Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-04-26

seemed 30 much impressed with his mental supe
riority; she would leave those games Of her play
mates in which his blindness prevented him from
joining, and would listen for hours to the stories
with which his own Imagination enabled him to
invent.
AS she grew up, there was no change in the
frank and confding nature of their Intercourse
Mary still made him in the recipient of her girl
ish secrets and plans, and Dreams just as she had
done of her little grefs and joys in childhood
asked him to quote his favorte passages of poetry
or stationed herself near him at the piano, sug.
gesting subjects for him to play, which he extern.
porised at her bidding, Bright and blooming as
Mary was, the life of every party, beaming with
animation and enjoyment, no attention was capa-
ble of rendering her1unmindful Of him; and she
was often known to sit out several dances in an
evening to talk to dear Edward Owen, who would
be sad if he thought himself neglected
And now she daily visited the invalid; her buoy
ant spirits tempered by sympathy for her increas-
ing suffering; but still dffusing such an atmos-
phere of sunshine and hope around her, that gloom
and dependency seemed to vanish at her pre-
sence. Edwards sightess eyes were always raj
sed to her bright face as if he felt the magic infl-
ence il impaired.
His mother had noted all this, with q
mothers watchGuness and, on that day, when
strong in her love, she had undertaken to break
to him the fact which all others shrank from CON-
.nuncating, she spoke also of Mary, and of the
vague wild hope she had always cherished of one
day seeing her his wife. n. -.a. -...
"No, mother, no." exclaimed the blind man,
dearest mother in this you are not true to your
self! What Would you wish to see her in all
her springtime of youth and beauty sacrificed to
such an one as Ito see Mary, as you have de-
scribed her to me, as my soul tells she Is, tied
down to be my guide, and leader, and SUPPORT OF
who helpless alone in the eyes of men, would
be his means of shelterng and protecting herr
Would you hear her pitied,-our bright Mary pi-
tied--as Blind Mans Wife, mother!"
"But Edward-if she loves ou, as am sure
she does
''Love me, mother! Yes, as angels love NOR
! tails, as sister loves brother, as you love me!
And for this bcnignant love, this lender sympathy,
could kneel and kiss the ground she treads upon;
but, beyond this--were you to entreat her to mar
ry your blind and solitary son, and she in pity an
swered Yes,-would accept her on such terms
and rivet the chains she had consented to assume!
Oh mother, mother have not studied you in
vain, your life has been one long self-sacrifce
to me, its silent teaching shall bear fruit! Do
not grieve so bitterly for me. God was very mer-
ciful in giving me such mother; let Us trust
Him for the future!''
All, poor tortured heart speaking so bravely
forth, striving to cheer the mothers failing spirit,
when all to him was dark, dark, dark!
! She raised herself upon her pillow, and wound
her weak arms about his neck, and listened to the
expressions Of inefable love, and faith and con-
ISOLATION, which her son found strength to utter,
to sustain her soul. Yea, in that hour her recon-
pence had begun; in loneliness, ip secret tears,
with Christian patience and endeavOr, with an
exalted and faithful spirit, had she sown; and in
death she reaped her high reward.
They had been silent for some minutes, and
size lay back exhausted, but composed, while he
sat beside her, holding her hand in his, fancying
she slept, and axiously listening to her breathing
which seemed more than usually oppressed. A
rustling was heard amid the flowers at the win
dow, aud bright young face looked in.
"Hush!" said Edward, recognizing the STEP
E"Hush, Mary, she is asleep!''
The color and the smiles alike passed from Ma
ry's face, when she glided into the room. "Oh
Edward, Edward, she is not asleep, she is very
very il!''
"Mary! darling Mary" said the dying lady
with difficulty rousing herself: Il haye had such
pleasant dream; but have slept too long. II
is night. Let them bring candles Edward
cannot see you now. ......,.l .aaa...
Night, and the sun 50 brightly shining! The
shadows of the grave were stealing fast upon her
Other steps now sounded in the room, ant
many. faces gathered round the couch; but tht
I blind man heard nothing-was conscious of moth
) ing, save the painful labored respiration. thu
tremulcus hand that fluttered in bis own the bro
ken sentences. s ... w.. ..... S.. ..r
f edward, my dearest, take comfort. hav
/, hope. God is indeed merciful. ..e 3
: Oh Edward, do not grieve so sadly 1t break
' my heart to see you cry. For her sake be cain
: for. my sake tool" Mary knelt beside him
: and endeayor to soothe the voiceless anguis
E which it terrified her to witness. 5-#
: Another interval, when no sound broke tn
e stiffness that prevailed; and again Mrs, Owe
s opeAed her eyes, and saw Mary kneeling by Ed
: wards side. They were associated with the pre-
y vious current Of her thoughts, and smile lighte
y up her face. 4ft .,rg.. ... ..4f e,raa te.
!, Gas ! wished, as prayed, to die! My chi
= dren BOTH Kiss me, Mary, my blessing, my cor
e soler! Edward, nearer, nearer! Child Of so man
It hopes and prayers-all answered ,now!''s An
n with her bright vision unalloyed, her reiocin