Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-11-22
The Last of the Fatiries

Il -@
The Last of the Fatiries.
I was sixteen years old when she appeared to
me for the first time. 1t was, remember well,
beautiful evening in May | had left the city,
and was wandering alone across the fields
thoughtful and disquieted, without knowing
why. | had been thus for some time. prefer
| red solitude.
saw the sun set in sea of purple and gold,
the shadows of evening descended upon the
plain, the stars were lighted one by one IN the
heavens the frogs croaked in the pools the trills
| OF the nightingale resounded at long intervals
and trees and bushes bent to the breeze with =
! SAL and gentle murmur. The moen which had
risen red .nt aambre in the horizon now repo-
sed white and radiant on nearly couch OF clouds,
and shed foods Of silver over the landscape
/ The warm air was loaded with Intoxicating per-
fumes, and l heard in the fowery thickets the
! low cries OF the birds caressing each ether in
| their nests,
was strolling along, opening my heart to all
these sounds and perfumes, when perceived a
band of young girls returning to the city, hold
ing each other by the hand, and singing in cho-
rus of spring and love- Their fresh voices Vi
brated In the silence of the sleeping fields, like
the distant murmur of cascade. l concealed
myself behind n hawthorn bush, and saw them
1 pass by like swarm of those white shadows
which dance at night around lake, and vanish
with the first light of dawn. distinguished in
/ L
| heard the rustling Of the robes breathed in at
long draughts the mysterious carnations which
/ they left upon their track more intoxicating
! than the perfumed breath of evening.
When they disappeared, a strange trouble
seized me. seated myself ON mound at the
edge of q prairie which extended at my feet like
an. ocean of verdure, rested my head upon my
hands, and remained plunged in profound re-
vcrie, listening TO, and seeking TO comprehend
the confused sounds and palpitations within me.
Ny heart felt oppressed and ready to burst as if
there were within it captive wave, struggling
70 extend itself, hidden spring which sought
an outlet. started lwcpt, and found & strange
| pleasure in MY tears.
| know not hes long rsmained thas. When
| arose l saw before me celestial being, who
looked smiGngly at me. tuRic, whittier than
the petals of lily, fell in graceful folds over her
! figure and Just revealed upon the turf two naked
feet, white as Parian marble Her sunny hair
floated freely over her shoulders her cheeks had
! the freshness of the flowers which encircled her
head her arms were bare, and one hand reposed
| upon her breast, while the other appeared to in
yite me with kindly gesture.
/ | remained some nstants mute ard immova-
be-. in contemplating her. Undoubtedly she
came from heaven, for her beauty was not of
the daughters Of earth, and | saw about her
| radiant atmosphere which enyeioped her like
garment OF light
"Tho are You - cried at last, extending my
arms toward her.
My fricnd,' she replied, in a soft voice, II
am the Fairy which the King of the Geni put TO
sleep in your bosom at the hour of your birth
/ this morning / was sleeping there stills awokc
at the first trouble of your heart My life is
made OF your life; am your sister, and will be
your companion till the day when, detached
/ from YOU like a faded flower from lis stem, !
must abondon you Gil the read the first half OF
which we shall then have traYersed together.
That day is not far of, young friend. The rose
| which lives but for morning is the image OF
my destiny Do not defer loving till you
! have lost me, for neither tears nor regrets can
| bring mc back. Ny hand is neither armed with
n,?ric branch or cnchanter'S wand, but | viii
! furnish you with more treasures than ever Ia
wish and benefccnt fairy scattered OYER royal
cradle. l will place upon your brow crown
which many kings would be happy to purchase
at the price OF their owni will give you ret
| niue such as is rarely seen i'll palaces and
courts ! will follow YOU inyisibly every here
| will bcautty every place where you pass; l
will cmbalm your couch at night; viii give
my soul 10 all nature, that 1t may smile upon
YOU each morning when you wake. All we
Shall be very happy together But, my child
I YOU must learn 10 estimate the blessings which
bring Let not one escape YOU learn to touch
without grasping them: to ENJOY without eXhaus
ting them / have told you that my life must
be short, but it is in your power to prolong my
frail and precious existence. / am ike those
plants which cannot bear constant exposure To
sun or rain. Ny feet are delicate, let them not
he fatigued in following You, IT you would not
see the brliaucy of my complexion tarlnshed,
neither expose it to the burning rays or the sun,
nor let it grow pale in constant shadow. Beware
that no remorse poison the bitter regret which
Won will feel at my departure. Let my remem-
brancc be sweet, that soft twilight may con-
tinue to brighten the life which have ceased to
enlighten aud warm"
AT these words she inclined ner sunny head
toward me, like guardian angel bending over
a cradle, and ! felt her soft lips upon my brow
| extended my arms to seize her but she had
vanished like a shadow
was not vet thirty when she appeared to me
q second time. 1t was, l remtmbcran evening
in November Ihad left the city, and was wan
derinr across the fields, sombre and oppressed,
without knowing why. / had been thus for
some time. l sought sohtGde, yet did not enjoy
it,
The sky was low and dark avid wind strip.
ped the yellow leaves from the trees the bark
inr Of dogs at a distant farmhouse and blue
thread of smoke rising amid the leatioss trees
were the only signs OF life; few frightened
birds few from branch to branch black ravens
descended into the mains and tlocks OF cranes
filed slowly along in the gray air of evening
Ny soul sympathized with the mourning OF
nature. seated sen a. luot VI "a ISNhtS1
bush, a prey TO a cold melancholy which fol
some time had oppressed me. While was thus
5 seated, two old women passed by with slow
steps, bending under a faggot of thorns, which
they were bearing to their novels in preparation
for the storms OF winter.
r Strange coincidence 1t was in this very
place, at this very hour, that once saw pass, OF
An evening "A May, troup of young girls sing
ing hand in hand WAS then sixteen years old
and the hush was in blossom. l hid my head il
my hands, and sadly passed over in my mind ths
days that had elapsed since then.
When arose saw at a short distance a pale
figure locking mournfully at me. She was 81
changed that hardly knew her. There was nc
longer that luminous atmosphere which envel
e opcd her at her first appearance. Aragged rob'
concealed her figure, her feet were bloody Ael
arms hung lifelcSs st her side. there was aisci
circle about her eyes, and tears had traced theil
burrows upon her pale checks. She bent towarS
the earth as If hardly able to sustain herself.
"Nhat do you wish of mel" demanded.
"My friend, the hour has come for us to part
Before quitting you forever, wished to bid yo'
: aaieu." she murinnred, in voice plsintiye a
= the Winter wind.
.,Got rot' ! cried. .'deccitftl Fairy; wha