New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-04-27
The Passing on Of Minna.


whose silvery crown gave truthful evidence Of long
and happy sojourn upon this little mound which we
call earth. As stage coaches are numbered among
things that are nearly if not quite obsolete, I may
here remark that had heen all day subject to the
monotonous rumbling of rail car, and now found an
agreeable change in the cradle motion of stage,
which merry-looking countryman Grove twice day
from little wooden building ycipt. g depot to
towns interior.
had not long been seated when was attracted
to the ripe old gentleman before mentioned This was
effected by his modest yet noble bearing. There was
ALSO something in his soul that acted mine as the
unseen spirit Of the magnet does upon the stee-and
keep from nearness to his soul could not.
The topic of universal consultation, the weather
introduced us to each other. 1t was glorious day
in June, and one by one its charming hours passed
away to that sorehouse Of immortaities behind the
vail Of our material, to be ushered again into our
presence in the cycle of Gods eternties with added
beauties, we found our subject worthy of angel
thoughts and ourselves very incompetent to the task
we had undertaken. .ry, ..
In the dearth of words, feeling how weak spoken
language is to represent the children of the SOUL
versation naturally turned to a consideration of why
it is So and we discussed the question for half an
hour. 1t was period Of real enjoyment to me.
We spoke of the misuse of words, of language mis-
applied of words that should shine stars in our
photography and be far from the reach of terres-
trial objects the stars harnessed down to do the
drudgery Of q menial and employed to make some
worthless nostrum appear of value, or some trivial
LnlnR d gem OF surprising SplenQOf.
know not how it was, OF exactly why it was, but,
somehow or other our illustrations were so wrought
up by sense of the ludicrous that l found myself
illuminated with the sunlight of laughter half score
Of times that half hour and as many times every
month of my existence since
Well, SO much for what it is worth. l. for one, do
not pass it by worthless, neither will you perhaps
for it is the preface of what may be somewhat better
At nghtfall we halted at little cottage nesting
like white dove, under the wing of very motherly
lnnk thp of
wealth--yet not Of that wealth which State street
boasts or Wall street counts fortune Reckoned by
dollars and dimes the wealth of this cottage would
appear meagre. 1t was built of rough logs, as far
as we could see-but we could not see much it was
so shrouded in mantle of green leaves and fragrant
blossoms. Nature, by the way, had done much for
this little home. She had displayed her love for it by
festoonng its cornces with pendant vines, and sha-
ding its door with great and generous punches of lilac
Then she crept all around and above window in
bright green ivy and over another in the roundleayed
honey-suckle. And she kissed the little step with
fairy-leayed moss; and threw her protecting arms
over all in the widespreading branches Of the great
elm.
By the bye, what a kind, dear soul this Nature is
Did you ever think of her goodness? And hav'nt you
shuddered many time when the minister told you
that she was deprayed and we should shun her. And
hay'nt you wondered and asked yourself why it was
that God made her SO beautiful and then commanded
us to despse her But when you grew older and your
eyes opened and you saw how false all these teach
ings were--how free and glad your soul felt How
you chung to good and loving nature, and cherished
you had heard thrown upon her.
This cottage was the old gentleman's destination
felt somewhat sad at the thought of parting with
him, and as he grasped my hand and remarked that
ne should be glad to have me pass day or two with
him. invountarily got out of the stage and acceded
to his request.
A middleaged lady came to meet u.s. She threw
her arms around my friends neck and said Dear,
dear father, am SO glad tosee YOU Mnna is nearly
ready to CO."
There something that glisened in the old mans
eye. Was it tear? Why should he weep2 In
moment he turned to me, begged me to excuse his
and introduced the lady to me as his
laughter
She grasped my hand with that fervor of earnest
ness which speaks volumes for the soul In that Sc
Guided spot had indeed found lady, rather true
woman. This was evident in every look and motion
There were no jewels on her hand but whole heart
within it. She was not attired in Silks but love and
truth robed her whole being as gold and silver can
never do.
We entered the house. Everything betokened re.
inement, industry and taste.
lsoon learned that it was the home of widow
and her only child, daughter who fast approach
ing that change usually denominated DEATH" That
the gentleman with whom | had newly become ac-
quainted, the father Of the widow lady, and that
he had ourneyed day and night about twelve hundred
miles that he might greet once again in the earth
form his beloved grandchd and comfort his daughter
The village was an old settlement honest truth
fu place; and if any error was held as truth either in
The political or theological creed of its inhabitants it
was more from ignorance than from wifuness. There
was school-house and two churches. One of the
after was of the old puritanic stamp, and looked
red OF standing there pointing its spire to some I'M
explored region above.
After bounteous repast was led into little room
where lay Minna.
She smiled sweetly as my gaze met her own, and 7
u once felt myself in the presence of purely spri
ual being. Aid yet experienced no restraint; for,
indeed was stranger, that smile, and | shall
never forget it, made me perfectly at home. She
Gould not speak much; it exhausted her, it was
yearisome. But, ali! she did talk in language not
NJ EARTH Upon snow white, Hastily frnged pillow,
ler pale, emacated head lay, while her full blue eyes
asst inquiring glances around upon what, by many,
would be deemed vacancy, but which to her was
hronged with angel forms.
had learned her history, her life, and was truly
thankful that the dear ones who guide aud guard me
lad led me to the place, and thus enabled me to be
witness Of a scene which would be to me baptism
rom on high.
She had not "professed religion but she had prac
iced it, and she to receive the great reward
She had beheld the door of the great spiritual temple
opened, and had heard q voice from within, saying,
g Come up hither."
Minna had always worshpped in the great building
not made with .hands-Nature's fair cathedral-and
now she was to pass up to its higher courts to join
the myriad congregations in its holer worship.
She would rather rejoice, for she knew in whom She
trusted.
Did we mourn as we stood around her, and saw the
chords which held her spirit suhdered one by one?
Not so. Not So
She behed the path before her. and it was flooded
with glorious light There was no dark Valley for
her to pass through No cold waves for her to buffet
She had made that valley luminous with acts of good
ness, and dried up all the waters with the warmth of
her love.
All that night we had watched the doors open and
the angels beckon Step by step the willing spirit
had receded from its earthly tenement and neared its
immortal home, We heard the soft footsteps OF I'M
attendants, and seemed to catch an occasional
glimpse of their radiant forms.
Hour after hour passed, and yet she fingered
see," said she, my spirit ae-beautifll-
There is my father, my brother
and there is he to whom my young heart was
plghted, but who passed to the better land wait
ing to join his hands with mine at an angel altar
They are there, all there. Yes, l see them-they
smile on me-they are all there"
She paused Heavenly joys illumined her coun-
tenance. There was a bliss too great for human ut
ETHEREAL to find expression on lips of
flesh. She whispered Eyes," as if in reply TO some
spirit with whom she in converse then turned to
US and said:
" Yes, send for my old pastor that may tell him
Of what see. o send for him, that he may see my
oy. He has turned away often and said was de
uded !; has said angels did not come and talk with
ne and smooth my pillow that l should be sorry
when | came to die. send for him, send for him.
that he may see how true spirtualist can die. MOI
not die, but pass the second birth-be born of the
SPIRIT