True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-02-11


lived over our brief and happy .acquain-
tapce. Sometimes as | sat at twilight
before my study fire aud thought Of all
those who had gone from. me, 10 make
their own paths in life, her face and form
would picture, themselves in the shining
Goals, and l would see that little straw
hat Autier to my feet, and hear that cir:
lish voice sxclaim "lOh dear r. once
more, It wal pleasant thing 10 think
that while the world had been SO differ
ent to me, from theland of fair women
and brave men, Ihat fancieds to her it
had beep,always asunny and a pleasant
place, She was not made to, find friends
false, and warm hearts growing cold.
Like the sensitive plant she shrank in
stinctively from an. unkind approach,
and like thatfrai and beautiful thing she
was always cherished, and the cold winds
Of sorrow never Hlew upon her. TO her,
the description Of Byron's Haidee might
well be applied. .''
'.' o'F -" Sle was not made
Trough years or mbns the inner weight to bear
Which colder hear IS endure till they are laid
By age in earth hir days aud pleasures were
Brief but delightful such as had not staid
Long with her d,siIy." lJ.s.
IA life OF COM nbtdnt sunshine !! How
strange and lovely il seems can re-
member sunnyafternoon in carly spring
spent with Lucyin quiet grove beyond
Thetford Hill. It was the first time !
had ever seen a shadow on her face. She
was speaking ofpne upon whom she had
lavished that firsI fond fancy every wo.
man knows, and for moment the full Lip
quivered and the dark sensitive eye fill.
ed and saddened. Itwas but for a mo-
ment though AMI that the vain fancy
passed away as she stood upon the
threshold of womsnhood know we'll
since have seen her smile half-scornful.
" and half tendery over the weakness:
almos. forgotten. "' 81 "g ~ i"
~ might stop here and think Of Lucy
now as remember her then. | would
gladly do so. But tits well known 10 all
that those who are dearest and loveliest
are the first to pass away. ! have lear II.
ed the lesson too many times--and yet she
seemed so safe and secure-so guarded
from every i'll by the fond hearts around
her, thatI had not thought change could
reach her. But when | asked ,for hel
they told me she was dead! =.
Dead! Could it be possible F! The
lively little Lucy at whose coming the
most care.worn face grew gay and young
again-whose heart could pity and whose
hand could aid all who were in sorrow OF
dislress--she whose smile was like the
giving of new life itself, and who never
said with her lips what her heart did no
first give utterance to,-could it be tha
she had gone 10 lie down in the grave, ant
that | should never see her on earth again.
1t was strange and startling lesson
and as | sat and mused, wondered more
and more at the wondrous ways Of God
She whom had left so happy and so fair
was lying in her grave, deaf to the voices
Of those who had loved her so, and feel
ing not the tears that fell upon her buried
head. While |, with few or none to love
me, for whom no one but the faithful dos
that had been fed and carressed BY my
hand, would mourn, had come up through
years Of poverty and toll, and sat ther,
in the watm' September sunshine with thC
sweet smell Of the beeches filling the air
and every vein instructive with life ant
health as the blood went bounding through
them. Strange that l should bethere il
the oldKaants while her voice was hush
ed forever. g The one shall be taken an,
the other left.'n I cannot solve the mys
terry even yet Though doubtless Coz
knows why he tskesth fairest and pur
esthonhe, and leaves US here to mourn 70
themyb bGf,i5ae9 rsJ'Wl sg' n,94l Say'Ri'
have nAver seen The grave of Lucy
i do not know that could bear 10 stan'
beside it and remember that she coul,
never rise up to speak to me. But
know well how fair a spot Ishould choos
for her. A warm and sunny hillside
where the white clover blooms in ricI
luxuriance, and the wild bee and tn
birds sing all day long, where the twi
light SHADOWS fall softly. and the harves
moon shines down with a look Of peace
There should her grave be made, and III
violet and the white rose should be plan
ted over the young head laid low. 9iIf
1--WE shall see her here no more, ol
friends and the home that was once 5
fair. would seem gloomy 10 me now tbs
she has departed. Ardyet, when we loo
uponalhe sin andtmisery around US, an
see how soon young hearts grow ol
beneath. that heavy burden, can we wis
ber.bac again! No, better far that sh
has gone, In her youth and, beauty to tn
land where there are no more tears, an
where partings are not known, 2Bettt
arlhat we should look up with streamin
eyes towards the Heaven where she ha
gone, and strive 70 enter IN at.the ga
that we may join her. @For w6el
your treasure is there shall your heart /
also" And as the shepherd carries II
Young lambs III his bosom that the floc
may follow--so may our darling hay
been taken 70 turn US from The earlh.-
and 60 dear Lucy, farewell we viii hoT
and believe II cannot be forever ! II