Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-01-05
GBt storp GelItr,
From Arthur's Home Gazette
M A T T IE LORIN G.

on lay pale woman, upon whose delicate,
intellectual countenance the seal of death was
aegibly impressed Her small mouth was
wasted till the lips were very thin and almost
boodless not the faintest shade of rose color
stained her white cheek, and dark circIets Of
purple had gathered Seneath the lids which
dropped 50 wearily over her eyes.
Lift Matte up to me, Patience she mur-
injured, family, to an old negro woman, who
also stood near the bed and when her
little girl was lifted up to her, with strong
effort the mother clasped her arms around the
child, and drew the little face down to her own
that she might kiss her.
Mamma is going to leave you, Matte,
she Whispered, sOrrOwfnlly, never to come
back again; and you viii have only your papa
10 love-
Where are you going, Take me with
you, mamma, said the child. ...I
Il cannot take you, my darling. Would
that could But arm going to die, and you
wiIl never see me again while you live, Mat
tie. So lie down by me, now, and sleep in
my arms, tonight, for it will be the last time,
darling
Matte Loring laid her head upon her moth
er's breast, and began to cry. She felt that
some great misfortune was coming upon her !;
but in what way she scarcely understood, for
her little heart was full of bewildering feel
ings. Her mother caressingly and fondly
stroked down the soft hair of the child, and
then, turning to old Patience, said, earnest
ly- r
Take care Of my child, Patience; be kind
to her, and give her everything she wants ill
her father comes Oh. remember il Patience,
and be tender with my poor darling
Little Matte nestled closer to her mothers
breast and very soon the mother and child
were both asleep. One, alas never awOke.
When little Matte opened her large, blue
eyes, the sun was shining through the bars of
the closed shutters. She was lying in her
own little crib; and the tall bed was drawn
out to the middle of the room, and covered all
over with large, white cloth, beneath the
folds of which rose the outline of still and
rigid form. Matte asked for her mother;
and she was carried up to the bed to look upon
the white face of the corpse that lay moveless
before her, answering not TO her passionate
praying. No word or look-no breathing
and Matte sprang away from her dead mother,
sobbing with wild fear and an aching sense
of desolation, such as had never before chilled
her young heart.
Five long days and five lonesome nights the
corpse Of Mattie's mother lay in solemn, terri
BILE stiffness in that room; but he, for whose
sake it was SO long kept from the earth, came
not, after all, and on the sixth day little Mat
tie was dressed in black frock, and put in a
carriage, which crept slowly on behind the
hearse on which was her mothers coffin
Many stranger, who went to the grave, pit
led the poor little child who sobbed and cried
in such strange desolatiOn and many bent
down to kiss her and whisper soothing words
to her before she was again lifted into the car
riage. The minister who had read the burial
service, was in the carriage with her, and he
took her upon his lap, trying to soothe her
passionate grief 1t was little comfort to be
with him, but he left her when they reached
home, and then she was all alone for the Lo-
rings were strangers in that place, without
friends or even acquaintance. Her father had
been abroad for six months, and though letters
had been sent to him, telling of his wife's i'll
ness, and urging his return, still he did not
come. So day after day passed till week
was gone, and still no tidings came of the abb
sent father. Little Matte cried necessarily
all the time, refusing to be comforted she
would scarcely eat anything, and the child
was wearing away visibly from the effects of
such constant sorrow.
One night, aunt Patience carried her up
stairs to put her to bed. She was vexed with
her for crying SO constantly, and determined
to put her to sleep where no one would be dis
turbed by her; so she undressed Matte, and
laid her in bed at the top Of the house, but
the child cried louder than before
4 Hush cryin' dis minnit, Matte, and go to
sleep, said aunt Patience, angrily. Hush
or de debbel I'll get you, shure as you're lib
bin. You'd better b'liebe, you had. l see
him now, pokin' his ugly black head out O. de
chimbley, jes waiting for me togo way, so
den he can ketch bad chile like you. Is YOU
gwine TO hush, ef tell him to go 'way!'
'Oh! yes, yes, I'll hush, cried the child in
extreme terror, catching hold Of the old ne
gro's dress with nervous dread, as she
prayed, Oh don't 60 away, aunt Patience
stay with me, and will be good, indeed
will
But Patience would not stay. She tucked
the covers around the child, and went away,
carrying the lamp with her, and leaving poor
Matte Loring alone with the darkness and
her own terror AS the sound of aunt Pa
tience's footsteps died away, and the simmer
of the light upon the wall faded, Matte buried
her head entirely beneath the covers, almost
sufocating herself in her nervous apprehen-
sion. She dared not cry, though the swell
ing sobs were heaving her breast and chock-
ing her throat She dared not give them vent
because she feared, at the first sound of sob,
the devil would come and fly away with her.
Poor little Matte So she lay alone, scarce
" able to breathe but the large, burning tears
would pather in her ewes and roll over her