Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1854-04-13

f5t = - 49, 49, nNA - 1A4tII ID 81 IllUl
and solitary son, and she in pity ansWsre,
yes,-weuld accept her On such terms, an,
rivet the chains she had consented to as
sune2 Oh neither. mother, I have ne
studied jon in vain, yeur life has been onl
long self sacrifice to me its silent teaching
shall bear fruit Do not grieye 50 bitterll
fer me. God was very mercifaI 10 eivinl
me such neither let us trust Him for Il,
future =
All, peer tortured heart, speaking 50 brave
] ~ forth. striving 10 cheer the mothers fail
lug spirit when AL 10 him was dark, dafk
dark
She raised herself upon her pillow, anS
wennd her weak arm about his neck. anI
listensd to theexpFessions Of ineffAble love
and fsiths end csnsslstisu. which her sor
fouBd strength 10 utter 10 sustain her soul
Yea, in that hour her reoompense had begun
IN loneliness, in secret tears, with Christian
patience apd endeavor, with an Hetaltsa ans
faithful spirit had She sewn; and In death
she reapcd her high reward.
| They had been silent for some minutes
and she lay back exhausted, but composed
while be sas baside her, holding her hand il
his, fancyiEg she slept, and anxieusly listen.
| ing to her breathing which seemed more
than usually oppressed A rustling was
heard amid;the flowers at the Windew, aud
bright yoang face looked in.
Hush p,,said Edward. recognising 4hs
step, HUSH, Mary, she is asleep z
The color and the smiles alike passed
from Mary's face. when she glided iuto the
room. Or Edward Edward. she IS net as
leep she is sery, very I'LL
Mary darllng Nary said tae dying la
dy, with difficulty reusipg herself have
had such Pleasant dream; but haya slept
toe long; l. Is night Let them ring csn
dies. Edward | cannot see you Tow
Night, and the sun SO brightly shining -
The shadows of the grave were stealing fast
upon her.
Other steps now sounded ins the room,
and many faces gathered round the couch;
but the blind heard nothing-was conscious
of nothing, save the painful labored respira-
tion, the treaulous hand that huttored in
Lisewn, the broken sentences,
Edward, my dearest, take comfort. I
have hope God is indeed inerciful'I
'0h Edward, do notgrieve 50 sadly It
breaks my hFart, 10 see you cry For hfr
sake be calm -fr my sake, toe z Mary
knelt down beside him, aud enaoayored 10
sooihe the voiseless anguish which it terri
fed her to witness
Another iR1erval, when no sound broke
the stiffness that prevailed; and again Mrs.
Owen opened Der eyes, and saw Mary kneel-
ing by Edwards side They were associa-
ted with the previous current of her thoughts
and smile lighted up her face
AS | wished, as / prayed, to diet Ny
children both. Kiss me, Mary, mylbless-
ing, my CONSIDER Edward, nearer, nearerq
Child Of SO mahy hopes aud prayers-all an
swered new And witk her bright vision
knew sorrow and tears no move.
-Four mouths had passed since Mrs
Ovens death, aud her son was still staying
at Woodlands. the residence of Mary's faith
er, Colonel Parker. at about two miles dis
lance from Edward Ovens solitary home:
hither had he been prevailed upon to remove
after the FIRST shock Of bis grief had subsid-
ed
Corouel and Mrs Parker were kind hfart-
ed people, and the peculiar situation Of Ed
ward Owen appealed to their best feelings,
so they made no opposition to their hildrc ri
devoting themselves increasingly to him,
and striving bv every innocent device. to-
render his affection less poignant and OPP
prestivr. But kind as all the family were,
still all the family were as nothing compar-
ed to Mary. who was always anxious TO ac
company him In his walks, seemed jealous of
her privilege as fayorite reader, and claimed
to be his silent watchful companion. when,
too sad even to take an interest in what she
read, be leaned back YEARLY in his chair
and felt the soething influence Of her pre-
sence As time wore on, and some of his
old pursuits resumed their attractions fer
him, she Used to listcn for hours as be play-
ed upon the piano. Sis would sit near him
with her work, proposing subjects for his
skill. as her old custom had been; or she
would beg him to give her lesson i'd exc
cuti-g a difficult pa sage, and rendering il
with due feeling and expression. Ii the
same way, IN their readings, which gradual
" mere carried on With more regularity and
interest, che appeared 70 look upon herself
as the person obliged. appealed to his judg-
ment, and deferred to bis opinion, without
any consciousness Of the fatigue she under.
went, or the service she was rendering
One day, as they we're sitting in the libra
~, after she had been fer some time pursu,
ing her self imposed task. and Edward. fear
ing she would be tired. had repeatedly en-
treated her to desist, she answered gaiiy:
Let me alone, Edward I IT. is SO pleas
ant to go through book With yeu; yOf
make such nice reflections, and point ont 81
the finest passages. and explain the dif6cult
parts 50 clearly that il does me norelgoof
than dozen readings By myself / shall
| grow quite clever now We have begun eur
literary Studies
Dear Mary. gay rather, ended; for yst
know this ealnos always go on SO / mus
/ return to my own house next wesk; bav.
trespassed on year fathers hospitality, in
diligence, and foSbearanoe too long,
Leave is, Edward 1 and the celer deep
sned in her cheeks. and tears stood IL hel
bright eyes Nat YETI
Not YETI The day would still come
dearest delay it as might, and is it man
ful thus to shrink from what must and ough
10 bel I have 10 begin life 10 earnest a.;
if I falisr at the pnset, what win be- tie %
j snlt7 have arranged everything Nj
Glen. our clergyiaan, has cousin, m ushe
| in school, who wishes for retirement an
conntry air. ] have engaged him % liy
With me as companion and reader Mex
week be comes; aad then, Mary, farewell {
Woodlandsr
Ne: net fsFsEsll, for you mus: come Der
very oflen; and must read to ysu SSH
and zen nrst sefch me still. and tell ne i
voEr skn nsble thoughts and beautiful lar
gusge Of better and higher things than
oncs oss1 . care fer And thoa eur walk
s...--t -. - go fH