True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-11-25
An afettiltg Storg.
THE FUNERAL BELLS
BY VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND,

"Oh Matte |! just hear those bells! /
can't bear it. Indeed can't" and Agnes
wrung her hands, and sobbed, as she
walked up and down my chamber.
twas bright day, one Of the bright
est that ever shons on the orchards and
wheat fields Of Moss Glen, and yet we
didn't know il, The darkness in our
> hearts had made darkness all about US.
ELISE HART WAS DEAD! We had
said this to ourselves many times since
zen o'clock that morning, bul we now felt
it. Those long sorrowlul bell strokes,
that rose and quivered over the hills. and
rolled down the glen, and up the road, till
tltey reached the chamber where Agnes
and | eat, spoke the words 10 our hearts,
which before had only been spoken to
our ears i" ELISE Hart Das dead!",
ITO think of her, to think of her"
said Agnes, laying her tear drenched face
ON my shoulder How she used to come
bounding up the lane, and across the
fields, with her sweet sparkling face, and
that little gypsey ha. set SO gracefully on
her curls What picture she was -
And what glad, merry bird-heart she
had, Mattie!'
"And now to think she lies there,
with the white roses from the very bush
she planted in her cold hands. and her
fair head resting on the hard coffin !"
" Don't Agnes, don't! You'll break
my heart" | said,. drawing the girls
fair face up to mine, and covering it will
tears and kisses. Z" Let US be thankful
God has left us to each other"
- TWENTY ONE The sound Of the fu
neral bells tainted for the last time on tht
distant hills. She was indeed in ,ht
" dew of her youth" Ills very hard tc
die then.
And yet, I do not think ELISE Har
found 1t so, for they said she went from
the old to the new home, with quie
smile on her lips, such as we have whel
we lie down TO swee. dreams.
ELISE Hart lived about half mil
from our House. Her mother was wi
dow, and ELISE and her little sister, wer
the mothers only treasures.
The Harts were not wealthy, but
competence had been secured to the wi
dow. and their social position was anon
the first at Moss Glen.
ELISE and | had been intimate friend
from childhood. She had budded int
womanhood, one of the fairest blossom
that ever opened itself, in the sunshin
and soft winds of Moss Glen.
wish | could describe her to you
her twentieth summer. 1t was just b'
fore-no matter, never heard anybod
call her handsome, but there was SOM
thing in her face that would haunt yo
for days after you had looked upon it.
She had soft, sunshiny hair that a
ways hung in curls around her face, clei
blue eyes, and lips red and full as meaC
ow-clover, before the dew has dried o
them.
But the prevailing characteristic of h
face was the sparkling joyousness OF
expression.
You looked on it-yeu knew that El
sc Hart was HAPPY. and involuntarily "
brealhed a prayer that her future mig
be even as her pasta May.day, full
song, Of calm, Of sunshine.
It was in June that Wallace Treat can
TO our village. His mother was dista
cousin of the Doctors wife, and Walla
came up here to inhale the fresh mounla
air, for he had graduated the year previo
and his intense application to his studi
had seriously injured his health. |
was not handsome, bu.there was stran
magnetism in the mans voice, and smile
and manner, that drew you at once
ward him.
He met ELISE for The first time at I
annual strawberry picnic. She ne,
looked sweeter, she never FELT happ
than she did on that day. love to ihi
of it. Her lips fairly sparkled wi
smiles, and when you looked down il
those clear blue eyes, it seemed like loc
ing into calm, smooth river shining
sunset.
BE Wallace Treat was fascinated at on
" His grave, proud, exclusive nature "
disarmed by this gentle, sunny creatu
and he piled her basket with the rich
berries, and filed her tin cup with
coolest spring water, and a little ch
would have loved the rare smile I
lighted up his grave features. as he list
ed to that laugh--oh to think it will n
~ or make music With the birds in the wo
boushs again
"Mattie = and ELISE came to me,
ter every kettle and basket had been fl
with the ripe berries. +" Mamma told
to be sure and gather her some mount
mint. They are laying the cloth for Z
ner under the mulberry trees. yonder,
F ifyou viii 60 with me to the hill ! !
gather the mint before dinner. We
steal of unobserved now, and ! kn