True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-12-31
.- "--looks like birds
Flying strait way to the light"

AAJlu6 Su"iO " UAS h6NV'
There lay in their depths the shadow Of
a ahfe,ime's sorrow. They were very full
Of tears when she kissed me, as lenderly
as my mother used, and. called me her
Efie's child, her own darling, saw
the color slowly rise to her pale cheek
when my father said, holding her hand,
You will promise TO be a mother to
her, Edith g
She kept her word faithfully. From
that hour was never suffered to know
the grief of the motherless. Her kind
care was ever about me, her ear ever open
to my sorrows, and her heart was my
pillow every night. Dear aunt Edith !
How many times | tired her, and yet how
uafailng was her patience. thiSk, too,
that her gentle presence toltened my
fathers grief. There was something Of
his dead Elfie, in her brown eyes, and In
the sweet, womanly taste which beauti-
fed his home, the quiet grace which lent
such charm to her every movement.
Six years had passed thus, and it was
my fifteenth birthday. wen: alone as
| had done, on every birthday since my
mother died, into a little dressing-room.
opening out of her nuplial chamber, which
was preserved sacred TO her memory.
Here everything spoke other. The pic
lures upon the wall were the work Of her
hands ; the lounges were covered with
cushions which she had embroidered {; on
little stand in the corner was an antique
crystal vase, which she was wont to fill
every morning with flowers and in front
of the window stood the desk, al which
she had written so many hours. l did
not think my father had ever entered
this room since her death. ! think he
could not have borne it. Even wen,
these. as said, but once year.
For The first time sat down before her
desk, and opened it, The first Thing
which met my eye was closely written
sheet Of paper. glanced at it, at first,
not knowing for whom it was intended,
and when saw it was addressed to my
father, I read on, | could not help it. 1t
was evidently written at different times,
not long before her death. Its contents
formed kind of letter of farewell. 1t
said - ........ ...... ...
. My husband, my hearts most preci-
Gus treasure, | feel presentment that
soon l am going TO leave You. 1t may
moi be, and yet something tells me, a still
small voice, which day and night speaks
to my ear that ere long your feet will
roam alone over the meadows, will climt
alone the paths of the woodland. In a
few weeks my hour of trial will come,
and then think the Heavenly Father
will summon me. They will lay dead
babe upon my dead breast, and you, my
beloved one, will kneel in despair beside
me. Oh, then, | pray my God, that ligh
from heaven may shine through the clouds
upon you, and the blessed hope Of the
resurrection may make rainbows OF YOU
tears. .....,,.... ,....g. ..N
"Oh. my husband, blessed be God
we have loved each other. No memories
of harsh, unloving words, no shadow o
uushared grief no mist of unsoothed tear'
can come between US, making the heavy
sorrow Of this parting heavier. Not one
thought even of bitterness, has saddeneC
the ten sunny years that | have walked
or sat, by your side, or slept in your bo
, som. . 1...3.. ........ .r,.. .: ..
"Ten years, aud yet it seems but The
other day, that was trimming roses il
= my hair, and putting on my blue dress il
nv childhood's home, because expected
my noble lover, and he liked blue dresse
and roses. We have not grown oil
much since then. We have only grow
together; each day dearer, more preoiou
more necessary 10 each other. And now
, must 60 forth without you, oh. | fee
that I must Every moment lhe voice /
. my heart says 40 more loudly. For III
first time in ten years we must be seper
ated, and must 90 forth alone into III
valley and the shadow of death. But
i fear no evil. On the SUBMITS Of the dis
tant hills, / can see the eternal light G
e heaven, and l know that angel pnion
will bear me over the deep waters thu
s lie between. In my soul is no doubt, no
;. even sorrow, for the future years that Ii
l betwixt.us seem very short, and griev
: only for you. and for our child. s
II wish Edith 10 take care of her
= and now, my husband, it will not B
9 wrong to tell you secret; the only one
= beloved, that ever kept from you
Q Edith loves you. Before we were mai
Q ried, / made The discovery, but woul
n not so wrong her pure heart as 10 lie! eve
It you know it. This is why she nevt
s married why she was unwilling 10 Wis
us. She never dreamed that | suspecte
Q her secret, but | did, and oh, Guy, ovt
g and over blessed her in my heart, ;
" saw the secret tears fall upon the brid
If robes she was fashioning for me. III
n night before our marriage / slept as
y had done all my life, in her arms. Wht
a she thought me sound asleep, she gent
/. put me from her, and rising, knelt dow
N before the bed, and prayed for US. Of
3, Guy, such prayer | have never hear
70 There was in it dealhess love: wild, pa
! aionate tendarneaa such faith ns col