The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-11-16
WHOLE NO 1920
SIZE Was = rrARTYn.

n
We need not search in the records Of
history to find martyrs: they are all d.
round Its In our daily paths. Bearing,
suffering on, they walk the earth with =
crown Of thornseand a consuming sorrow
ever preying upon their hearts.
We see the cheek lose its rich bloom
and the eye grow ''heavy with unshed
tears :" we mark the sadness which turks
in each glance and lends such thrilling
Epathos to every tone. Yet we never dream
how terrible is the burthen which weighs
down their sinking spirits. never know
why they droop and die, when life seems
in its sunny prime. eal
We remember one---a poor, forlorn
creature, who faded thus and at length
passed away to the land beyond the tomb.
In her youth, there were few more beauti-
full or beloved than she. Her fair brow
was as calm and serene as that of the
pictured Madonna, and her whole face
was radiant with gentleness and innocence.
She was the pet Of the household: tie
ipride Of her noble brothers, and the pet
OF kind sisters and indulgent parents. In
an atmosphere Of love she grew up a sensi-
tive plant and was, alas utterly unfit for
the storm and the tempest; for the stern
trail and the fierce struggle. that after
wards fell to herlot
When she went forth from that family
circle; happy bride, she had no forebod-
ings of evil; looking forward into the fu-
trre, she saw only a pleasant prospect; and
at her parting with those so tenderly
bound to her, there was nothing but regret
at the loss of their society to give bitter
ness to her farewell.
Years rolled into eternity and set their
zeal upon her; and her intimate friends
scarcely recognized her when they met
Had those months been ages, they could
scarcely have changed her moro fearfuIly.
She had grown old prematureIy her fore-
head was wrinkled and there was an ex-
preston Of habitual anxiety on the sharply
defined features. Her eyes were sunken;
her lips ;rembled with smiles that were
touching to behold, and the hair drawn
pack from the hollow temples was thin and
grey. Her form once so round and sim
metrical, was wasted TO mere shadow,
and her step was feeble, as if even her
emaciated form was an oppressive weight
for her falling limbs.
/ Now and then, she came to her olden
home, like weary bird, and found shelter.
and perhaps at times, momentary re-
pose. Gradually she sank into a decline,
and yet she had no disease; she was slow
ly wearing out. Death came at last, and
the work was done the last tie which link
ed her to existence was severed, and tho
crushed spirit relieved from its captivity
They who had loved her through all her
agony, stood beside her coffin and gazed at
her rigid countenance in silent grief.
wondering what could have been the cause
of her early death.
Aye, had they only read one closely
folded page in the heart of that poor
victim and him who followed her to the
chureh-yard as chief mourner, they would
have been in doubt no longer. That wo-
man was amartyr. Disappointment was
the poison which embittered everything
around her and wasted her strength and
{ bloom. He, who had solemnly promised
to cherish her, as welles love and protect.
was false to his plighted VOW. There was
nothing faulty in his habits, or in his
course before the world. But he had no
tastes in unison with her,s-no apprecia-
tive sense of that nature, which was thirst
ing for the approving smile and kindly
word, he failed to bestow. When she was
his own, his love-like devotion gave place
to polite indifference, and then to down
right tyranny. The singing taunt; the
harsh rebuke; the morose, sullen COM
mand-these were the cause of her
death. s
She slumbers now beneath mound,
over which Spring has shed her yiolets,
Summer shed her roses, Autumn her GRIM
son leaves and Winter her chilling SHOWS.
We know not whether there is a headstone
to tell who lies there; but if there is, it
should have engrayen upon it in ineffacea-
BILE letters, "She was Martyr
f o, how many instances are there like
thisi We talk great deal about the home
duties Of women. and too much cannot
be said on the subject Bat the other sex
have a responsibility, an influence quite
overlooked. They also must strive to
f throw the spells Of happiness around their
dwelling place aud leave no means un-
tried to render home an emblem Of
Eden. lgrG
/ ~A correspondent of the Boston
TranScript has the fol1owinv eanital hit.--