The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-12
WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, JANUARY H. 1854

| 9 He died the night before last, at haifpast
| eleven o'clock. His funeral was appointed at
| four O'clock this afternoon, as we found it I'M
possible to wait any longer for your arrival, on
account of 80
She hestated, and | comprehended the sick
.ening reahty-the fulflment of the curse that
| flesh is heir to, whenever the chrysalis spirit
hath taken wings and scared.
:" So little time f" | faltered, for it was al
ready past three, and turned toward the room
which instinctiyely felt to be the chamber
of deathu
A vacant. faced watcher arose from her seat
beside whiteshseted bed, and, at sign from
her who had followed me to the door, gGded
on tip-toe from the room, and left me alone
with the dead
My father!-my father Was it thus
looked on thy face again? That whtened
head, that Care had beached more than Time
it was scarcely frosted when | left! Those
skeleton-like hands, crossed piteously over
the snnken chest! But the face all 1t was
not like my fathar'sl Dsath had tfinmphed
a trembling hand.
Over the puseless heart lay the flowers had
seen in the child's hands Had she been there
to face this fearful mystery -.
| How long ! had sat- with bowed head,
know not, when hand was laid lightly On
| my shoulder, and the minister's wife spoke my
name in kind but firm accents.
al would not intrude upon you, Mr.. Lincoln,
but the people will soon assemble, and the
bearers are waiting to place the body in the
| cofinn
started up with a shudder gave one quick
look, and followed her " My mother 2" asked
as | passed into the hall
"Will you see her before the funeral SER
vices? | fear it will agitase you too mucn, if
you know, however, 1t is probable, the sad
state of her mind"
III must see her, at all events" | replied
and with an indefnablc foreboding at my
heart, | turned toward her room.
| The window was thrown open toward the
garden; and she sat by it in a cushioned chair,
rocking lis.lessly, and rolling her eyes with
vacant air, that fell upon my heart like a mill
stone. But sprung forward to arouse her.
Mother! Mother | almost gasped She
turned her eyes without moving her head, or
Stacking the pace of her rockng-chair.
| "Oh! | thought it was Lulie, little Lule!"
she murmured, IS though dream ng
Have the years changed me SO much that
my mother does not know me? thought l.
Dropping On one knee beside her chair,
eau ght her hand in both mine, and looked
into her face as | had done in childhood and
boyhoood.
Mother, you have not forgotten your
Ralph"
The unmeaning GLANCE of those eyes will
live in my heart while it beats No word of
welcome-of sympathy-not one lock of the
mother there!
Ralph-oh, yes; is school out +" she said
drawing away her hand, and passing it over
her eyebrows with distressed look " 1t is
late, and have not mended your fathers over
coat yet. | told Lule to bring me a spool of
black silk, but she is SO long coming-and my
head aches So Go and play with Eben
Ralph-tbere's good boy"
could bear no more! My brain seemed
OF fire, and my heart frozen to ice! sprang
from my kneeling posture, and went from the
room. | turned the latch of another apart
ment--it was empty; and finging back the
door, shut myself up with my great anguish.
fell on my knees, but instantly started up
shverng. My soul was shaken from it's trust
in the goodness of God | could not pray |
could not weep. | could only sit crushing my
heart with my folded arms, while shudder
after shudder shook almost even my reason
from its throne.
"What have I lived for? what have toiled
for? what ID there to live for :" hollow,
mOcking laugh, that startled myself burst
from my cold lips as these bitter queries came
up. The door creaked on its hinges turned
|
human being; but that glance melted in an
instant, and a tide of new thoughts and emo
tons rushed up to contend with the mountain
waves of Despair.
need not tell you pho came in, with little
white pinafo held tmdly up by one corner,
and eyes full of Heavens loving trust. that
half recoiied when she met my first strange
wild glance. ! had forgotten the oniy blessing
spared in the wreck Of home.
did not speak; dropped my arms and
looked st her with the searching gaze Of the
lost mariner, who thinks ne sees the first faint
star in clouded heaven. She stole noiselessly
up to ne, her childish brow fed, and her Ii Do
trembling. Brother Ralph !" she whispered,
and then. as though the effort had been too
great for her, she dropped her little head on
my knees, and burst into crying.
| caught her to my heart, and the cherub
touch melted its icy band Hos. heavy tears
such as the strong man weeps, rained ON her
worse than orphan head. | drew her closer
closer-until panied by the convulsiye pressure
she looked up in baby wondermcpt. Why
was weeping she could not comprehend, but
she lifted her apron to wipe my cheeks. Then,
seeing them again deluged, she tried the sweet
balm of childish love.
II lore you, brother Ralpl :" she said, in a
note like the tendcrest trill Of sweetest bird
and put her little arms around my neck lay
ing her soft cheek to mine.
Little sister," | strOve to speak, but only
sobbed Thank God | have something lefs
to live for ~
| TO BE CONTINUED.