Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1855-01-10
For the Grand River Times.
STRAY LEAVES FROM MEMO
+, M RES BOOK.

| - KIE'S BOOh.
THE FRoNTIspIEcE. BY VIOLET VERNON.
There are many life.scenes in the book of
my memory that are sadly interesting to me.
| love to sit me down in the gray twilight, when
the day with all its and perplexties, is fad
ing away, and the night, calm and holy reigns
with its mellow light. love to sit me down
and recall those sad, sad scenes Yes, they are
sad they never fail to bring sigh to my heart
and tear to my eye; but though fraught with
painful recollections, would not Danish them'
for they are bound to my heart by thousand
fond ties. Would you like to while an idle
hour in turning the leaves over and glancing at
its life pictures! Then 60 with me, if you
please, in Imagination, to the land that is far
away; the land of my infancy and the home of
my childhood Wrap your furs closely about
you, for it is now mid winter; the snow makes
music for you as it reluctantly yields to your
light step; the stars are lit in the clear, cold
sky; the moon as ever, is sailing on, but her
face, too, is cold and passionless. We will en-
ter this humble dwelling; but why gaze at me
so earnestly an no longer the youthful form
that was when first we met have gone back
through the lapse of years and now stand before
you child. Life and its sorrows are alike un-
known to me. Come with me will lead you
to the bedside of my poor, sick mother. Why
do you turn away? Does that pale face appall
you! Surely it is not whittier than the pillow it
presses. Come nearer she is not dead. Don't
you perceive that her breath still comes feebly
up! She is sleeping now. You will have an
opportunity of looking around you before she
wakes; see your eyes are resting on that in
fant sleeper; he is our baby brother; the idol
of our hearts. Now you are gazing on the sad
face of my dear father. You will read in the
mournful expression of his eyes, this sentence:
IL am the man that hath seen afAction by the
rod Of His wrath" He feels that the frail flow
er he has watched with such tender solicitude,
through long bright summer days, will now
droop and die. Death has claimed her for his
own. Long years have they shared each others
Joys and sorrows. They have planted two lit
tie buds of earth in the cold, damp ground, that
they might blossom in Heaven; now she is 60
ing to the fair garden to see her beautiful flow
ers going to leave him alone to care for the
earthly ones. Standing near the bed with sad
face, and sadder heart, gazing intently on that
meek sufferer, as if to note each gentle breath
and feeble pulse, is my sister, Hers is face,
which once having looked upon, you will never
forget. Apart from this group, and all bathed
in tears, is another sister You can not see her
face she has gone away alone, to weep. Seat
ed on the floor. with her playthings, is my little
sister of two summers. Her morry, ringing
laugh makes you start and glance anxously to-
wards the seepers. Well may you laugh dear
little one, for you know not what is in store for
you. God in his wisdom has hid this from thee
and ME. My dear uncle and aunt fill up this
sad circle; they have come from afar to visit
their sick sister, and am going home with them
to spend few weeks. We are ready now my
mother is awake; am coming to bid her ga
good bye" My father holds me in his arms as
| bend down to take a parting kiss. o, those
deep, heavenly blue eyes can imagine see
them now beaming on me with all mothers
lore. Is it the thought that this may be the last
time she will ever see me; that she is going to
leave me in cold, selfish world, without q
: mothers watch-care. Is it this thought tha,
brings a tear to her eye as she pauses silently
> to commend me to her heavenly Guardian
!. Methinks it is. Methnks it is this thought that
n makes her feeble voice falter as she says, Goo
+. bless you, my child; be good girl; do not for
:. get your mother.
Never until this moment have thought thai
Q she might die; that she might be taken away
n from me but now feel the conviction in m,
Q heart that if | go away, may never hear he
sweet voice again. o, my mother! my dea
mother! l can not, will not 60. She speaks
= again to me; her voice is clear and calm: Yes
= my child, mama wishes you to 60 perhaps sh,
will be WELL when you come home. This sh,
. . says to quiet my fears; can not give her pair
!. by refusing; I aoiU go; but never. never did
n sadder heart than mine beat in child's bosom
This, gentle reader, is the Frontispiece to m,
l. memory; this is the first distinct picture; al
Z before this are like shadows, vague and uncer
d, tain.
i On the 22d ult., the business,part of the tow
r of Council Bluffs, in Iowa, was almost entirely
destroyed by fire. Loss $4,000. This is th
u eocon1 HAITI tbo oft h. lao