True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-01-23
GRACE.
BY coRyELIA NJ. DowLINo.


Mamma, mamma, do speak to me-p
and the little white arms were thrown
convulsively about The form SO still and
notionless; and the large eyes gazed in
frightened wonder upon the face that lay
upon the pillow.
But the lips, upon which the child's
were pressed so earnestly, were cold and
white, and for the first time refused 10 re-
turn the pressure; and the hands thai had
so often been placed upon her brow, or
passed through her bright hair earessing-
y, were folded upon the bosom; for the
heart was stiff, and the voice was silent;
aud tho child listened in vain for single
word from the lips that were chilled for
ever.
Poor little Grace How should she
know that death had stolen from her the
sunshine Of her lifel That the mother,
upon whose breast she had nestled who
had listened patiently to all her child's
griefs-who had guarded her so carefully
from the slightest breath Of sorrow, had
pressed her darling to her bosom for the
last time, and had passed away from earth
leaving her lonely--desolale mother
ess.
Aye! motherless, little Grace--molh-
erless Pass thy hands softly over the
white brow and the sunken cheek; smooth
once again the brown hair that has so Of
ten dropped aboyetl,ine own; nestle clos
er to the breast upon which thy velvet
cheek hath been so often pillowed; for
on the morrow they will bear her from
thee; and thou wilt steal softly into thy
mothers room, but the pillow upon which
her head is now resting will be vacant;
nd the form which thou art clasping-
cold, lileless il is true, but still thy moth
er's-will be missing-gone.
Aye! twine thy dimpled hands about
her neck and sob upon her bosom; for
the time may come when thou wilt vain
Ily yearn to rest thy head upon mothers
breast and weep.
Poor little Grace God help thee
Gtis late, Grace; you may go TO your
room, said tall, stern looking man, en-
tering the apartment and approaching the
bed upon which his child lay.
The little one, with startled air, look
ed quickly up into her fathers face, slliv.
sring as she met the glance he cast upon
her; for it was filed with agony, stern
and cold as twas; then, with alingering
look at the white face upon the pillow
The child slid down from the bed and gil
ded softly from the apartment.
Hour after hour rolled away, and still
that proud man stood by the bedside O.
his wife. Memory carried him back tc
the time when she, in The fresh lovelines.
Of her girlhood, had stood by his side a
the altar, and listened to his vow, TO love
aud to cherish her till death should par
Them Death had parted them now
and how had that vow been fulfilled! Oh
how bitterly therecollections came throng
ing back upon him, Of the coldness, thu
neglect, with which he had repaid th'
love Of the gentle heart that lay before
him now so cold and still. How coulo
SHE, with her wild wealth Of tenderness
have found sympathy and happiness ii
the companionionship Of a nature 81
proud, so cold and sternl
Poor little Grace she had little LEFT
now that her mother was gone.
Weeks rolled on, and the summe
flowers began to wave their pretty head
above the grave in the old churchyard
and day after day, Craze. stunning al
compsnionship, would glide away alonl
the pathway which her own little fee
Ihad worn, and sitting down among th'
long grass she would count the violet
and the woodroses that had blossome'
since The day before, and wonder il then
4 were howersin heaven; for she woul'
whisper, 10 herself, softly, 'mamna love-
lfowerA
! And night aner night she would ST bl
lihe window Of her little room, in be
white night dress, looking like . spirit 4
I,he pale moonlight, and watched the star
and remembered how ollen she had sloo'
BY ,he side Of her molher and gazed u
4, them, while .Ae voice tina. was silsn
now had told her that God had mad