True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-10-10

you. l am going soon away from you
now, and | shall never return. Don't cry,
Fanny. You know, | will find in the
'better land' what | have so long sought
for, perfect peace. But before | have
done with earth, you shall hear my story"
Then she told me Of her early home, so
fairand beautiful; her kind, good parents,
whose tender love ever shielded Herbert
and herself from care and sorrow. But
| the dark days came riches few away;
those parents died, and Herbert and Alice
were orphans, poor and lonely. Herbert.
went out to battle with the world. His,
home was in foreign land, but she often
heard from him, and his letters were cheer
ling. ''. y f 80 n
Herbert did all he could for me, Fan;
| ny" said she, but | could not bear to be
a helpless burden upon him So became
teacher in - Seminary in the city.
There | found quiet home and kind
friends But was sad, so lonely | felt
Derbert so far from me; no father moth
4 er to bless me with their love. Fanny, a
4 light cleaned suddenly across my way. |
met Gerald Ford; be was noble, generous;
he loved me, and he laid his proud heart
before the poor orphan. | was sorrowlul
and lonely no longer. loved Gerald
Ford with yearping tenderness, and my
love was returned fully, coulpl. tely. l
dreamed lovely dream, and | was happy.
; But the dreamer awoke, and-oh, Fanny
! whatdi lsee! Mysweet happiness shiv-
cred to pieces-my goodly fruit 'apples of
Sodom.' Gerald Ford, my Gerald, was
an unbeliever, hardened scoffer at holy
things. Long had he hidden this from
me, but the veil fell suddenly from my
t eyes, To Gerald, our blessed religion was
something loathsome and coutemptible /;
the precious Saviour I loved and worship
ed, he rejected and scorned. When Ger
aid Ford found | knew all, be threw off
his disguise, and boldly, boastingly avow-
ed his sentiments. | reproached him for
} deeelving me, but he only laughed. Sweet
were the ties which had bound Gerald and
myself together. but | felt they must be
broken. / loved him, but | could not mar
ry him. | could not give my hand to the
scofing unbeliever; yet he was intensely
dear to me, and my heart cried out with a
{ mighty voice against the stern step, So,
) | had a great struggle; then, Fanny, |
told Gerald all. He knelt to me; he up
} braided; he implored J; he wept, yet all
the while he held tightly to his errors.
Then we parted; but Gerald said to me
'Alice, | will never give you up Your
foolish fauaticism shall not part US. Oh,
Fanny, those terrible days! shudder to
think of them. But my love was in nc
wise abated it lived on, mocking and re-
preaching me all the while. Twas strange
and dreamy, and the spcll which Gerald
Ford had cast upon me seemed like that ot
a serpent Fanny, you understand now my
grim emblems-types. Dear child, they
S were not as fearful as the reality. / strug
, gled against Gerald Ford's power. strove
} to crush, down my love for him. l fec
n from his presence. / left the city anc
e came to this place, but he knew it not. |
r the blessed Deliverer had not upheld mt
+ with his strong arm, surely would have
II fallen, but his grace was sufficient for me;
D his strength was made 'perfectin weakness,
S With what a torturing. vividness cam,
d back the memory Of Gerald's love, so wid'
: and generous J; his sweet, low voice BIZ
+ mouruful eyes. | could not forget him
> ! knew great gulf lay between us, ye
i my heart pined forhim, Duty was hefar
v me, and | Jared not turn from it. Oh
J. amy, when a,woMAN thus battles for th,
It right, she may. be strong, bur it is alwas
, a terrible strength, perfected through Sufi
|, ering A letter came suddenly from Ger
o ald,s reproachful, tender, telling me heha,
y found out at last wRere Twas, and woul,
y soon visit me; and then he hoped, M
foolish resolution would be shaken. Fan
Is ny, be came, and the same wild scene
were lived over again. Gerald left me
sr but he threatened to return. He knew
d loved him, and he saw his power !; yet
have been gracicusly upheld. Then cam
se Herbert, my long parted brother, prosper
GUS and happy still loving me very tender
t. lyj and--you know the rest, Herbert
v, careless about religious matters, yet b
at looks upon GeFsld's sentiments with horrol