The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-10-04
RICHMOND, WAYNE- COUNTY,. IND, OCTOBER. 4, 1853

gan to glow with the crimson hght OF lever
heat At intervals she awoke, nlut.ering ia
coherent sentences. And at the red light OF
dawn she was ravng in dshriurn. All day.
through that hushed. and darkened chamber,
rang Netta's voice-pleading Al times, then in
frightful tones like those of wounded bird,
then sof,ened down to cadence low and mild
as the flow of still waters. Then she would
moan again and her earnest voice would be
heard, %, mother, it is so cold and the shawl
is so very thin, let me wear my cloak
Then again she would sob with outstretch
ed arms, %. papa, come and take me home
The wind blows and it rains hard. Come at
ter me, my own papa, | can go no farther.
The mystic hour of nidnigh. had come
with its mysterious solemnity. Within Mr..
Claws mansion all was hnshed. There was
no light burning save in the chamber OF the
dying Meta.
She is waking now,' said the doctor.
Slowly the large blue eyes unclosed, their
light was as serene as the azure of an uncloud
ed summer sky. and as fhey sought her father.
a seraphic smile wreathed- her bps, and the
childish face shone as if an angels wings
were shadowing it with their divine presence.
Then she said Il have been away, havn't
papa?'
/
on the bed, and your papa has been watching
beside you
But have been away, she said earnestly.
1T was a very bright, beautiful place, where I
| heard sweet, low voices and they whisper
ed to me that it was the City of Light, where
there no clouds or storms; and there was
a long, wide golden river there, a river of
flowing gold, and beautiful trees rose by it,
and voices sweet as the fow of the rivers
waves, whispered that they were the Trees of
Life And saw the angels, papa, and they
wore white and they had crowns Of sunlight
l. golden harps, with which they made music.
And l saw mamma and she asked me to come
and live in the City of Light with her 1
may 60 may l not. papa?'
/ Earth is dark with clouds, and cold with
storms. You will not bid me stay, will you?
The city is warm and bright forever, papa;
and Netta's eyes were goriously bright, and
her face glowed with an unearthlv beauty
and strength was here as # angel arms up
held her.
/ Then the Doctor whispered IT is the Won
j drous beauty of Death
] As if all earthly sounds were hushed, the
father gazed upon his child and nurmured,
4 1t is the ange! beauty. Heavens gates are
opening, and the glorious light bursts out in
brilliant foods-shining down upon my child,
lighting up the Valley and shadow OF Death. >
Then earthly thought ca,ne and bending over
and kissing Metals half parted lips, he said,
j Is the CITY so beautiful that Meta must need
away ana leave papa amid the cold tempests
of earth?'
Then Metals arms folded him in soft en-
brace, and she said. Papa. l must go! The
angels are uufurling their wings for flight,
and they whisper, Meta, come must go,
papa; mamma is beckoning and l must not
linger. Do you not hear the rusting of the
, angels wings that are to bear me away? Nam
ma is by the gate. Good bye, dear papa.
and the little golden head dropped on his
bosom; the intensely brilliant eyes shut, and
the long lashes lay mosionless on the marble
cheeks, and the arms loosened their clasp
about the fathers neck Meta was dead
That night Mr.. Clay spoke stern words to
Clara and Lena, and sent them back to their
old home; and soon divorce would part
them forever. And those guilty ones. upon
whose souls the blood of the Motherless Girl
rested, could not complain. for the judgment
was Just.
The next day tender. careful hands robed
!, Meta in spotless white, and strewed pale.
scented blossoms and green leaves in her cof-
fin. and after holy sermon the lone father
bore her away from the noisy dusty city, in
to the green, blooming country, and buried
her by her mothers grave planted moss
rose by the white marble slab on which the in
seription is:
META CLAY,