The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-06-04
4 SrlrrtrG Sturu.
ANNIE LEIGHTON
ny LIZZIE ALLEN.

"Mo,hcT' think | should Ike to die of
consumption ~
The speaker was fragile, delicate girl
o! fourteen.
Why, Annie, what n strange idea !
What put that lm:o your head |" And
Mrs. Leighton looked up at her daughter
with wondering expression.
. have bccm reading the experience of
one who had the consumption. Jus, lis
ten TO What he says. The consump;iye,
when free from the more distressing nc.
compartments of the disease especially if
lac spends much Of his time III the open
air, eNp"reuccs surprising huoyancy and
elasticity oiSp;rits, Even while the s!ad. .
ON OF death is darkcning Iis pathway, he
i. not gloomy and depressed The sway
oG the gross animal nature grows weaker
AS the body weak ans; while the hiuhe,
attributes ,t the soul gather new yirSr.--
1t seems, indeed, rs il the ties whicL bind
body and spirittoge;hcr, are gradually
lousened, and that while its fraiI tenement
is decaying, the soul is p!um:ng its wing
for its homcward Aigh'. The mcntal VI,
sion seems clearer and stronger; the ideas
are purer and loiIier; and the views in re-
gard to futurity are clearer and more com
prehcnsive; rs il The purified, spiritual
vision were piercing he misty veil wbicl.
hidcs the worll beyord The grave"
As Annie read OH, with u voice tremu-
lous will, enthusiastic feeling, Mrs. Leigh.
ton gazed upon her thoughtfully and nIx
ious&. Never before, she thought had
she appeared SO lovely. She was half re
cIining Oh the sofa, with the soft white
drapery falling gracefully around her slen
der figure, her bead supported by one
hand, while the bare arm, over which fell
cloud OF brown curIs, seemed almost
transparent in contrast with the rich Grim.
son cushions. Her fair face was fain,ly
flushed with excitement, aud her ewes
lighted up with new briiiancy. But n
painful thrill sho: through the fond moth.
or's heart. She knew that Annie had
never been strong and robust; Lu, then
she was rarely i'll, and the thought that
her darling child could die, had never Sc
riously presented itself TO her n,ind and
many wero the bright dreams of her beau
tiful chids future life, in which she had
INDUCED. But the sudden and singular
remark al the young girl, had awakened
new and painful thought. She remem.
bered with n feeling Of alarm, that, al.
though Mr.. Leighton himself seemed per.
tectly healthy, several ofhis family, inciud-
ing two young and lovely sisters, had died
OF consumption: and it had often been re
marked that Annie bore a striking resep .
blance to these sisters. Mr.. Leighton
seemed gratifed with this, and often when
he played with the cl,ild's sunny cu.ls. and
looked into her soft, :houghtiu ewes. he
felt that he loved her more deeply he.
cause she was so much like the loved ones
he bad lost. She had always been a quiet
child, with thoughtfuness Of character
and precocity Of intellect Gar beyond her
years, often astonishing her friends by the
depth aud vigor OF her reasoning and the
maturity Of her ideas; aud this had been
asource Of qualification to them; but now
it only increased tho mothers anxiety ::
and while sho looked on the lovely girl
who had been the pride and JOY. Of her
life, vision Of a pale, shrouded form and
DARK grave, rose before her, and ah in
voluntary prayer went up from her heart.
Oh, mother" said ADnio, "wl,o would
not be Wiling 10 suffer tbs dreaded dis
ease, IT the soul conid Le ,nus elevated
and purified, ard fitted for the commun;or'
OF angels When die, lie, il lie a con
sumption" anl her young face wore an
expression Of deep feryor,