The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-03-17

anxiOusly looking Ior theih ioi soiho 'i'e' 60
was accosted by courtly Italian, who polite
" asked if he could assist her. Failing to ma
her conn any, he went to call cab. put they
had all departed, and he accompanied her nome
That courtly stranger was OssoLI. and short
time after Margaret became his bride. She
spent her time in writing and study uutii the
revolution of I84S broke out. Her sympathles
were with the Republicans, her husband was
an officer in the army, and her own conduct
was noble and heroic She knew of all the
transactions of both parties, and employed all
her spare time in writing history ofthe Rev.
olution, which she considered by far her ablest
production.
1t was but few short years ago that Europe
was trembling to the tread of armies, and on
these American shores the question was ca
gerly asked, "what news from the Crimea p
Those warning hosts have passed away, their
banners are furled, the steady roar of the cam
onade-thc sharp report of the musketry-the
bugle blast sounding TO the charge have ceased.
In English cottages, in humble homes III rance
in many Russian dwelling, there are widows
and orphans to duy, and many a grim and
mustached soldier lies on the -Crimean plains
with no monument save the ranker vegetation
which roots itself in his rotting remains. But
though the bloody star of Mars, has sunk be
meath the horizon, there is another star, BEAM
ing with mild and peaceful light, which has
rapidly mounted to the z:nith.
Though the names of those brave and chiv-
alrc leaders nearly all forgotten, there is an
other name which TO day is a "household word
on two continents-a name that is hallowed
with blessing and prayer-a name so sweet
that it reminds us of Paradise, and a home a
mong the angels-so sweet that L love to re-
peat 1.-THE name of FLORENCE NIGHTENGALE,
But Florence Nightingale was no more an
angel of love and mercy than was Margaret
Fuller.
She was appointed by the military power to
the charge of the hospital, and day after day,
she wasted her strength, and periled her life,
by her assiduous care for the wounded. 1t is
touching to read how patient those stern SOL
diers were as she stood by them, how eagerly
thew watched for her coming and strove to de-
lay her departure.
Iu order fully to appreciate her self-sacrifice,
we must consider that at this time she was a
mother, and her child was unwell and sci a
ted from her. Ossoli's father was dead and as
the estate was not settled, it was judged best
to keep the marriage secret. lest the fact OF
Ossolis marrying a protestant, should deprive
him OF his portion of the property.
1t was in Rieti-one of the oldest and most
classical towns of Italy-lying in beautiful
plain-hemmed in by mountains; in house
surrounded by vineyards, where boys were
singing in the trees as they cut the grapes, and
nut brown maidens laughing as they gathered
them below-it was amid such surroundings
as this that Margaret assumed the holy rela-
tionship of mother.
She INDUCED in some exstatlc fustian over
the boy, which we can easily pardon, as being
a weakness common to the sex. But igdeed
he seems to have been boy of rare PROMISE
The genius of the mother, the heroism of the
father, and the bold and chivalric spirit OF the
time seem to have been breathed into his soul,
and we may well pardon the mother, if in her
loving thought she pictured out for him glo-
rious future. Of her sufferings-her terrible
terrible trials in Rome, will not speak. The
sad story is more fitting to be told in privacy
where the voice may lower itself to whisper,
and lie eye have true to weep, and the heart
to pray. But in all her trials. her love for Os-
soil, and the boy Angelo, were twin ties bind
ing her to life.
Of Ossoli, she says, che is capable OF the sa-
cred love-the love passing that of woman
He has shown it 20 his father, to Rome, and to
me"
Beneath the ruins of the Roman Republic,
many private fortunes were swallowed up
Among these was Ossoli's, and he and Marga-
ret decided to embark for America.
Many motives conspired to draw Margaret
back to ler native land, There was heart-wea-
riness at the great reaction in Europe-desire
of publishing her history of Italy-the fruit of
her maturest thought, to the best advantage,
and thereby doing justice to great principles
and brave men, ana wish to be once more
with family friends and youthful associates
On the 18th of May 1850, Margaret embar-
ked on the ship Elizabeth.
She trusted to greet loved ones again on these
Western shores-Alas she knew not that an
other way was opened for her,
ITO Gods Eden-land unknown,
With an angel at the doorway,
White with gazing on his throne,
And saints voice IN the palm trees singing
ALL Is LOST, AND won.
The captain ofthe ship was model of "a New
England sailor, calm, prompt, courteous and
his young wife, who was with him, was a lady
gentle and refined.
They had been to sea but short time when
the captain died of malignant fever. Marga-
ret's boy also sickened but at length recovered,
and sobered and saddened, they could again
hope and enjoy the beauty of sea and sky.
Margaret sings and playswith the happy child,
gives the last touches to her book on Italy, and
with words of love comforts the sorrowing Wild
ow.
At noon, on the 18th of July, the Elizabeth
was offthe Jersey coast and the officer in COM
mand promised the passengers that he would
land them at New York in the morning.
The weather was thick. the breeze strength
ened into tempest, though under close reefed
sails, the vessel was making way with rapid
ity that no one dreamed of. and about four O.
clock in the morning she struck Fire Island
Beach, on the shore off Long Island.
Twill not harrow your minds with descrip-
ton of the auful scene that followed. The