Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-08-08
THE ANTI-SLAvERY BUGLE.

- 1850 $500 "hANh - AaNhhO hbA iotiEg DOh0 oh
bright testimony to her countless vir-
tues.
Every nation, tribe, and kindred mourned after
his own fashion, and how soundless was the
of ALL My own tread, though slow
and upon smooth-rolled paths, seemed to s%tartle,
because it formed the sole break to q silence other
wise total. Not only the winds, but the very ttful
wandering airs were that afternoon, as by common
consent, all fallen asleep in their various quarters;
tho north was hushed. the south silent. tho east
sobbed not, nor did the west whisper. The clouds
in the heavens were condensed and dull, but appa-
rently quite motionless. Under the trees of this
cemetery nestled n warm, breathless gloom, out OF
which the expresses stood up straight and mute,
above which the willows hung low aud still
where the bowers, as languid as fair, waited list
less for night dew or thunder-shower where the
tombs, and those they hid, lay impossible to sun
or shadow, to rain or drought.
Importuned by the sound Of my own footsteps,
| turned off upon the turf, and shortly advanced
to q grove Of yews. | saw something stir among
tie stems. | Thought il might be a broken branch
swinging. My shortsighted vision had caught no
form, only a sense OF motion but the dusky
shade passed on, appearing aud disappearing at
the openings in the avenue. l soon discerned 1t
was a living thing, and a human thing and draw
ing nearer. perceived it was a woman, pacing
slowly to and fro, and evidently deeming herself
alone, and meditating. Ere long she returned to
a seat which l fancy she had just quilted, or l
should have caught sight of her before. 1t was
in a nook screened by a clunp of trees; there was
the white wall before her, and u little stone set up
"a new made grave. l put on my spectacles, and
passed softly close behind her, CHANGING at the in.
~scription on the stone, | read. "Julienna Henri,
died at Brussels, aged sixty. August 10th,
49,
Having perused the inscription, l looked down
at the form sitting bent and thoughtful under my
eyes, unconscious Of any living thing it was a
slim, youthful figure, in mournful apparel of the
| nloipoct h1oaH stnFf xrith a lIttlp mi MIA black
Grape bonnet; / felt as well as saw who it was,
and, moving neither hand nor foot, stood some
moments enjoying the security of conviction.
had sought her for a month, and haG never dis
covered one of her t~races-never met q hope or
seized q chance of encountering her any where. !
had been forced to loosen my grasp on expectation,
and, but an hour ago, had sunk slackly under the
discouraging thought that the current of life and
the impulse Of of destiny had swept her forever
from my reach and behold, while bending silent
ly earthward beneath the pressure!of dependency
!, while following with my eyes tho track of sorrow
on the turf of q graveyard, here was my las
jewel dropped on the tear-fed heritage, nesting IL
the messy and mouldy roots of yew trees.
Frances sat very quiet, her elbow on her knee
and her head on her hand. knew she could re
tain q thinking attitude a long time without
. change. AT last a tear fell. She had been look
ing at the name on the stone before her and her
heart had no doubt endured one of those constric
tons with which the desolate living, regretting
the dead, are at times SO sorely oppressed. Many
tea rs rolled down, which she wiped away, agar
and again with her handkerchief; some distressed
sobs escaped her, and then, the paroxysm over
she sat quiet as BEFORE put myhand gently on hei
shoulder. No need further TO prepare her, for she
was neither hysterical nor liable to fainting fits; q
sudden push, indeed, might have startled her, but
the contact of my quiet touch merely woke atten
ton as l had wished: and, though she turned
quickly, yet SO Lightning swift is thought-ir
some minds especially-I believe the wonder Of
what-the consciousness of who it was that thu,
stole unawares ON her solitude had passed through
her brain and flashed into her heart even before
she had effected that hasty movement; ct last
Amusement had hardly opened her eyes anc
raised them to mine, ere Recognition illumeC
! their iris with most speaking brightness. Nerv
g Gus surprise had hardly ~discomposed her feature
ere a sentiment of most vivid JOY shone clear an,
8 warm on her countenance. l had hardly time t
d observe that she was wasted and pale, ere Gale,
h to feel a responsive inward pleasure by the sens
il of most full and exquisite pleasure glowing in tn
d animated flush, and shining in the ~expansiv
e light now ditfused over my pupils face. 1t wa
r the summer shower; and what fertalizes NOR
rapidly than that beam, bnrning almost like fire i
its ardor?
is | hate boldness which is of the brassy brow an
inseusate nerves; but | love the courage of tn
strong heaat, the fervor of the generous blood
e loved with passion the light Of Frances Evan
d clear hazel eye when it did not fear to loo
II straight luIO miue L lONtu the VOHe5 WIFI WHO
G she uttered the words, mon maitre mo
Is maitre"
n l loved the movement with which she confded he
head to my hand! l loved her as she stood Their,
penniless and parentless; for a sensualist charm
,e less, for me a treasure my best object of sympi
h thy on cart b; thinking such thoughts as l though
Ie feeling such feelings as l felt; my ideal of III
,e shrine in which to seal my stores of love person
6cation of discretion and forethought, of diligenc
lie and perseverance,, of self denial and selfcontrc
" those guardians, those keepers of the gift
ionged to confer on her-the gift af all my afs,
ID tons; model of truth and honor, of independent
pl and nsciousness-tho refners and retainers
ii an honest life silent possessor Of a we'll of tel
a derness, of a flame as genial as still, as pure
,e quenchless, of natural feeling, natural passion
"a those sources of refreshment and comfort to tt
is sanctuacy Of home. l knew how quietly and no
deeply the well bubbled in her heart; | knew no
the more dangerous fame burned safely under II
Mt eye of Reason | had seen when the fire shot L
e: a moment high and vivid, when the accelerate
y heat troubled LIES current in its channels, | bit
er seen Reason reduce the rebel, and humble
adj blaze to embers. l had confidence in Franc
al Evans; l had respect for her and, as l drew h
arm through mine, and led her out of the cemeter
w. ! felt l had another sentiment, as strong as co
ut fdence, as firm as respect, more fervid than eth
that of love.