True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-02-11
.,FEBRUARY@sI, l857.s4
MUSINGS 0FT AN N ISjIFFlIfDj.s

They tell me I am dying! Aad
know they tell the truth, for 1 feel the
sands oi life drop slowly from the hour.
glass, and gaze on earth, as one gazes on
the suns declining rays, in calm sabmis'
sion to fate / cannot change. And vel
| do not fear to die, for | have found 9
rest in Him, "who is the complement oi
whatever transcends my mortal doom !; in
the clear vision and aspect of whom al
wishes and slklongings are fulfilled"
But still, It's sad to leave this bright,
sunny garden Of verdure and violeis in
the spring-time Of youth, with SO many
sweet joys untastsd. aud so many bright
visions umeali1ed, and tread alone the
darksome portals Of earth's charnal-house,
where no sun Beams shine, and no bright
flowers wave to cheer my lonely resi-
within its genial shade. But the worl(
will still move on, and men Of future ages
viii pass in thoughtlessness the sod tha,
rest upon me, nor even dream the world
e'er gave to. o.sleeping mortals one.half the
joys they feel while walking o'cr my hid
den couch. M
They tell me I am dying! And me.
thinks see tear Of pity steal from oul
the prison-bars of friendships heart, tha
one 80 young should fade so soon away
but they never think of death as / do, mol
even realize the. half they seem TO teel.--
They gaze on me in passing, and shuddel
as they feel how nearI am upon the con
fines Of an untried world. They inward
ly rejoice. their lungs are sound AM
healthy, and almost forget to thank tht
Author Of their existence for the booi
they know I crave. They Often wonde
how feel, and when | give faint idea
with all the seeming stoicism of one il
health, they forget that they can die, il
their anxious sympathy for one who ma,
out-live their dearest hopes. But som,
there are, whose kind intentions lea,
them far astray, and even tell me | MAJ
be deceived, when they cannot bear L
look upon my hectic cheeks and flashing
eye, lest nigh. read in their aching
hearts, the truth they fain would hide, al
| if '.would lengthen' out the hours tha
even now are numbered, and draw pain
fully near the close. .- y.
They tell me I an, dying! And tn,
music Of their. words fall painfully upol
my ear but echoes among the bruised
chords Of my young heart with softer
sweeter melody than evening zephyrs e'el
famed from Eolian strings. All! ,her,
is mournful, touching cadence in, th'
words, /" Tam dying" SO likethe heay
enly music one sometimes hears in dreams
as it foreshadows the loftier, sweetel
strains Of angelVmusic, that welcome u
to that spirit-world on high. Yes, g.
an, dying ~ In afew short weeks, per
chance not three, some one will close my
weary eyes tina. gaze so vacantly out up
on the world, brush back my death, dam
locks, clasp my icy hands,. softly clos,
the door, and 60 ollt ,unon the world i
drown the memory Of the dead. Per
cnance some. one VIII crop Tear OF ply
OF even slgh' as ,ney JOIN IN my iavorl1
song Woulo Aos i've alwaysi Q
even Wish themselves wheere ne' lt sur
.nal heavens my nome, and; ana am le ,her
Fewoylng .ne onss :, me man OF God
TporTays IN sncn oeau'eous colors iron
tpe sacred qesk, And@hen tney lay m
[qownito RESI- in the, cold, camp gronns,
anq ls'en . lne holiow 20 low echo EN- q me iall
ing cloos' Iney may even sigh thatl az a.
gone as eney nihKQf some Joy we,v
Sha'su, or,some song@e,Ve sung ana
memory nee@ on througn 9ln'efvenin
I years, ana hs'ts WIN sudden M yiyldnes !Ig!s :
Ger my grave, tneyI 'urn shudderln
away, ana ieei ana Know what q sad an
leaslui tnlngn $50 a'e! .'H'h sl
nnu Wnsn' IN. IN ailer sl years, sy ehans
- ss1y Pass ny 'ons i0tgoS,en ana neglec'
~ gsaSs' . WIN careless 1i treaa pres
sU% ss.a n,a ' a; U''s a. s,.as p,os'o',' sheie,
stoaa ssao s y, u. s.ace.y ,;,, upon :nS cnlsele
ssvns, ., @ ,ss 'y;nory ~ ai s.ll rern'nu 1nsm
sM aA Alnuiy uown from cu' N
Cg, sa, s,a Il, = o.ess s anu gaaIu 'nelr eyer
Uo.ose M" ~, m1 ness y s ~ n'gn. a lew,
M ,s;ll III, n .h;Ss ., h;1I SnSI'sn ~" y ,i'ehu
H. al ! !, ausy ~ " = ins, alu g"al
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