Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-01-14
For the 1nte-llrcncer.l
THE CONTRAST.
uY ALpEnrA WILLIAMS.

Gentle reader go with me to yonder mansion
Note the splendor the grandeur that surrounds
t But wealth cannot bride Death, nor turn
his course. and in that mansion lies one wrest-
linz with that cruel monster. Noiselessly, an
xious friends, tread the sick chamber. Learned
men nave in vain tried their skill, and at last
words are pronounced, ''no hope. How it
rings like death knel on the ears of the frantic
parents.
wretched father, '.hnd you shall. have all my
wealth, or anything you can ask, only save her;
You must save her; she is moro to me than
my life
'qIuman aid can do no more" the doctor an.
swered gravely; "she must die"
The old physician left the unhappy parents,
and returned to the bedside of the dying. The
patient reused from the stupor into which she
had fallen.
81 shall be well soon, shall not, sir2" in
CURED the dying girl, 'ycu must give me
something to strengthen me, FOR am so yeak;
| but as ;.rn the "reigning BELLE you must make
haste and cure -. Here she stopped, from
exhaustion, and lay almost lfeIess, The old
man gazed thoughtfully ut her for few mo-
ments, then in a low voice said,
care YOU afraid to die, Ella? ?" She started,
and grasped his hand,
sDoctor, you will not let me die; cannot die
while so young. o! do not letme die"
Her mother entered, and approached the bed
side. The daughter threw her arms wildly
around her neck, and besought her, in such
pleading terms, to save her, tina. the old doctor
could not refrain from tears. She at last sank
back exhausted, and huskily speaking the
words, o mother, father save me-I cannot die
vet; o mother, MOTHER" she drew her last
breath. All! it was indeed house of mourn
ing. The idolizing parents would MOI be com
forted They had lost their only one-thcir all.
'Hhcn comes the funeral; grand and pompons-
| They bear the clay to its resting place, and all
return to their homes. Another proud beauty
soon takes her place, and she forgotten, among
the gay aud thoughtlcss, orrememoered only as
rival belle.
Now go with me to that cottage, yonder
among the trees. 1t bespeaks poverty, bus al
/ wears an aspect of peace and quiet"de.
There, too, lies a victim of grim Death. his
= fair girl IN the last stages Of consumption;
medical aid is of no avail, now, ant she is pa
/ ti.ntly awaiting the summons.
'.Do yeu feel any better, to-day, Alice ?"
whispered her mother, bending over her. The
daughter family smiled, and shool; he's head
81 never shall be any i';.tter, mother, snc re-
tlicd, "but .m willing tn di md il it were
rot for you, dear mother would rather dio
than live. This is II cold, heartless world, end
has no joys for me, mother, am dying now.
feel the COLI hand of death upon nc a. not
afraid to die, hut TO leave yon, mother" She
stopped; shorter and shorter came her breath,
and a her weeping mother gaaed on her pale
face, she smiled, and, raising her eyes TO heaven,
slept her last sleep. \ few syinpathiaing
friends followed TIM o',cc fair being - tho grave.
She, careworn widow was now acne; ~. she
was not forgotten. Tier daughter had been the
comforter a. many bedside, and AZ many
hcarthstonc she had checrcd the weary and dcs-
titute, and all who knew her brcaehcd blessings
on her name. Il Was, indeed, contrast.
MARTINS FERlsY, G..