Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-02-09
From the giiss Brunch.
THE LOST AND THE LIVING,

But the daughter elings In unchanging grief
10 the image Of her mother.
But aeeting twelve month had passed
since the heart Chat for years bad beat against
bis own, was forever stilled, when Walter
Lee brought again fair young creature to
share his widowed nome Nor father nor
mother, brother nor sister. claimed any part
Of the orphan heart that be coveted and won
No expense or pains had be spared to decor
ate the mansion Tor her reception Old ia
miliar objects. fraught With tenderest asso-
Citations, had been removed. to make way for
the upholster's choicest fancies. There was
no picture left upon tue wall. With sweet, sad
mournful eyes, 70 falIoY him with silent re
proacL. = - as fresh and deligllt-
ful as the newborn joy that filed bis heart.
Ny dear Edith said be. sopdly pushing
back the bair from her forehead there should
be no shadow in your pathway, but have
tried in vain to induce Nelly to give you the
welcome you deserve; however, she shall not
annoy you shall compel her to stay in the
nursery till she yields to my wishes.
'Ob. no. don't do that said the young
stepmother, anxiously; | think understand
her. Let me 90 to her dear Walter, and
she tripped out Of the room.
Walter Ice looked after her retreating ig-
ure with lover. like fondness. Tho room
seemed to him to grow Suddenly darker, when
the door closed after her. Reaching out his
hand, be almost unconsciousiy took up book
that lay near him. A Slip of paper auttcred
out from between the ,eaves, like white
winged messenger. The joyous expression
of his face faded into one Of deep sorrow, as
he read it. The hand writing was bis childs
mothers 1t ran thus
"Oh to die. and be forgotten. This warm
heart cold--these active limbs still. these lips
dust! Suns to rise and Set flowers to bloom
the moon to silver the leaf and tee around
my own dear home; tie merry laugh the
pleasant circle, and MOI therel The weeds
choking the flowers at my headstone the
severed tress Of sunny hair forgotten in its
envelope; the sun of happiness so soon alb
sorbing the dew drop II sorrow. The cy-
press changed for Tie orange rreata Oh.
no, no; don't quite forget close your eyes
sometimes. aud bring t.sfare you the face that
once made sunshine in your home feel again
the twiniug clasp Of loving arms; the lips
that told you mot in woRps) how dear you
were. Oh, Walter, don't quite forget. From
Nelle's clear eyes, let her mother $ soul still
speak to you. MARY LEE
Warm tears fell upon tue paper as Walter
Lee folded it back lie gave himself time
to rally, and thea glidcd gently up to the
nursery door. 1t was partially opeu A lit
tie fairy creature OF some five summers stood
in the middle Of the floor Her tiny face was
half hidden in sunny curls Her little pima
fore was full of toys. which she grasped tight
ly with either hand
No, YOU are not my mama, said the child.
i want my own dead mama. and I'm sorry
papa brought you here
oh, don't say that, said the young step
mother; 'doa't call me mama" If it gives
you pain, dear. am quite Wiling you
should love your own mama best
Nellie looked up with pleasant surprise,
4 bad dear mama ard papa once she
continued; and brothers and sisters so many,
and so meryf but they arc all dead, and
sometimes my heart is very sad have no
one now to love me but your papa and you
Nellie's eyes began to moistea; and taking
out one after another of the little souvenirs
and toys from her pinaiore, size said, And
you won't take away this tbis-and this
that my dead mama gave me 2
No, indeed, dear Nellie"
And you will let me climb in my papa )
lap, as used; aud put my cheek to his. aud
kiss him? and loye hiNRD aach as eper
can. won't you 2
Yes, yes, my darling.
Walter Lee could hear no more; his heart
was full,
What Mary's child pleading with stran-
ger, for room in a fathers heart, 10 the
sudden gush of tais new fount Of tenderness,
bad he forgotten or overlooked the claims of
the helpless Htle oae2 God forbid From
Nellie's clear eyes let her mothers soul
speak 10 you dye il did.
When next Walter Lee met his young bride
it was with chastened tenderness Nellie's
loving little heart was pressed closely against
bis own. He was again her oaea dear papa!
No, he did not quite forgetf
u A man without money, and a heart
full of philanthropy whose coat is little
tbreadbare is summed like n thlet n man