The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-09-05

alone seemed indifferent to his charms but
how little they knew the wealth of feeling hid
den beneath that cold exterior Should she
even by look betray her love? No the
very thought she repealed with all the pride
her womanly nature possessed. lie had never
spoken as other than friend True his
manner was subducd, his words more tender
when with her. but that was all She would
wait and forget it might be. One autumn eve,
Mary, just such an hour us this they wander.
Ell to this loved spot and then he told her all.
beneath these branches, now shadowing us -
IT may be, on this sclfsame messy scat-thcy
plighted their love, and Ellic was happy. Had
she not surrendered her heart, with all its
wealth of affection, and would she not receive
IN return all the stores Of love and sympathy
hidden in his? The girls envicd, while the
village spinsters shook their heads and said,
1T cannot last Earth cannot give such hap.
pincss Eflie cared not, and why should she?
Gle left to prepare home for his blushng
bride. lie would return in few short weeks
| -Mca the magic words would be uttered, and
she would be his forever. The time flew rap
idly by; another short week, and Enic would
see him. A bright May morning was fixed
upon for the day, and so busy was she decorat-
ing their cottage home with springs earliest
flowers, it quickly passed. The morning came.
lhe sun arose in uncloudcd splendor every
thing seemed joyous, as if to minglc their smiles
with hers on that bridal morn Seated in her
little bower, she was dreaming only of happi-
ness, when distant step was heard His step!
Could it be! Nearer and nearer it approach
ca, until form stood before her. MOI CNar-
hys-bnt the postman, with letter in his
wcll-known hand. What has happened p
Hastily she opens the paper, glanccs over its
contents, and with one cry Of anguish falls in
sensible on the messy turf beside her.
"rhe tale is soon told. He had proved
false to her. Attracted by another form, he
had forgotten his first love, thinking she could
as easily forget. Long and anxiously weeping
friends bent over her almost lifcless FORM
Was their Eilic so soon to be laid in the silent
grave? 1t must not be and she did live
She awokc from her long dcath-likc sleep, only
to know how dcsolate she was. Then the
man OF God came and spoke of Jesus. Grad
ually her chastcned heart became calm. She
could lean on Him. lie would not forsakc
her. Her own bright hopes forever dashed,
she would live for others. How well, Mary,
she has done this, let the mingled voices Of
these happy homes declare. Now, bending
over that little one as he lies ifcless in his
mothers arms, with words of sympathy for her
stricken heart pointing her to those pastures
lbove where the gentle Shepherd shall carry
Inc lambs in His arms, and fold them in His
BOSOM, where her little one is rest. Again,
Il the bedside of that dying maiden she points
0 Calvary, and as the last whisper of faith
nd love reaches her ear, gently she closes
hose curtaining lids, and arrays the beautiful
cad, for her last long sleep. But | have a
OF yet done. You know little Charley, the
lirhaired boy, that fingers longest by her
de, and, when evening shadows fall; wendS
is way to her humble abode. In that little
ottage yonder, dying woman lay young
he was, and even traces Of beauty might be
cen on her emacated countenancc A little !
clplcss infant lay in her arms; and Enie, too,
vas there; and, as she listens to her tale Of
orrow, why does her hand tremble, and her
olcc culver? She has heard tales of wo be-
ore Why Is not this lovely babe all that
left Of her Charley? His daughter lies be- g
ore her, and it is her lot to soohe her last
ours and to take this little orphan to her y
cart and home Mary, | have done. You
now the rest. The evening shadows fast fall I
~ bid us rctracc our steps.
Years have flown by since that hour. Our
,ved teacher is at rest. Her trials over
Ter chastcned spirit with its God. Annie,
30, sleeps by her side. We laid her in the Z
lent grave, while yet the dew of youth was
n her brow in all her loneliness Little
harley has grown to manhood, and
"Thosc cherished scenes but now remain &
TO Memory's fearful eye, a
The vanished beauty Of dream
Der which we gaze and sigh"