The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-09-08
THE ANGEL BRIDE
YRoM rHx MSS. os A LATE PHYSICIAN

harmonzed but too painfully with the op
p, essiyei stiffness which pervaded the cham
ber whiIher my footsteps were bent. II was
the ground -four of pretty residence in the
outskirts of the village of O.. Its open
windows overlooked garden where taste
and beauty reigned supreme - second
Eden which extended with scatce percep.
tible delinration to the very margin Of u
stream, where it was bounded by a white
picket, and by a hedge or low Trimmed
shrubbery, over which the eye, caught the
flashing waters ms they swept on, glowing
in the crimson radiance Of The sunset.
| I Ienlered The house and stepped lightly
along carpeted passage, tapped softly n,
the door Of the chamber Of sickness AYE
Of dearf. q. Il d . " j -
I" Welcome, docor,'.ly said the silvery
voice of lady. who sat by low couch, par.
TALLY hung with white drapery. "Wel'
come : the dear sufferer is now in quiet
slumber - but must presently awake, and
one other FIRST enquiries wiiibo for you.
"How isyour sweet Lucy lnow'"
+" She has been quiet and apparently COM
fortable all day. II is her Sabbath, doctor, us
well us tho worshipperS who 60 up 10 the
earthly courts of Zion. Oh!p she added,
while the sunlighto joy .irradmted ler iea.
lures pale white long vigils at. the bedside OF
her sweet Lucy, "Oh! how full is the
scene Of mortal life and suffering, Of earthly
bitterness Of expiring hope!"
"Yes my dear lriend,' Ireplied," your
cup in life is indeed sweeteneo from on high.
| have seen death to-day clad in the robes
OF terror He took from my hopeless care
a victim all unprepared even alter lons
and faithful warning; and the reconciliation
of the sad struggle, the terrible anguish van.
quished, the fierce triumph Of the conquer
or, and the piercing wall Of exhausted M
ture, haunt my memory still and even in
this earthly paradise cannot forget them"
"And poor Edwards gone ut last to his
dread account! Oh, how fearful and
the gentle lady covered her face and wept.
Some time elapsed. fingered nj the
couch Of Lucy till she should awake, and
taking from the stand small though ele-
gant copy Of the bible, | opened the silver
clusp, and my eye caught the simple inscrip.
ton OF the fly leai :-"To my Lucy "a
parting gift of Clarence had designed to
read portion of the word but thought was
for the time engrossed. ...
had known Lucy May from her infancy,
and she was scarcely less dear to me than
my own daughter. Indeed, they hud grown
up together like twin blossoms, and were
together almost every hour Of the day. Sew
entcrn summers they both had numbered
though Lucy was some months older, no
brother or sister had either OF them, and
hence The Intensity of mutual love. Their
thoughts, their affections. were all in com.
mon. They called each other sister, v and
their intercourse honored the endearing
name. ..... ..
And Clarence - the giver Of the little vol
u,na in my hand - who vas hai Clarence
Hamilton was the son Of my best earthly
friend, and nobler youth, in all the lofty
faculties and endowments of the heart, und
intellect never rejoiced in the vigor Of lie
and early manhood. 10 him had Lucy been
betrothed for more than ear, and he was
now absent hom the village, though We
trusted tina, when each sun arose, that its
setting would bring him back in answer to
our cautious summons. Espec tally had hope
and expectation grown within our hearts, on
that evening, yet not word had been spo'
ken on the subject by the widowed mother
OF the lovely Lucy. At length, however,
she raised her head, and observing the open
volume in my hand, she said, in an assumed
tone ofcheeffulness, ~ trust Clarence will
come home this evening. II is now -"
:" Clarencei "said the sweet patient,
opening her dark eyes and looking eagerly
around. Her eye rested on her mother and
myself, and with slight quiver, and sad
smile, (" she said he is not come" No, my
darling. he has not yet come but there is
more than an hour to the close Of the day,
"God grant he may come," said the
maiden, and she added with energy, "iiit
be Ills holy WILL Oh, doctor, my kind. dear
friend. your Lucy Is wearing away FAST is
she not and then observing my emotion
which attempted 10 concerl, she said. but
better to day, am | not! Where is Ellen
why does she not come 7" Her mother turn.
cd I'm enquiring glance upon me MS took
the thin white hand of the yonng girl in
mine, and marked the feeble but regular
beating. of the pulse. ....... ,.,r..
"Shall ! send for your daughter, doctor
she asked. .''
acouiesced and in few minutes Ellen
WIS sobblng violently. with her face hidden
on the bCsom cf her :. sister" )"
ELLEN, my sweet sister," said Lucy,
"your father has told me mus leave ~
and her voice faltered, "my own dear moth.
er, and -" but she did not utter the
name of her lover, for ut that moment the
voice of one Of the domestics was distinctly
heard saying,
:" he Il come. Mr.. Clarence is come
Now God bless ny dear young lady" Lucy
u tered u scream ofjoy, and clasping Ellen
around the neck, murmuted, z" Father in
Heaven, 1 thank thee and then fainted
with e.cess of happiness. Her swoon was
brief She recovered almost immediately,
and her face was radiant with happiness
Clarence Hamilton was pursuing his stud.
Ia. ut q distant College, and tho letter
which summoned him 10 G., had
scarcely intimated danger in The illness Of
his betrothed. II had been delayed OH the
way. and but half the time Of It's journey
had suficed " bring the eager anxious stu.
dent to the spot where his heart bad stored
It's affections, and centere itsd hopes, next to
heaven !; Tor Clarence was more than noSle
hearted, high.souled man; he was disci-
pie Of Jesus Christ; and he was getting him.
self to be an apostle OF his holy religion.
He had nearly completed his course ofstudies
aud was then to be united TO the beautiful
Lucy May. a...lrq .,a-... eiH o.,
Three moths before the Sabbath evening
Of which we write. Lucy was in health, and
with her companion Ellen, was perio,minS
her delightful duties as Sabbath Schoo,
Teacber.s Returning home, she was exposed
To sudden storm OF rain, and took cold
Her constitution naturally feeble was speea.
ily affected. and consumption, that terrible
G foe Of youth and beauty, seized upon her as
another ~ victim for iis mighty holycaust OF
eno.ue e., tha iypa OF her diseaae |