The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1858-09-02
Five Eras in 1Iaiden's Life.

first met Lucy b. in the village of
r, where she was attending t'e
male Seminary. She was then in her
sixteenth year-young, fair, and lovely.
Her hair was as black as the ravens
glossy plume, and it fell in wayy ringletS
upon her snowy neck and shoulders
Her eye seemed so bright that one would
imagine no tear of sorrow could ever
stain its heavenly blue. Lucy was hap
py then. Upon inquiry concerning her
studies, she showed me her lesson in
Philosophy, and also in Astronomy.
Two years elapsed, and again saw
Iihe lovely maiden. Her school girl days
were over, and she had left the academic
shade forever. | heard her hearty laugh
as it rang through the cid Hall in her
/ fathers mansion; saw her when she
| gied with her little sisters in pursuing
the painted butterfly, as it fitted from
flower to flower in the garden. Lucy was
happy. Smile on frail, happy one, there
| is q dark future before thee Smile on
now-by ard by smiles must give place
to tears of bitter anguish But | antici-
pate.
Two annual circuits more had our
globe made round her central sun, when
again saw Lucy. The days of love had
come At her fathers house in a richly
furnished parlor, in the midst of cherished
friends, before the man of God, she mur-
INJURED with white lips, VOW as lasting
as life ITSELF and gave away her yielding
heart to him who was the idol OF her life.
She hoped for long years of welded love,
and still she was happy.
Two years more were numbered win
the past, and | again saw Lucy. She
was in her own house. Wealth poured
upon her its abundant stores--servants
stood around to execute her every wish
her husband was all that is implied in
that endearing tefm--her beautiful boy
was just learning to lisp her name--her
home was girdled around with love and
affection. Lucy was still happy.
Long years now elapsed! My adyen-
turous foot steps had borne NE far to-
wards the setting sun. Event had iol-
lowed yent--circumstanc had crowded
upon circumstance--until | had we'll nigh
forgotten Lucy, the lovely maiden OF
other DAYS. Returning through portion
of the country but sparsely settled, one
cloudy evening / lost my way ON the
slope of a mountain, and night overlook
me. wandered for hours in the wild
woods, over ragged rocks, and fallen
trees. and briars, and brambles, when
weary with travel and hunger, and in
dispair OF reaching human habitatlon,
was preparing to lie down on my over
coat and saddlebags, at the root OF a tree
when the glimmer;ug Of light arrested
nv eve. Hoping to find resting place
I kept my eye upoa 1t. and was attracted
in thsb direction. There was a lowly nut
solitary and alone, oyerhung by gfea
mountain oaks, seeming to be the retrea
f Of mountain hunters, and not the home G
civilized ana lovly woman. Aialnt ign
, was cleaning through the cracks ap
preached and saw woman pale aad sor
, royful, sitting on a wooden stool, hoidln'
: in her lap child, wrapped IN ragge,
quilt. Twas Lucy Oh how changed
| i'jme and sorrow had made her old
J her beauty had departed--her riches ha'
t taken wings---her children, save this one
) had been removed one after another t
! the spirit world, and naught was lett :
$ her but her husband and this poor child
that was moaning, and, in the delerlul
: of fever, calling for its father; but
D called in vain The father was not there
{ He was drunk at neighborlng grocery
! The wine cup had estraged him frol
/ home and all it's entertainments. lie wa
/ a sofa very brute. He had beggare
!. his fond wife, broken her heart, ana COY
d cred her with rags Lucy was a dram
!, ards rife :