Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-02-11
NO. XI.
Communicated to the Spectator.
Death Of Albenia. 4i


This tribute from the Christians Greek school
was offered through the Lyceum to the meme
~ of Al5enia Ann, daughter of DavidM Brand,
of Roanoke, formerly of this county s a.2
Albenia is dead! How much these three
words convey. Nobody here needs to be told
who Albenia was we all knew her, we all loy-
ed her, we all wept at her early dea.i; ifnot in
outward tears. the heart feels and weeps as the
general heart rarely does. There is, there can
be, but one feeling in this community at the sad
news, and that is universal griet and sympathy.
On former occasion when the report came
to US that that girl was dead you can all mind
how sorry we felt, and how great and how joy
ous, was the relief when We found the report
not true and how happy we were to greet her
on her last transient visit to this her native
place. But this report is too true. A letter
from her brother to u scholar OF this school con-
firms the sad reality. She was taken sick on
the Sabbath after Christmas, with affection OF
the brain, aud died on Saturday the 10th Of
January; and on the Sabbath just two weeks
from the day she was taken, she was borne to
her little grave aged II years 3 months and7
days. ~
Parents she was dear child and only daugh-
ter; you can sympathize with the father and
mother of Albenia.
Brothers, think how sad would be the change
in your home should death come and leave yon
without sister; then think of William, Joseph,
and Robert.
Pupils of this schol, Albena was one of you;
fresh memory carries you back to the time When
she sat with you in these seats and studied
when she stood in the class mingling her sweet
voice with yours in reading and spelling; when
she played with you in happy hours; and when
she walked along the school path with you to
spend night ut your house: and when you
went home with her to return the visit.
One week ago yesterday, when reading the
piece about the 'sSick Scholar" we took the oc-
ccasion to say to you, that of all the pupils that
had attended our instruction at this shool, not
one had died-all had been spared. All! how
little did we know our mistake; how little did
any of you think that, while your teacher was
thus speaking, the winter snow was white over
the grave of Albenia. '~
Yes our youthful band is broken. The Reaper
has come into our garden and taken one OF its
fairest flower to transplant in the garden o. par
adise 1t is wisely hidden from us who will be
the second of our number or when the Reaper
will return.
When she was with us here, at 'play time,'
lured by the mutual affection between US, she
would come and sit on our lap, we loved her
as one who might not long stay with us; for
though possessed of an amiable disposition,
beauty of person, and fine mind, there was to
us q something in that eve. and a something in
that BREATH prophetic of her early fate.
But though dead, Albenia ''still lives, s,"-sllo
doubly lives she will live on in our affection
ate remembrance and We feel that, better than
this, she lives in that bright world where an
gels are her companions, and where God will
wipe all tears from her eyes. j. N.
January 80, 1867. l..-sg