Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-03-31
.ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE.
FOR ths Anttslnvery Bugle.
H0MELY.GRAPHS.--N0. 8.

the ground to give nature a cold and gloomy ap-
.pearance. So have drawn the curtains to shut
out the external world, and leaning back in "the
old arm chair" have been engaged for some hours
in watching the various profes and other fantastic
figures that are continually forming and passing
away amongst the glowing embers. And whilst
thus engaged, memory has stood beside me, holding
aside the veil that commonly conceals her gallery
of pictures, gathered from scenes of the past
There in distant perspective l the little brown
cottage where some Of my earliest years were pas
sed, ths green yard with its towering Lombardy
poplcrs, the sloping meadow, where we gathered
Iandelions and blue-bells, and where the old gan
der used to chase us, when we ventured too near
in admiring his downy offspring the clear stream
that wandered away into dark wood, in the bor-
ders of which stood spring-house whose loft
from some now forgotten legend or association, was
regarded by oil the children of the neighborhood
with kind of mysterious ave. Close beside our
home was one Of letter pretensions-one that
seemed to my young fancy of boundless extent
and there dwclt family in those days, but not a
happy one. The father was physi clan, perfect
gentleman, so everybody said and ho certainly
was a very fascinating man, to strangers, though
his busy toling wife, and rude neglected children
experienced but little of that wonderful urbanity
that SO charmed casual acquaintances. Glancng
over many other pictures, | will now merely notice
those connected with this family. Not one of the
sons has become sterling man. Some were gifted
beyond the ordinary class, but for want of parental
training, Incidence has become besetting sin and
selfshness, its almost invariable accompaniment,
obscured the bright hope of lifes early morning.
tba dam tbo al Ind Affiliated he-
fore my recollection with st. Vtus' dance, that
had affected her intellect and soured her temper
and she was Stunned and dreaded by all little
folks, whom she seemed to consider as merely
brought upon life's scene of action to worry older
people.
There was another daughter, of winning mien
and gentle nature, very rosebud in the midst OF
n.bed Of thorns, to whom both father and mother
looked as giving fright promise of helper and
cheerer in life's decline But when were such
anticpations realized? Does not the Destroyer
ever delight in marriEg our brightest pictures, and
dashing to earth our fondest hopes? Consumption
marked her for its victim, though it was long be.
fore any of her family would admit it. She seem.
ed the uniting link in an imperfect circle, and
skilled as was her fond father in detecting lurking
disease in others, he shut his eyes to the sad fact
that he was about to be robbed of his hearts treas
ure. But what avails selfdeusion in such mat
ters? The form wastes away, the hectic deepens
on the cheek. and new fires light up the lustrous
eye, as rapidly when those around will not admit
it as though they were all tracing the Ravager's
footsteps day by day. Before she had attained
her sixteenth year, Jane was laid to rest in the
little burying-ground we could see from our from
windows, where wild roses and laurel rioted, as
though they gathered sustenance from poor, decay
ing human beings.
There was still another daughter-one whose
cheerful spirit active step, and willing hand shed
around her what little of comfort was to be founG
in that almost cheerless abode. Too necessary tC
be spared to go to school, her acquaintances would
have been very few if it had not been that hei
father, proud of her intellect and wit taught hel
to read and write and furnished her from his well
stored bookcase, such excellent authors as cannot
fail to develope the understanding and cultivate
the taste of those who can appreciate them-an(
with the keen relish of kindred genius, Sally
found time to store her mind with much valuable
knowledge, without neglecting any of her numerou,
household duties. She was one of my mother
dearest friends, as o correspondence from the
early childhood to the period of Sallys death
bears ample testimony. Her letters were eve
amongst dear mothers most cherished treasures
and not until we arrived at that imaginative anC
apprecative age, " in the teens" did she entrus
her own daughters with them And can l eve
forget the delightful treat we enjoyed, on rain,
days, in the perusal of those Sheets sparkling will
freshness and originality, and enlivened through
ONT by the most ready wit ever knew?
Blu. am wandering away from my picture-hs
tory. There came at last to our country place
one who had heard of and could appreciate th
flower, that had seemed
~ ----" born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air."
and despite her unfavorable surroundings, III
,prized the unset jewel for herself alone wooed
won and carried her away to more fitting abode
where she seemed likely by life of happiness, t.
be rewarded for the flial devotion of her youth
fIier letters of this period breathe of happy
tranquil grateful spirit and longings to be to hin
who loved her, the world hesseemed to her. Blu
though, in the birth of lovely boy they appeared
to be drawn still more closely and lovingly togeth
er. and to nearly realize an Eden upon earth, sucl
bliss could not be of long duration. The diseas
that seems above all others, to fasten upon tn
lovely and gifted had taken root in the fond wife
frame, yet did not develope itself until she ho'
pressed within her arms a sweet infant daughter
Then she sank .apidy and was soon numbered
among those who have been. Her death preyeC
upon her father, and he followed his children
to the silent solemn tomb. The sons scattered
away over the face of the earth and for years nom
remained in that large old house. except the feeble
vorn-out mother and the. .querulous daughter. A
last the latter passed away, and the former bein,