Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-08-08
EVENING STAR.
A DEATH-RED SKETCH

birds were sweetiy warbling their thanks for
its genial warmth; spring flowers lifted up
their dropping heads; and bright buds and
blossoms met the eye everywhere; all nature
smiled welcome upon the dawn Of May.
And yet, this bright, joyous sun was to cast
its setting sh adOws over the cold remains Of
one whose spirit was fast ascending to that rest
denied it here below; over one whose all of
youth, happiness. and illusions of life, hai
long been dead within her; whose last sigh
was TO be breathed TO a cold ear whose last
words would be listened to, not as holy re-
membrance to be cherished in the heart, bu;
as topic of comment when the voice that
uttered them was hushed forever, when beau
uful eyes would look their last Of earth and
meet no tear-bedewed response TO lull theis
lids to eternal rest That lovely head was
once pillowed on a fond mothers breast thai
raven hair, now moist with the dews of death
was once dear, curl by curl to a mother :
pride; and those eyes, through which shoue
he light Of her waning SOUL how oft had they
;losed beneath mothers passionate kiss oil
love!
That fOrd mother God had called unto him
self long ere sorrow and the worlds contume-
y hal fastened ON her young heart :, long er.
GOODNESS of looks and taunting suspicious had
'nveloped her young lie as with a funeral
pail, from the crushing weight of which she
nas but one refuse-the grave now yawning
70 receive her.
1t Was indeed lovely May morning, q day
so bright ii seemed to mock sorrow a day
that diyestod the icy fingers of death of hali
their chill; day that eveu made that break
ing heart cling 10 life, though to her life was
out burden. The easement il open, and the
bilmy air Is waited through it laden with the
'dor OF the wild jessamine, the fayorite flower
Of the f.asle siIl wi reclines On her couch OF
teath; her shadowy hands are clasped over
he he 1T that viii ache. even unto the thresh-
Did CT eternity her glorious eyes are raisej
iot lii meaningless gaze, but as though ali ieit
II life had stIussiet there in one deap con-
;sntration of t1ought-a LIES history il writ
cen IN that look. Ii told OF wasted youth, de-
.,eived hopes, broken illusions, and also OF
memories OF the p .st that yet burnt althougi
ne nakes OF death are fast falling on theu
, fear Of hereafter has haunted her pillow !;
he has faith Ia the promises Of her Maker ;
90 teariuuy had she atoued on earth to dread
Ills future vengeance. God had read her poor
misguided heart from its first to its la { plg
nj He alone could Ia HON Its depths of We
ala pea ltence; sAe is dying in sweet faith, in
blessed reliance on her Saviour's mercy
OAce more uer eyes are turned To earth. AMI
they rest ON the sad face OF her old nu.s.-sse
who a!Une Of those around her would el her
ieath a loss. The pale hands are uEclasped
and the aching heart bounds in its freedom, az
he gently lays them on her la .thful friend
-.
is heard, ds IN its deep tULes Of pathos she
nuTmurs
Farewell! F.! Soon she whom you have 10 we'd
md cluns 10 through sunshine aud clouds, will
b. Lo more; died II cOusuin ptiOn. tue world
viii say-be II 50; who, save you, will mourn
The brehen heartH'
Again the hands wildly clasp her heart
me bo74scA ~ glance size casts towards the
stern tEc9 OF IN anuCOd g. atCd by her side--Ons
n"pelsss look OF anguish at its unyisldiny Z
cotdEess-and the thread Of lie is severed
jle b-,;L. NJ : day SHINES upon all that re-
mains Gf the lovely Lila.
The May sun has set, the casementi is closed;
hut the perfume Liza 80 loved, Fingers fra
grant thrOu .-h the chamber OF death, IS thou zh
| ln homage to one whose inlnimatC BODY no
owing hand will strew with tlowcrs. The same
lovely form reclines upon the couch, and the
raven rInglets half Conceal the marble brow;
but the shadowy hands no longer press the
heart; the closed lids, beneath which no more
shall shine those heaven-lit eyes, tell US of
tha aching hearts final rest.
The same stern eyes are bent upon her face,
burt the quiTer Of the lips tells that with the
liz tat Of her eyes went out hi wrath. As be
gaz IS upon that beautiful brow. no Longer
bear ing the impress Of her care and sufferiny,
U.dcn memories Use ~ beinre his vision; lac
recalls hcr a. sIe was q few short years az;
has iunCEent cLi,d-wife; he SEES her az She
stood In gITlish contIeacc, piishtirS her heart,
body aI.t soul 10 him; THAI neart was Erpkep,
that body would soon be dust; and he watched
her souls iii chs IL cold Indifference. A look
o. smOthcreu agony steals Uver has face, the
knees bend, aIGi the proud, sterd man sinks
under the weight of suol memories as her
corpSe alone cuuil awaken. ID ii [ say MEM
Urits +! Was there no ronOrse! Did not
cusiGg conscience denant of him account
for that young spent lle Did no voice I:ng
L -. l.
after his OwIl worldly Pteasures-to the lone
illness of her 6reside-to the absence OF al SYM
IAthy-could be laid the anforgiyen fault and
cary death, and not To Il perverted heart
COu,d he fathOm that young creatures s yearn-
ings, she VINO, deprived from childhood of all
home ties, b ad TUNED to hun 10 repIace all
she had lost; or, her bitter sorrow when sIvo
that she was csied by another name, and
ring circed her finger, she SAW herself, as b.
fore, standing alone, unprotected, her ardent
feelings flung back upon her heart, deprived
Of all love, ali sympathy
Could he dare TO measure her temptations,
when day alter day another lavIshed upon
her The attention and devotion she had abIn-
doncd all hope Of Winning from tue husband,
who had sworn to siranstheE her with his
strength, love and watch over her Or Gould
nc Judge her strug Sies, as she felt her young
bosom gushing towards the warm streaI2 50
genial 10 her chilled heart, or her endeayors
20 content herself In her nome of gloom anG
snun the 81 u cements Of promised rest tor the
wearied spirit?
And then, at last, that gentle, loving heart,
exhausted with the contest, broke, and was
speeding to its eternal rest, had he not denied
a response to the last glance of human anguish
bent upon him?
Well may his knees bend in rSmorse, aud
well may he in hopeless despair, breathe
iorth-
Forgive, oh, forgive me, Lila. you were
guiltiessi L alone was untrue to my trust.
God have mercy upon that Onseience strick-
IN mn, for he needs il in the hour of self
condemnation,