The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-09-05
A LEAF FROM AN OLD MAIDS HIS
TORY.
BY EMICA."

saw, that although flower may have lost il,
hold upon earthly moisture it may still bloom n,
swcctiy, fed ~ the dcws Of Heaven
READER may claim your attention for d
moment, while offer simple tribute to the
memory OF loved teacher who has long since
passed away, leaving but the love and graft
tude OF few surviving pupils to bear witness
10 her virtues. We'll do i remember her.
Clad in simple robe, the neat kerchief fold.
Ell over her bosom, her auburn hair gracefully
eohiied III the snowy cap, leaving few stray
rnglets to shade her noble brow and then her
eye, cen now see it. as bcaming with afIcc.
tlon she would encourage the timd, or, with
glance OF gentle irmncss, restrain the more
forward. And was our teacher happy? Save
the shade of sadness, which ever and anon
crossed her brow, all was calm and peaceful
Annie and | were great crones AS was
our wont, we had wandered out one lovely
evening; pale, mellow Autumn had spread her
mantle OF loneliness over the earth. As wc
assembled the hills to our accustomed retreat.
inc splchdor OF the scene presented balilcd de.
scription. The little village lay in quiet bean.
ty at our feet. Nature had indeed ionned her
most gorgeous apparel, and, now, as the last
rays OF the setting sun gilded, the topmostI
splre, as II batled in Heavens own light
thought was too deep for uttcrance. As We
gazed in silent admiration, memory of lows
long gone by, of hopes once as bright, as beau.
tllul, rose wildly before us with the solemn
truth: This is too beautiful to last. passing
away" is written on the brightest of these
scenes-on those golden clouds, on that MANY. |
tinted foliage. Even the faint MARBLE of the
feathercd songstcr, as it wings its fight to
some more genial cline, echoes back in notes
OF sadness, passing away"
"Thesc scenes each vision brings
or beauty in decay,
OF fair and early faded things
1oo exquisite to stay
Annie was first to break the silence. "Morv
! cannot but feel with Bryant, The melancho.
ly days are come, the saddest Of the year,
Sad, Annie, oh not So" How strange
'hese beautiful lines come to my mind
"Amid thy silent bowers,
Tho sad, tits street to dwell
where dropping leaves and falling flowers
Around me breathe Farewell !D
IF it is sadness, there is something in it so
delightful, SO enhancing, ! would ever long for
sadness Annie, do add, if it were possible
new pleasure to the scene by one of those
witchihS tales OF yours they ire just suited
for such an hour as this"
MARY, but one is before my minds eve
and that so iraught wit painful interest /
dare not begin it. 'Tis of our own loved teach. !
er' Have you never heard tt" :
Never, although have often thought there ,
was some deep sorrow hidden beneath her
heart That chastcncd gcntleness of manner
and tenderness of feeling, seem to me one ofIl
sorrows lessons Wv " !
Yes, Mary, It's even so. will tell Won
all, only be patient, for it is a sad tale7 :
Beautiful as dream was Efc Lee, The i
10Y ana pride OF our little village. Merrily her f
'angh ruhg out in the still air. in its clear, sill. >
very hotes as i without care or thought for +
'ne morrow, Hers was not merely the beauty =
Oh person. although possessing form of sylnl. Il
IKE loneliness, an eye Of dazzling BRIGHTNESS Si
1t was the beauty of mind and heart So q
much OF simplicity and gentIeness even in her "
sayest hours The wonder was, among all tho :
learts laid at her feet none could move her !" -
vi were alike regarded. Many were the sur. 6
nlses ana conjectnres occasoncd by this. She s
4iohc, inc most deeply interested, seemed the 3
most lnsensble Right merrily would her b
'ngh ring out in return to the many queries l.
her future fate. Time enough s
et' was her simple answer, as she would O
oan n away, intent on some new pleasure. n
but hcr hour must and did come. Among n
nc eager crowd was one, a strange, yet fasci- e
auhg pelng. None knew from whence he g
ahe' ana but few cared to know BY some q
most magic power, he had won his wov TO q
&c hearts OF those simple villagers. Enio d