True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-04-16


impelled by some mysterious power to
leave her loved little ones, and go with the
heavenly messenger. She seemed borne
along on invisible wings. Vainly she
stretched out her arms towards her children
but they faded gradually from her sight and
she was alone.
Beautiful objects then surrounded her;
rare new flowers bloomed such Us she had
never seen before; fresh odors breathed
around, as it possessed with individual life;
a beautiful country spread itself before her,
a country of cloud-land, glowing with a
heavenly, golden light; and the whole air
seemed filled with rapturous music. Forms
of exquisite oveiness hoatcd around; but
she felt her hearts agony tenfold more than
she had in ile. Every vision Of beauty
that surrounded her seemed to increase,
deeper and deeper, her anguish. She cried
aloud for her husband and said, "All, all is
vain. lIeavenis hell without him!" And
thus il seemed to her that she foated OH
aud on in this dreamy abode for eternity,
wailing and crying aloud this thought. OF
her sinful heart; and ever and anon n deep
undertone would come swelling upon her
ear, like the minor harmony Of all ocean,
saying
"'rhis is the punishment of the idola-
trous-ihose who worship the creature
above the Creator"
And then, again, on, on foated her spirit
in this interminable anguish.
For days, Paul Renwick watched with
agonizing feelings of relnorse by the couch
of his wife, listening to her rawlings. lie
had found her extended on the floor of her
dressinG-room, arter returning from an in
terview, that had been almost sinful, witt
the Circe, who had nearly blasted by he
spells the bloom and beauty of his life. II,
heard the agonized cries Of his wife will
horror. Her whole wild fancy dream sh'
, told; every beauty that surrounded her, ant
which she thought she regarded silently
she described in wandering, broken words
, Then he heard her wailing, entreutng or!
for him, and the undertone Of condemna
tion she also repeated.
1t was painful sight to see this quiet
statuu-l Ike creature 80 tearlully metamor
phos d.. She seemed Pythonesus on tn
n tripod rather than the calm, angelic beini
G >he heretofore been; and, with re
s peniunt, bowed spirit. Paul Renwick prny
e ed that this sentence of suffering and deaf
might be removed. Heaven has mercy fo
the repentant errng; and this Renwie
felt, when he saw n quiet calm gradual
n spread over the countenace Of his wife an
r her lips murmured--
G III can retain to eath once more" ."
q She slept sweetly. calmy. but so noise
d lessly that it seemed to her fearful husban
u deathlike sleep. But it brought life; on
N when she opened her eyes she saw he
y husband leaning over her with counter
U ance that seemed like the one his face ho
st worn in the early days of their love. 81
! endeavored to speak and filtered
I'd "Paul--heaven!"
ID "No, dear angel one," exclaimed Pa
o. Renwick, as he clasped her close to h
d. heart; cit is earth aud life. You must NJ
r. die yet. You must live to love me, forgi,
We me, and make mo fit for heaveL." .aa.
I'd Agnes smiled, then sank back into
rs still peaceful Slumhfr.
Agnes Renwck didnot die, dear readt
She lived to be much happier wife th
she had ever been. Her husband shook
,io the perniclous influence that had well-n
,. ruined him. and the beautilulA dangero
Mrs. Berkely was almost forgotten
-, them. ,.,r,.... .,...rf...hs.. A.e.,e
=, ~ But she did not forget Renwick; al
- mortified by her first discontinue, she
!. solved to pay long visit to l
49, ~ rope. A year or two afterwards she
. csived a letter from one Of her fashiona
friends at home which caused scowl
''o anger to dstort her fine face, The let
"s said
''ne =, awe are all running mad after a n
ny picture Of Renwick's. 1t has q curi'
~, name Home.L Light'-but it is portr
n'' Of his wife and two lovely childreu.a
sep seems Madonna and child with that g
ny quisite Saint John beside her.
o'o must be beautiful woman; and | an I
!, she,i as beautiful as the portrait. It
J, ,foble picture, and said to be the fir
ui- thing he has ever painted,
en-, "The attitude aud expression Of
whole face aud figure Of hiswifs are Z
ha, TO surpass that famous portrait Of yours
~ Seymour. who says all the good things,
oon know, calls your picture 'Renwick's
ons gOuism,' pnd picture Of his wife
air ch,llren 'Renwck's Christianity
IN a used to say, you may remember, thNt
IN was the inspiration which wac needed
u''- the painting Of your portrait; but We
ere. agree that alteration was necessary
felt this picture" r.