Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-07-17
WILLIE, FRIDAY MORNING, JULY II, 1857

before was seen, and throwing myself
down on the ground, watched her with
admiring eyes Undine herself was not
more beautiful. She talked to the water
as to an old familiar friend, and in truth |
If there be sprites and ouphes they must
have loved her. Her voice was clearer
than that of the stream, and when she
laughed, as she at length did, at some
odd reply she imagined the fall to make,
the old arches of the forest and the ra-
vine gave back musical echo, so that
started to my feet and listened to it as to
the voice of fairies indeed.
But a cry of half terror and half laugh
ter startled me, and springing down the
bank, saw her single instant as she
disappeared in the water. Her footing
had proved insecure, and she slipped from
the rock into the embrace of the stream
she loved
1t was the work of an instant to spring
out to her, and swim but few strokes
to the shore, and she was not particle
frightened by the occurrence--on the
contrary, the woods rang with her I'M
comfortable laughter as soon as she was
on the shore.
/ walked in that same forest two years
ago, and heard again the music of that
ringing laughter through the long halls
of time made scarcely more melodious
by its passage through the corridors Of
years.
Placing her in the boat and taking the
oars from Ned, | soon delivered them
safely at the cottage and babe them good
night. The next day Annie had rag
ing fever, and was delirious for ten days;
| saw her several times, but she did not
recognize me, albeit was near rela-
tive, and had known her from her birth
There was one voice that she recognized,
and one face that she looked up to with
longing love. 1t was the face of Phil
R., who had won her pure young
heart. But | will not intrude on the
sacred memory of that love which is the
property of but few now living. Philis
dead too. On the tenth day of her sick
ness she slept heavily, and awoke in her
right mind But alas for the dear ones
around her, it was but too evident she
was near to heaven. Her eye was clear
and full of joy as if she had been, as ]
doubt not she had, with the angels.
Old Mr.. Thompson, the clergyman,
who baptized us all, and had buried our
fathers, and had loved us faithfully from
the days of our first lisping, stood by her
bed, and she smiled joyfully as she saw
him.
"Ah, Mr.. Thompson, I used to won
der whether l should die with you all
around me, and this is just exactly as !
wished it. 1t seems strange. too, that
am dying. | don't exactly believe it,
Phil, am / dyingY
Good forbid, Annie"
"Ah that tone, Phil You mean TO
say, God alone can save me, for all hope
of man is gone. Don't grieve, though
don't grieve. Why, it isn't hard to
die. ] love the dear earth well enough
to stay here-and the flowers and birds,
and the brooks, and the old seat down
by the bank of the stream but / don't
fee! SO very serrewfnl to leave them as ]
used to think / would; and / do love
mother and Ned, and Mr.. Thompson,
and-and- you, PHILIP and here
her voice, which had been low but cheer
full, suddenly trembled, and she was
silent.
At length she continued in a renewed
tone Of cheorfulness:
"Phil, 90 sometimes and sit on the
old seat down there by the stream, and
put your arm along the back of it, and
look up--and if you don't feel my kiss,
il will be because angels kisses can't be
felt; for if God will let Inc I'll come
there and take the seat which have so
often sat in, and lay my head on your
shoulder. Mr.. Thompson, I'm going TO
heaven at last, in advance Of you; I i
started a long way behind, but | shall be
there FIRST, after all"
The good old man to whom this part
Of the sentence was addressed sobbed
aloud; but at length recovering compo-
sure, he knelt at the side Of her bed, and
his long white locks fell over the coun-
terpane as he commenced prayer Of ear
nestness. stood still at the foot of the |
bed, and watched the face Of our angel
girl AS he spoke Of heaven, her eye
lighted, and as he begged God to spare
her to us yet little longer, / saw Der
hand steal along until it reached Pills
head, and her tiny fingers were among
his thick locks Of hair, and the next
moment her hand was in his, and he rose
and sitting by her side gazed into her
face with unutternble love and MS the
sublime words of hope escaped from The
lips of the clergymen, saw her move,
as if 10 say--"Kiss me, Phil" and he
stopped down to her, and with her arms
around his neck, and that last loving
kiss upon her lips, she went forth by the
unknown path that all must tread.
Strong in her simple faith, and lean
ing confidently on her Saviour, she, who
was the fairest Of our children here, has
long ago become, cannot doubt, one Of
the fairest Of Gods children there.
Peace be with her. On her grave
violets bloom, and / have seen children,
who have wandered over the hills in
search Of flowers all day long in vain.
refuse to pluck those which bloomed ho-
lily over all that was earthly Of Annie
Grey. Peace be with herl In that
sunny land whereof l dream in summer
Sabbath morning dreams, 1 trust one
day to meet her. There tho voice that
was low and plaintive as tho night wind
here, has renewed its tones in thrilling
melody There the last sound Of sor- !