The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-19


to an urgent call from the people among whom
he was laboring, he had frankly told them
that his purpose was not to remain among them,
or anywhere on his native shore; that he only
awaited the guidance of Providence to home
in foreign cline. After this much bewailed
disclosure of his plans, We placed our favorite
preacher on higher pinnacle Of santship
But sister Ellen was to be married-and
married to Mr. Neville! And then-"0h,
sister, you are not going away to India" burst
from our lips, with a fresh gush of sobs
Twas the first to look up into EDeps troubled
face. 1t was heaving with emotions that ruff
fled its calmness, as the tide-waves rufle the
sea. Her lips were firmly compressed her
eyes were fixed on some distant Cream glassed
with two tears, that stood still in their chalces,
forbidden to fall almost tremhled as caught
her glance.
Sisters! Agnes-Emily ~ abe exclaimed, in
a husky whisper. Hush be calm! Don't
break my heart Do love home LEES
than -
The effort was too much; the words died on
her lips We lifted her to the bed, frightened
into forgetfulness of our own grief We soothed
her, until she, too, wept freely and passionate
ly, and, in weeping, grew strong for the sacri-
fee to which she had pledged her heart.
We never spoke another word of remon-
STRANGE to her tender heart though often, in
the few months that fitted by us together, we
used to choke with sobbing, in some speech
that limited of the coming separation, and hurry
from her presence to cry alone
Our mother had told US the tidngs, with
white lips that quivered tenderly and sadly
No love is 80 uniformly unselfsh as a mothers,
surely for, though she had leaned on Ellen as
the strong staff Of her declining years, she sor-
rowed not, as we did, that she was going. She
was too happy in the thought that her child
had found that "pearl of price in a cold and
evil world-a true, noble, loving heart, to guide
and protect her.
Father sat silent in the chimney corner,
reading in the large family Bible. He was
looking farther than any Of us--to the perils
that would environ his dearest daughter, and
the privations that might come upon her young
life, in that unhealthy, uncivized corner OF the
globe, whittier she was going. But both our
parents had dedicated their children ut the
baptismal shrine, when God first lent the price
less gifts; and they would not cast even a
shadow on the path of self-sacrifce and duty
their darling had chosen.
To come down to the unromantic little de-
tails of wedding preparations--h0w we stitched
|
stoned raisns, with tears in our eyes, and sea-
soned the wedding cake with sghs But there
is little use in thinking over these things Ell
len was first and foremost in all, as she had
always been in every emergency, great or
small Nothing could be made without her
Even the brides cake was taken from the oven
by her own fair hands because no one-ser-
want, sister, nor even mother---was willing to
run the possible risk Of burning sister Ellen's
bride cake and she "knew Just how to bake
it.r
We were not left alone in our labors; for
Ellen had been loved by more than the home
roof sheltered. Old and young, poor and rich,
united in bringing their gifts, regrets and
blessings, to the chosen compaps,n of the pas
tor they were soon I'd lose. NfNer5 is something
in the idea of missionary life that touches the
sympathy of every heart which Mammon has
not too long scared. To sec one, with sympa.
thies and reRnements like our own, rend the
strong ties that bind to country and home
comfort and civilization, for the good of tn,
3 lost and degraded heathen brings too strongly
into relief, by contrast, the sel6shness of mos
, human lives led among the gaietes and luxu
ries of Time
The day. the hour, came. The ship was tt
sail from B on the ensuing week and il
must take away an idol.
She stood up in the village church. that al
who loved her. and longed for another sight OF
her sweet face, might look upon her, and spoke
the simple words that should link hearts fol
eternity. We sisters stood all around her, Blu,
not too near for our hearts were OVERLOOKING
and we could not wear the happy faces that
should grace train of bridesmaids She had
cheered US through the day, with sunshine from
her own heart and even while We were array.
ing her in her simple white muslin, like lamb
for sacrifice, she had charmed our thoughts
into chcerfulness II seemed like some dream
of fairy land and she the embodiment of grace
and loneliness, acting the part Of some Queen
Ttania for little while. The dream changed
to far different reality, whom, at the door of
her mothers room, she put her hand into that
Of Henry Neville, and lifted her eye with the
look that said, "'Where thou goest will 20,
even from all beside"
Tears fell fast in that assembly; though the
good old matrons tried to smile, as they pressed
around the bride, to bless her and bid her good
bye A little girl, in patched but clean
frock, pushed forward, with bouquet of wild
violets and strawberry blossoms in her hand
Here, Miss Nelly-please Miss Nelly" she
cried, half.laughing, halfsobbing, al picked
them on purpose for you!"
| Ellen stopped and kissed the little, eager
face The child burst into tears and caught
the folds of her dress, as though she would
armed woman, mindful of the brides attire,
snatched the child away.
| "And for what would 20 be whimpering in
that style, as if you had any right to Miss
| Ellen?b
"She was always good TO me, and she's my
Sunday school teacher - plead the little girl,
in subdued under-tone.
Agnes drew her to her side, and silently
comiorted her.
"Step aside--Father Herrick is here!D said
one, just then.
The crowd about the bridal pair opened, to
admit white. haired, hnlf.blind old man, who
came leaning on the arm Of his rosy grand.
daughter. Father Herrck was q superannu-
ated deacon, whose good words and works had
won for him place in every heart Of that little
assembly.
"They told me she was going" he MUIR
INJURED, to himself "thcy say tits her wedding.
want TO see my little girl again--bless her."
Ellen sprang forward, and laid both her
white, tremulous hands in the large hand OF
the good old man He drew her near his fail
ing eyes, and looked searchingly into her young,
soul.lit countenance.
al can just sec you, darling; and they tell
me shall never see you again We'll, we'll
If we 20 in Gods way, we shall all get to
Heaven; and it's oil light hesW He raised
his other hand over her head, and added, SOL
EMMY, "The blessingof blessings be upon thee,
my child Amen"
"Amcn - echoed the voice Of Henry Neville.
And Ellen looked up with the look Of an
angel. q,
of that parting hour has burnt itself into my
being Gorever! Could the human heart endure
the agony Of parting like that realized to be
indeed the last--lighted by no ray. of hope Tor
eternity? Would not reason reel under the
pressuref