The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-04-19
H'hc Beautiful 3Hamtac.
The fire that on my bosom prays,
Is lone us some volcanic isle,
No torch is kindled at its blaze-
a funeral nile"

| =, Is lone us some volcanic isle,
No torch is kindled at it's blaze
funeral pile"
IN the morning train from Peters
ourg, there was a lady closely yelled.
IN the same car with ourselves. She
was dressed in the purest white, wore
gold bracelets, and evidently belong.
cd to the highest classes ofsocicty.
iler lIgure was delicate, though well
developed, and exquisitely symetrical;
ana when she occasionally drew aside
her richly embroidered veil the glimpse
OF tho features which the beholdcr OBJ.
tanned, satisfied him Of her extreme
loveliness. Beside her sat a gentleman
IN deep mourning, who watched over
her with unusual solicitude, and several
times when she attempted to rise. he
excited the curiosity OF the passengers
oy detaIning her in her seat.
Outside the cars all was confusion
passengers ps::!!gs locking to baggage, portcrs
usual hurry and hustle attending
the departure Of railroad train. One
shrill warning whistle from the engine,
and we moved slowly away.
At the first motion of the car. the
lady in white started to her feet with
one heart-piercing scream, and her
bonnet falling oil disclosed the most
lovely features we ever contemplated.
Her raven trcsscs fell over her shoul-
der, and clasping her hands in prayer,
she turned her dark eyes to heaven
What agony was in that look What
beauty. too, what heavenly beauty, had
not SO much of misery been stamped
upon it. Alas one look told mel
ancholy tale.
"----she was changed
As by the sickness Of soul /; her mind
Had wandered from its dwelling, anu her eyes
They had not their own lustre but the look
Which is not Of earth she was become
The queen of n fantastic realm her thoughts
We're combinations of lisjonted things,
Anu forms, impalpable and unperceived
Or others sight, familiar were TO hers
Her brother, the gentleman in black
was unremitting in his efforts to soothe
her spirit. He led her back to her
seat i; but her hair was still unbound
| and her beauty unveiled. The cars
| ratt!ca! cn. and the passengers in groups
resumed their conversation. Sudden.
y wild melody arosc !; it was the
beautiful maniac's voice, rich, full. and
inimitable. Her hands were crossed
on her heaying bosom, and she waved
her body as she sang with touching
pathos-
"She is far from the land where her young
| hero sleeps,
And. lovers around her are signing,
But coldly she turns from their oazc and
| wCcps,
For her heart in his grave is lying!
"She sings the wild sorg Of her own native
! plain,
Every note which hc loved awakine-
AN little they think, who delight in her
strains,
no" the heart Of the minstrel is breaking
Her brother was unnamed and he
wept as only man can weep. The al,
changed, and he continued
elias sorrow thy young heart shaded,
As clouds o'er the morning fleet!
100 last have those young days faded,
mat even IN sorrow were sweet!
II thus the un kind world wiher
Each feeling that once was dear:
Come, Child ot misfortune come hithcr
III weep with thee, tear for tear
| She then sang a fragmcns ofsh,
beautiful hymn
Jesus, lover of my soul,
| Let me TO thy hosom ny.'
Another attempt was made to ris,
up was prevented, and she threw her
self on her knees beside her brother
and gave him such a mournfuI, cntreat
ing look, with the plaintivc "Savo me
my brother save your sistcr - tha
scarcely passenger could refrain from
weeping. We say scarcely, for ther,
was one man (was he a man p VIII,
called on the conductor to ssput he
out the cars" lie received the opcr
scorn of the company. His insensi
bllIty to such a scene Of distress al
most doiics belief; and yet this is, il
every particular, an "o'er true tale.
Should he ever read these lines, may
MS marble heart be softcncd by tn,
recollections of his brutality
Again, tho poor bcnghted beaut,
raised her bcwitching voice to one o
the most solemn, sacred airs
"Oh where shall rest be found,
Rest for the weary soul.'
And continued her melancholy chan
rntil we reached tho steamer Noun
Vernon, on board of which we dc
seconded the magnificent James River
the unhappy brother and sister occu
pying the ladies cabin" His wa
sorrow too profound for ordnar,
consolation and no one dare intrud
SO far upon his grief as to satisfy hi
curiosity.
We were standing on the promer
Hdc deck, admiring the beautiful seen,
~ Of The river, when at one of til
landings, the small boat pulled ava
} from the shore with the unhappy paii
en- route for the asylum at - Sh
was standing erect in tho stern Of tn
. boat, her white dress and raven tres:
es tlnttering in tho breeze. Tho boa