True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-12-31
q. Raglan, Editor and Proprietor.

upon bier, my mother lay. l thought
l had never seen her so beautiful. The
lids were closed over her eyes, her shin
ing hair, lay about her face and marble
shoulders, in rich heavy curlS she was
clad ia white, and on one fair arm lay
new born babe, like its mother, dead.
Its tiny fingers were clasped around
Just opening white rose bud. and all
about, both mother and child, flowers had
been arranged, with surpassing taste. The
radiance of the setting sun just touched
the git,eling curls with gnld, and illum-
ined the dead face with look of sanity
peace. b.
For moment my father gazed calm
Iy upon her wondrous beauty, Then
loosing my hand from his clasp, he sank
down on his knees beside her, with his
arms thrown across her form. She did
not look like one dead, but far more like
the snow image to which he used play
fully to liken her. Death had but
heightened the exquisite fairness, which,
in life, made her name of Effie Snow so
singularly appropriate. .'''"'' ,
"Oh, my own Eflie," he cried out, in
his deep agony" "would to God | could
have died for thee my darling, my beau
liful, my lone liie's pearl. Come back,
oh, sainled one, to your place in my
bosom, or ask the God who has called
you, to summon me hence, ALSO .
| crept up to him, and stole between
his arms, very nigh his heart. | laid my
head upon his breast. and then I said
"Don't die, dear papa; who would take
care of Katie 7" ...,..
lie clasped me ferven,ly 10 his bosom.
No l will not die. | will do the work
Efie left to me, in her last moments, She
bade me live to bring up her child, to
make you fiji to meet her in the beautiful
city, whittier she was going. Katie
child, we are all The world 10 each othel
now" ......u .s...
eyes not down dropt nor over bright but
With the clear pointed flame Of chastity,
Clear without heat, undying, tended by
Pcre vestal thoughts in the Translucent
OF her still spirit locks not wide diSpread
Madonna wise on either side her head
Sweet lips whereon perpetually did reigl
The summer calm Of golden charity"
.. TENNYsoN.
Three weeks after my mother had beer
buried. | entered my fathers library one
morning. He was Just sealing a letter
and looking up as entered, he said.
." have been writing 10 your aun
Edith. Your mother wished me to asl
her to come and lake charge Of you. Yo,
need-every girl needs a woman's gui
dance to grow up the true, pure woman
would see my daughter. Your aun
Edith reared your mother, and my onll
prayer is that she may make you lik
her. don't know why she has neve
married, for she is one Of the noblest per
sons | ever knew" '
, "Is she any like-like my mother ?
I falered. could not learn TO speaI
those words calmly. .. '''
''' No, Katie, very little. She is twelv
. years older, great deal quieter, u grea
, deal less impulsive, great deal less beau
tiful and yet, there is kind of famil
I resemblance. You have never seen he
, since you ere baby" ..'.' "-
!, For some reason, | knew, aunt Edit
= had never visited us. She used to plea
her incessant care of my aged grandlatl
o er, but, | know, this reason had neve
q quite satisfied my mother, who loved he
older sister with an intense affection
She used herself to 60 back sometimes I
b the old homestead, but since l was
h year old, she had never taken me. Th
year before hsr death, sho had gon
n home to her fathers funeral, and | n
y membered her saying she had trie
in vain to persuade Edith to return wit
1. her .......- ..,.... .....a,.. a.,.. -.
e Will she come, do you think, father
;. I asked, looking up. @ %. yMlr..e
"Yes, think so, when she knows
y was Eflie's dying wish" A quick chang
+ passed over his face as lie said thel
j. words. He couldn't yet hear the soun
n of that sweet name Efie, even Oh h
). own lips, withou. an underthrill ofagon
q My mother had been loved oh how
thanked God in after years for the know
y edge, truly and well. .n.p .as-
. Soon a letter was received in repl
}. NY aunt E dith would come. To her, 81
is said, the call Of Effie's wishes was a 8
k -cred one, for no one on earth could lo'
It her bright. beautiful childssister as 81
ID had done. She did not wish my faith
ID 10 come after her, as he proposed he mu
lie not leave Katie she could come just
e we'll alone. ,..a.'s- ff.
t In two weeks she came. From Il
D. first moment she won my heart. 81
y was pale, quiet woman, with a fe
'e threads Of grey, among the soft tresses
her plainly banded, brown hair. H
Is mouth, Railways notice mouths, was ve
T. sweet in its expression. lovely, with
l. patience il must have been years in lear
ing. Her chief claims to tho possessi
U. Of beauty resided in her eyes; larg
P, brown eyes, very like my mothers, sa
a. -