivals were
over, they could at length enjoy the
pleasant evenings, disturbed by no third
person, in trustful solitude. Plans for
future lifo, Sellner's flute, and Josephine's
harp, filled out the hours, which glided
by only too rapidly for the lovers, and
the deep harmony of their tones was to
them friendly foretokcn of future day
One evening, when they lad delighted
each other for long time with their
music, Josephine began to complain of a
headache. That morning she had con-
band, and fever, at first insignificant,
was increased by the inspiration of the
music and the over-eXertion.'of the senses,
so much the more, that she, from youth
upwards, had suffered from weak nerves.
She concealed it no longer from her hus-
band, and Sellner anXiously sent for a
physician. He, however, treated the
matter as tIitle, and promised complete
recovery for the morrow. But after
restless night, during which she ravcd
inccssantly, the doctor found the poor
Josephine in q condition which had all
the systems of dangerous, nervous fever.
He applied all remedies; Josephine s illness
grew daily worse. SeIlner was beside
himself. On the ninth day, Josephine
felt that the weak fabric of her nerves
could not long endure this illness the
doctor had already foretold this to Sellncr.
She felt that her last hour had come, and
with calm resignation awaited her fate.
Dear Edward" said she to her hus-
band, while she pressed him for the last
time to her bosom, ''with deep sorrow do
| take leave of this beautiful earth, where
[ have found thee, and deepest bliss in thy
heart; but, though l can no longer be hap
py In thine arms, yet shall Josephine'S
love hover around thee, like a faithful
genius, until we meet above" When she
had said this she sank back, and softly
slumbcred her life away. 1t was about
nine o'clock in the evening. What Sell
nG suffered was incxpressible; he fought
long with life; grief had shattered his
health; and when, at length after weeks
Of illness, he rose from his bed, the
strength of youth was no longer in his
limbs; he sank into mody kind of stupor,
and wasted away visibly. Deep dcspon-
dency stepped into the place of despair.
and silent sorrow hallowed all remem-
berances of the loved one. He had left
Josephinc's chamber in the same condi-
ton as before her death. Upon the sew
ing table yet lay her work, and the harp
stood, still and untouched in the corner.
Every evening, Sellner made a pilgrimage
to this sanctuary of his love, took his
flute thither with him, leaned, as in the
times of his happiness, upon the window,
longing after the loved shadow. Once
thus he stood, lost in his thoughts, in
Josephine's chamber. The air of clear
moonlight night, was waited in to him
from the open window, and, from the
neighboring castle-tower the watchman
called the ninth hour; then, on a sudden,
the harp resounded in harmony with his
tones, as though touched by light spirit
breath. - .-----
Strangely surprised, he ceased playing
upon his flute, and with it died away also