True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-03-29
For the True American.
A MEMORY.
BY EFFIE RAY.

1t is the quiet, holy, even tide-the
young moon sits enthroned amid her count
less throng-her silvery beams falling
gently upon the quiet earth. In such an
hour as this, our hearts became so over
charged with fond sad memories, we would
fain weep with strange yearning sorrow,
for "joys that we've tasted and treasures
long since yielded to the despoiler. And
now, as | listen to the low melancholy
whispering of the breeze, as it glides
through the silence, white robed phan-
toms of the Past arise, and walks "the
troubled waters of my SOUL" One gentle
face, with soft bright eyes, seems gazing
earnestly upon me, and bitter sorrow
steals into my heart, as memory recalls hel
wasted life, and early tomb.
Many seasons have passed, since, on
such night as this, l sat beside her, but
even yet, l can he@-the GLOW lute-like
tones" of that voice, now stilled forever
and with strange forgetfulness, turn to
listen for her gushing song,
Annette Raymond was my school-friend,
and in that fresh, pure heart Of hers lay
mine, rich in the glistening gems of vir-
tue and truth. She was an orphan-Often
has she sat weeping over the pictured sem.
blancc of her fair young mother, until, III
her beautiful touching faith, she would
lift those soft eyes to Heaven, her OWL
sweet smiles of child-like trust dimpline
her cheek, as she invoked the guardian
care Of that mothers spirit over her lonely
life-path. Lonely indeed was she, and
with that fatal dover beauty-fairy-like in
her proportions, with sunny curls almost
mantling her slight form, and face Of
such rare and exquisite delicacy as might
well have charmed the artists eyc-wealth
too, poured its honors upon this sweet
child, but Nettie possessed shield to
ward off alluring temptations, in her pure
and unaffected piety. When she knelt
beside our couch, with her small hands
meekly folded, her beautiful eyes uplifted,
and her golden hair falling about her, with
Its radiant beauty, I could have believed
her truant from the skies, ready to take
its homeward flight. We were so happy
in our school-home; days, months and
years glided almost imperccptibly by,
leaving no "trace upon the brow, no shad.
ow on the heart"-until the parting houI
came, when to our dear HAlma Mater
we must bid adieu, and separating, cacl
seek the path allotted to her, stirring a
strength might be given to fulfil her mis-
sion. And is not woman's mission higl
and holy one?
"Sitting by the freside Of the heart
Feeding its flames"
Shedding an influence, felt but unseen
"In that stiffness which best becomes
woman, calm and holy" Many were tn
beautiful dreams we cherished of futur
seemingly so full of promise, We fancieC
ourselves prepared to launch our life bark
upon the tide Of time, secure in ou
strength to brave whatever storms nigh
ashland of all the group assembled, ii
Madam BIS spacious parlors on that NOR
ming so we'll remembered, to bid teachers
and friends farewell, none was so gay, 81
Joyous as the beautiful Annette Raymond
and if her voice did falter, and her lip.
quiver, when some beloved one whispered
the last word, she quickly recovered hel
wild flow Of spirits, and sought to dissipatt
our sadness by her glowing description Of
what meeting we would have again in ;
few years-forin our girlish confidence We
had planned reunion five years from
that day-never thinking what sad chan.
ges might be wrought ere then.
But, the hour when Nettie and l must
part had come, and with close embrace,
and fervent "God bless you," 1 left the
dear girl, who for years had been wind.
ing herself about my very heart-strings,
until she was almost part of my life.
Months passed rapidly away, and from
Annette's far southern home, came glow
ing descriptions of the added charms her
life had found. Often and long did she
dwell upon the excellencies of her new
friends; but there was one of whom she
spoke little-yet hoso earnestly. Full
well l knew that young heart was singing
its first love-hymn, and most anxiously did
1 mark the change which came Ger my
darling. Sometimes words would seem to
gush from the pure fountain Of her soul,
until the linked sentences would CLEAN
like tiny Aame-wreaths-anon, deep
Overwhelming sadness would pervade those
records of her heart. All! woman should
ever yield her love with trembling and
tears-for it is venture of all that makes
life beautiful to her. A gift never to be
recalled, but following through every