True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-09-03
q Goob Storg.
From Arthur'S Home Magazine.
Dependence ce.----An Autobiography
by CLARA AUGUSTA.

Darkness and gloom without coldness,
desolation, and death within How the
wind moaned in the pine woods, and
whistled sadly and weirdllke around oul
dilapidated cottage. crept close up into
corner, and wept. No soft hand wip-
ed away the chilling tears which ran
slowly down my cheeks no gentle voice
whispered" What ails my darling! "
but tie cold mocking, winds echoed my
wild sobs, and the dismal creaking of the
fir branches smote like spirit voice upon
my ear.
My mother was dying! They said SO,
and knew it-nay, | felt il | knew
that the grim monster was watching near,
that he would soon bear away to the pale
shades of eternity my only treasure
my only remaining lriend--my moth.
er
Strange faces were hanging over her
dealh.couch, and strange hands were wi
ping the dews from her forehead; they
would not allow her child-.her own
cherished Zelaine-to stand there where
the dark spirit would 50 soon invade.
wept as none but a greved child can
weep. My mother, my own blessed
mother, dying! 1t could not be Had
not the canine OH her cheek been grow
ing brighter and bri ghler until it had ri.
vailed the damask rose and had not her
mild eyes lately caught lay of ligh,
from the Heaven beyond the stars No
no; il could not be that she was dying
and | crept to The door Of her bedroom
and, wearicd and faint, my tired eyes
closed in sleep.
They told me .he was deadl The
cold, gray light of tempestuous morn
ing, was struggling i'll at the broken win.
dows, when they bade me come and look
at my dead mother. hardly realized it
Il could not passed my hand wan.
deIingly over the ice cold brow | laid
my cheek upon the damp Iirs; | pushed
back the chestnut colored hair from the
stone like temples, but it was all Death.
Desth-the very atmosphere ssyOred OF
his presence
They took me away from the room, ant
clothed me in the dark garb of mourning
they braided UP tile curls which had been
her delight. And then came tie black
coffin, and the dismal pail, and the white
linen was folded closely over the breast
whers my desolate head had so oft been
gathered; and her thin hands were laid
away in their last resi-; in the church.
yard in corner, devoted to the poor
was made her grave, and saw the green
sods covered over all that helC dear ON
earth.
Uncle Randolph came for me. The
letter which had conveyed 10 him the tt
dings of his only sisters death. and hel
dying wish that he would care for hel
poor Zelaine was not unnoticed /; and now
be had come 10 take me away from my
mothers grave, to his cold, stately, home
at PiuewOod. | felt all instructive dread
when he drew me toward him. remarking,
with cold Indifference" Zelaine you say
is her name" then. turning to hired la
dy who had cared for me since my moth
er's death, he said" She has her moth
er's eyes, only with wilder expression
but her complexion is dark and sallow.
Poor thing !-.She will never be handsome;
but no matter, she is Editll's child" and,
pushing me away from him, he bade
me prepare for the journey with des'
patch.
1 visited my mothers lowly resting
place and babe farewell to her ashes
cast long, lingering looks on everything
endeared 10 me, for her sake, and then,
with fearless eyes, suffered my uncle to
place me in the carriage. NJ word was
spoken as we rode rapidly along. Cold
ness and gloom were taking possession of
my heart, and, child that l was, felt a
sad presentimert that | was approaching
nearer and nearer misery, that hope and
love. were fast receding; and laid
my head down on the cushions and
wept.
lhad often heard my mother speak Of
her brother Walburn, and | was prepar.
ed to find him stern and cold, but not so
very, very chilling toward his orphan
niece, the child of his only sister.-Aunt
Mildred had never seen, but report cal,
led her Troud and uncharitable. gloomy
prospect for a child nine years Of
age!
The sun was sinking to his home be-
hind the blue mountains, when we arri.
we'd at Pinewood, my uncle's residence.
Gloom, gloom was all around. The dark
stone fronts ofthe sombre pile Of buildings,
seemed to look down frowningly upon
me, and che pine trees, black in the gath
ering shadows. moaned sadly and hoarse-
ly in The chill evening breeze.
The hall into which we entered was
dreary, like the outside, and the long
fIescoed parlor into which the servant
ushered us, was almost as forbiding. A