True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-03-25


gels, that she began TO wonder if within
their bosoms there was not the same un-
dying principle which made life so full of
interest 10 her and in her simplicity she
ran to her mother; that minimizing wom-
an Of the world, with that dsiIly ques-
tion.'
That mother did not seek to learn
wherefore she asked. Had she but tra-
ced
"Back to its cloud, the lightning of the
mind"
she might have guessed how beautiful
was the fairy world she had SO thought
lessly laid in ruins she might have
known something of the lovely child she
called her own. But one who dealt with
the cold deception of the fashionable
world alone, ,,coud have little symp athy
in common with spirit so natural and
free liz its impulses.
Katie returned 10 the sweet bed of vio-
LET'S as to the bosom Of friend, and bitter,
very bitter were The tears she shed. for
those cruel words were constantly ringing
in her ears. Laying her burning temples
to the soft velvet faces of the flowers, she
thought that flowers must indeed have
souls their cool breath was so soothing
10 her fevered brow. There the little
creature lay, sobbing herself into delir-
um, and when at length her father came,
he found his darling with her head pill
lowed upon the vioets.-He gently raised
her and addressed her in fond accents,
but Katie only smiled, for she thought it
was the flowers answering her, and that
Mary was there as their interpreter.
The morrow dawned, but that precious
bud was wi,hered crushed by the hand
Of an unskiHful gardener.
Viole,s bloomed upon the grave Of lit
lie Katie Grey, and people did not mar
vel at her untimely death she was a" too
pure for earth" they said but strange
visions haunted the mothers sleep, ol
delicate and beautiful flowers, with hui
man faces nesting in their fragrant bells 4;
and in their midst bud just unfolding
would disclose the angel features of little
Katie, lhoug gblful and inquiring in expires
sion, with eyes gazing imploringly into
her own. Holy beings walked among
them, guarding their culture with the ut.
most vigilance; and when she fain would
clasp the opening bud to her bosom, ant
claim it as her own, those guardian ones
would look reproachfully upon her, ant
motion her away. But, yes! she mus
go to her own little Kate, and as in hel
eagerness she passed, the flowers along
her way would wither and as she drew
nearer to the fair bud, the breeze. wouIt
desolve itself Into The most plaintivt
music, as if it were sweeping over the
chords of her heart, those chords strained
to go fearful tension and its tones would
mockingly ask &" if the flowers were pos
sessed of souls 7" Then the bud woulC
languish, and the half expanded petal.
would fall to the ground the air woult
be filled with fragrance, and they wht
{ were watchers there would receive littl'
Katie from the crushed heart of the flow
er, and bear her away, the mother knew
mot whittier. Then, awakening, sh,
would weep sadly; but tears could no
revive the wasted bud, or sorrowing re
store the lost one 10 her embrace yet
thenceforward, none could be more kind
ly considerate, when addressed by lit
tie child, than Mrs. Grey, for she had
learned alas, too late how slight a thin!
y. may wound their untried and con6dinl
affections. MOL. s.5a.s -.