Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-05-05

glow of prosperity. Those who gave;
thee wealth and homage cannot offer
thee one free. precious breath. Power
less they minister TO the mind diseased!
Where row is the incense that from very
childhood has been lavished upon the al
tar Of Thy genius? |
Reserved for the nent Rachel. Or if
another never shiEes like thee in the hOr- ,
risen OF intellect, some star that has gilt
ter enough 10 fix the eye, 10 enchain the !
attention of a wayward world. And
ashes will be all that is left of thee-al !
that is mortal-dShcSia and the perishable
tablets that bear The records OF thy tri +.
umphs!
Alas! Rachel; still are thy treasures
those that corruption aud the moth shall
destroy. Thou knowest not of the "bet-
ter part" thy life has been false, not
real--mockery, not truth. What an end
for gifted soul! Weeping over the fab
ric Of the silk -worm-mourning that
she m ust part with few bits of shining
crystals crown of colored stones?
The world has followed thee to the
grave, and left a mound in place of the
green grass. or shat the doors of a tomb
upon they coffin!
Pale Rachel Morely-Palienl, angelic
Rachel Morely! She was little known
to the great world, save when beauti-
ful thought went forth from her pen, and
tears and smiles attested TO her genius.
But, better than that-betler than tie
fitting. moih.like existence in the midst
If the blazing light and wild applause
her "life was hid with Christ in God" :"
She, too, had a face Of wonderful power.
The brow was wide and pale, the eyes
large, deep and searching.
She was a minister's child--a poor
preachers only daughter, and an untir-
ing student. Her fathers library was
also her sanc;um. There. at his feet,
she studied. His old yellow Latin and
Greek folios were conquered by her with
comparatively little effort. Her mind
was store-house Of knowledge; she was
gifted with an eloquent tongue, wrote in
a clear aud forcible style. and in her soft
large eyes, as they were sometimes u2
turned in the moment of inspiration,
could be seen something Of heaven.
Her part was acted also--not with re-
gairobes and kindling jewels--noL in the
spirit OF dead heroism--not in perpet-
uating the licenlious freaks of a misera-
bic prcfligaie! Oh! none Of these did
Rachel the preachers daughter, repre-
sent, as she moved along her path Of du-
! ty. Her stage was the poor mans
home, where sickness and want and
squalcr abounded; her jewels, the little
cAildren that loved her so that the light
est touch Of her finger, or the merest
chance that turned her dark, eye to-
wards them, were treasured up more
lovingly than the French Rachel treas
ured her pearls.
| Disease, too, early in its light of dim
calculation, dimmed her eye and paled
her cheek. The same sickness that
wasted The form of the French Rachel,
consumed her life; and for many months
she fingered, growing more and more
ETHEREAL till she looked at last like lum
inous shadow, ready at any moment to
throw the fragile covering of mortality
aside:
She, too. beguiled the tedious hours,
not with agonizing glauces at rich and
glistening robes, or rubies. emeralds and
diamonds. One robe alone absorbed
her attention--lhe robe of righteousness.
She contemplated its exquisite purity, its
white luster, unequaled even by the light
of heaven, and she did not weep at the
thought of parting with this beautiful
dress, for it was the gift Of Christ. She
was 10 wear it at the marriage supper OF
the Lamb.
Her jewels we're sometimes brought
to her bedside--;he children of the vii
lage-and as she compared them with
the crown in the hand OF her Redeemer,
she whispered: 81 can leave these for
the treasures he has promised" The lit
tie ones whom she had taught and cloth
ed, and who were never TO forget her,
wondered as they saw the shining eye
light up with unearlhly radiance, and
thought Of the angels about whom she
had often told them.
o, il was delightful to sit near her, TO
hold her wasted hand, and hear her talk
of heaven. Her trust was so perfect! her
faith SO full! and her counteRGnce SEEM
ed at times transfgured and to wear the
splendor of heaven. No regrets-not
one. Not sigh for the pleasures of
earth, for her delightful studies. She
was entranced at the visions revealed
froIn the better land.
Beautiful was the day on which she
died. A sof; breeze wandered through
her chamber laden with the fragrance
Of roses. Not cloud flecked the sky as
her pure spirit assembled. The presence
of angels was felt around that dying bed,
and we smiled even as We wep;. She
looked SO calm! so radiant so holy! 1t