True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-03-22
heart, ttrravellioE back over memory p,llain

heart, travelling back ovef memory plain,
forgets the desert path its weary feet have
trod Neither the eye nor brow may tell
the restoration, for they are sealed; but
in that silent hour, the lips, warm with
the impress of some we'll nigh forgotten
kiss, and from between the dewy twin ru-
bies the world hath named lips, escapes
endearing words, such as came in by-gone
days, when the sunlight of happiness
streamed on the way, in its first undimncd
lustre, ere the clouds of adversely darken-
ed-words that neither pride, power or
stern command may still-words breaking
from the hearts deepest cell, revealing
how little real power outward change hath
over the spirit.
And so it was with the sleeping child,
when his rounded lips parted as the first
leaves of the rose unroll, and gliding from
the pearly recess came the word that had
held his young heart in bondage, burning
deeper and deeper to the core in silence
when the garish light Of day shone, but at
eve breaking forth softly on the Silly air
"Mother~ and as the gates of the faith,
er's heart unclosed, there went up voice.
less prayer-the first prayer ever entwined
with her name" that she might see hel
second life, that she called child, die y
and there welled up deep sigh from his
heart that woke the boys dreamy spirit
The soft eye was upturncd in its waking
light to the father, and from the lips came
words like the musical tones of the south
wind calling to life the flowers
81 was dreaming of her, father"
81 thought you had forgotten her,
Allan Everard replied, and pride put he
hand on the gateway of the heart.
There was look of intense, unuttera
BILE fondness in the child's face, as he re
turned
80, no, father, I could uot forget her
for she seemed lowering round me; ant
the sweet songs she used to sing all cam
back, with her gentle words and lovin!
kiss; but you said she was wicked, and
only fingered a moment at your knee t
pray God would forgive her. | tried no
to love her, but it would come-was it S
very wrong?" a
There fell on the child's sunny hail
something like dew drop,,and as it role
, on the floor, shivcring in thousand tin
5 specks, the father replied ."..
"No-what else do you remember ?"
: The boys slender fingers met and intel
| laced each other, and after moment h
| said
t 81 remember it all, farhcr-how sh
? used to gather the flowers for me to pla
e with, and tell me about the kind God wh
:, made them, aud smile when laughed I
l. see the snow fakes dancing about, and hi
G sweet song-and oh don't you remembe
l. father, how she used to twine her arm
d around us, and say we were jewels to h
e priceless ones-bettcr than sun or moo
e stars or howers-and how we used to watC
d for your coming-oh was it not beaut
N ful?"
n "And what did you dream 2"
k 81 dreamed she had come again, al
t. her step was light, and her voice love
n that she knelt beside me and said, 20
t, Father There were bright birds sin
t, ing, and sweet flowers, and I put my arr
ii round her neck while she kissed me, a
ID it hardly seemed like this" and he gla
= ced round the room.
lie "God bless you, darling" Allan Ev
1t rard said, as he twined his arms arou
his child, and leaning down his head, be
es wept together.
ly Four years ago, in the twilight, memo
ye recalled the past by the binding glare
lit pride now she travelled the same pa
he that had known no foot print since; |
en- the soft gems of love shadowed the w
ht bringing to light many an unforgott
es deed that circled it radiantly. There
on times when the heart is full to overAowi
be and only one word determines its fate
lat it was with Allan Everard. Had str
th ger spoken his wife's name, it might HI
he called forth bitter thoughts, and ster
ay would he have hushed every angel sp
"a that pleaded for her; but his child's |,
ter remembered love, and unforgotten pra,
to woke every thought of love that had
st, gercd in his bosom. Fancy brought
len in all her youthful beauty-again he
ng her voice mingled with soft, dreamyh hi
The notes-thcn her beoming face, rad