True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-10-01
q RAGAN, Editor and Proprietor.
give me your hand-let me look into your

There was something hollow, death
like, in the sick woman's voice her eyes
were bright aud glittering-her cheeks
we're flushed and hot ;syet there was a
loving smile upon her lips Nina was
but child, hardly fifteen. She felt tha.
death was near, and she shivered. But
she pressed the dear hand which she held
the mole closely. aa ta II: ,ra.
Nina, | will tell you of my early his
tory. | was a rich mans daughter--my
little sister sharing with myself The love
of tender father,aa gentle, praying
mother But / was wilful. could moi
crush the warm tide of affection at the
voice Of worldly prudence. l loved and
married poor artist against my fathers
will. He was proud, unyielding, and,
despite the tears of my mother, the en-
treaties of my darling little sister, l was
disowned--cast away from the heart that
had cherished me from my babyhood.
But my noble husband was still left to me,
left nv home, my country, and came
with him to America. III T-rr.,i
"A few years of fhappiness, and heard
the heavy cIod fall on his coffin lid
have struggled on for you, my children, I"
Willie had groped his way 10 the bed
side--' with mothers deathless love, in
poverty, sickness; but death has come
now--oh !! who will take care of you
when am gone! 2 '.a , t'.@".G8"
Nina's bosom heaved convulsively.
Willie sobb ed aloud. 80 -s tg,.
You, my dear daughter, inherit from
your father an artists noble gift you may
succeed in supporting yourself and my
little blind darling, by painting pictures
and selling them, as you have done for
some time past. But dread to leave
you, my child--so young, so beautiful
to battle with the cold, stern world.
Take care of Willie; try to be cheerful,
and remember, that though weeping may
endure for night, joy cometh in the
morning May God bless you both.
my childre n, and fit you TO meet me
there .. ...a.-. ..,.. ..t". .t
She pointed upward with sweet smile,
and her head sank back upon tho pill.
low. ouN .a.pi' ".It3.' .'--
Kiss me, Nina-Wilie, she whisper.
ed. They bent to press the pallid lips,
and the spirit paused a moment until the
pressure had been returned, then took its
flight upward, where the wicked cease
from troubling and the weary are at
rest .t. huaf ". n.a,~, b. w}
Nina clasped the hand of her little
blind brother, and bowed her bead in ST.
len, agony. Orphans--orphans. in this
bleak, cold world !! Heaven help them
Soft velvet carpets. Mirrors. Costly
paintings. Curtains Ainging rosy CLEAN
upon The beautiful room, with its elegant
and costly furniture. A lady sat upon a
lounge, reading, A lovely child played
upon The carpet at her feet A very
sweet face the lady had, and as she re.
clined gracefully upon the luxurious fau-
tuil, her long lashes shading her cheek
and her soft hair falling in curls upon
eihe. side Of her face, she seemed born
to be the presiding genius ola scene SO
bright and beautiful. '... q
At length, aingng aside the book with
, a weary ali, she stopped, and raised the
little girl from the carpet, and placed hel
ON her lap, b
Are you glad that we have reached
America at last, Ella" she said., lifting
the little rosy face, and looking into it. :
'"Oh p! yes, mama. The ship was no.
near so pleasant as this pretty house. Are
we going to live here always, mama o.
mo, dear, this is only q hotel. But
there is your fathers s.ep;' and the child
ran to open the door. ''+ .A'"
'Well, Herman, said she, looking anx
iously up into her husbands face, shave
you been able to. discover any traces Of
them r. 'N-'''~ ~ A
None whatever" he answered, weari
ly. i did succeed in finding house
where they resided some six months ago,
but they have moved away, and / could
not learn where they had gone ...,.
am very sorry, murmured the lady.
/" Poor Alice! how many times ] have
longed to see her since we parted!
'Mama, mama cried Ella from the
window, look there's a hearse going
BY .r..,,5
, SlOwy-solemnly it rolled through the
. Streets. There were no carriages follow
ing in its wake no line of mourners upon
the sidewalk ; only slender girl, scarce
ly more than a child, and little boy
whom she was leading by The hand!
1t was Nina and her blind brother,
Willie /; and their mother lay within the
hearse. People glanced curiously a.
them as they passed along, and Nina
pressed the hand of her brother more
closely in her own, and followed on after
the coffin-feeling, OH how lonely, how
: desolate ~~4tasati as'tI.H4riati
Strange, that there should be so few
mouIners, said Mrs. Maynard. { . Ho "
carefully the young girl leads the little
J boy over the pavement! he seems per.
fectly dependant upon her 10 guide him
. think he must be blind.i' VII l4ai iGt.