Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-03-27

crimson portals of my heart.
The next day, went over to be present at the
funeral services; and still l felt that sorrowful
happiness. Poor Frederick was at times ravng
then stupid with his great grief The mourners
assembled; the beautiful dead lay robed in satin
in her coffin; already the large parlor was filled
with weeping friends. took my station by the
head of the corpse With unutterable tenderness,
yet without tear, gazed upon that heavenly
countenance. 1t looked not like stern death, but
soft and smiling slumber. There were all her
young companions present, village maidens robed
in white, whose silvery voices Joined in simple
funeral song. But oh, how those voices wavered,
tremblcd, until tears and sobs choked out their
music and one mournful, heart-rending wall
sounded through the room.
At last, the hoary headed man of God arose TO
pray. Never heard a petition mournfully
tender, so simple, SO powerful. How gently he
spoke Of her youth and goodness the circum-
stances und er which God was pleased to call her,
just, as it were, standing on the threshold of her
happy life, and looking towards the rosecolored
! future.
! still kept my place at the head of the coffin.
| My eyes, full of tears now, never once moved
| from that holy face.
| Was it fancy? / thought the dear features
grew dim. Ny sight was failing, or-I bent clo-
ser to the corpse; drew back, wiped my eyes,
! looked again. God of mercy God of compass
sion what sent wild shock through my frame,
and struck my brain as with brand Of fire?
/ reeled. fell almost upon the coffin. There was
moisture on the glass-moisture that when APP
| lied my sleeve, would not come off-rnoisture upon
the inside Of the glass AS was customary, every
face was bowed towards the earth in prayer.
What must do There were fearful risks to
run. My knees trembled and knocked together;
my heart beat against my side till my body rock
ed like a pendulum. The voice of the pastor
whistled in my Each moment was an hour;
and yet--the conhict--that horrible tempta tion,
warning with my better nature, came again. 1t
was awful awful II / kept my silence, she ,cas
stall the bride Of death, and as much mine as anoth-
ere; if spoke, she again the wife OF my rival.
dare not recall some of my emotions now.
| could not have been myself when that fendsh
temptation beset me, and whispered me to let the
dark grave claim her, if | might not.
The perspiraton welled up from every pore;
but the agony was passed. | could have throt-
tied the old pastor, that he did not cease; yet |
feared for the life of the poor husband should
he know the truth too suddenly. There was a
tinglng from my head to my fingers ends. /
shook like an aspen leaf
"Amen!" Oh, how | thanked God for that
sound | clung to the coffin, for one moment
weak and helpless as an infant
The chief mourners were called irst, that they
might be spared the shock of beholding the dear
one borne out before their eyes The poor hus-
band tottered out, supported on each side. What
were my feelings as he passed me Next went
the sobbing mother. Now was my time. "Quick
friends neighbors 7" | gasped; "call the sexton
in Now, man, off with the cofIin-lid For Gods
sake, delay not! She is not dead !"
rather shrieked than said the last words.
The change that came over that assembly
Many swooned away-a crowd rushed to the cof-
fn-I pressed them back--the hand of the under
taker trembled-screw after screw fell rattling
to the foor-my heart beat dull and heavy with
the excitement of hone and fear
The cotin-top was thrown aside. In my arms
/ bore the fair creature to a couch. As | re-
turned for moment, saw her only sister, girl
Of sixteen, standing as if riveted to the floor,
her cheeks hollow and ghastly, her eyes fixed and
frightfully glaring. | seized her by the arm, but
she stirred not | shook her rudely, saying
UNLESS you help me, Marie, she will really die;
quick come cut off her grave clothes! she must
not see them-must never know of this"
The girl sighed, shivered, then with wild,
unnatural burst of laughter, reused herself from
her stupor. Then as suddenly, food Of tears
came to her relief. All was right now. She fol-
lowed me into the next room, united the white
satin ribbon that confined the delicate wrists,
unloosed the linen bands on her breast, so that by
the time the young bride opened her eyes, she
was lying as if she had sought her bed for pleas
ant slumber.
And now, the most terrible excitement over,
breathcd freely. And yet another important task
remained to be accomplished. BY my orders the
poor husband had been briefly Informed that the
ceremony would be detained for moment He
was SO distracted with his grief that all news was
alike to him. They led him where they liked.
He sat in a little room ust across the entry; so
deadened were all his senses, he had not heard
the confusion | went in, closed the door, and
stood beside him. He glanced up but once, then
buried his face in his hands with an unearthly
moan that went to my very soul Oh, such JOY,
such pure, exquisite joy as flooded my whole be-
ing as | felt what heaven should soon awake
him to Only angels can tell how sweet it is TO
bring blessings 10 the wayworn, aud hope to the
desponding.
Frederick" said ], placing my arm around
his neck, my dear fellow"
"Dont try to comfort me, DOCTOR" his broken
voice responded; "my heart is torn up by the
roots"
What should say next? A thought occurred
to me. DO you remember what Christ said
about the little maid She is not dead, but
sleepeth."
My peculiar accent, my intonation struck him
instantly. lie shook suddenly and raised his
trembling hands, while a strange expression shot
over his face. There were tears in my eyes, but
| smiled broadly through them at the same time;
| tried to command my voice rs | stammercd: |:
Did you-did you ever hear OF people falling
into frances and"
/ He sprang to his feet, clenched my hands,
breathed hard through his shut teeth His eyes
glttered WDat u ne crled, compromising
the hopeful faces looking in upon us, "dead p
in trance laid out t?-buried ?-alve-aliv !!
Great God Do you tell me she lives my
May who gasped in my arms lay cold on
this bosom? Oh, have mercy don't mock me! -
He staggered against me, almost helpless
Frederick" / cried, tears raining down my
checks, " she lives; your precious May is saved"
Another second, and | was in his arms, he
dancing deliriously round with me. "God bless
Won God bless Won ~ he cried - Oh, it is too
beautiful too good My dear God how thank
thee !" And he lifted his streaming eyes heaven
ward. Let me see her." he continued, locking
my arm in his. 81 will be calm-very calm.
And DOCTOR" he exclaimed, if at any time my
life will buy you a precious boon, it is yours"
lie did not dream, poor fellow, that he had
been my rival.
The mother hung over her child-the husband
bent over his bride, full-full of thanksgiving
] She mith her larne hlue eYes moving lanouidl Y.