True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-02-10
Pathetic Sketch.
OUR NELLIE.
BY ENRICA.

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TWAS lovely October eve. We he'd
wandeled far out Of the village, 10 visit
again SEINE of the haunis Of childhood,
and recall those sunny days when " life
was all dream" Years had passed
away since ] had left that spot, hallowed
by so msny sacred associations, and what
time more fitting to revisit it than this
Autumn eve, when "passing away was
written on every falling leaf and rustliug
Vbough, and Nature bad donned her most
gorgeous apparal, which was to prove to
her only the drapery Of death. ~. -a
Our favorite haunt had been, in days
of yore. Cedar SPRING" so called from
being in the midst of grove Of those no.
BILE Old trees, the pride Of the village from
time immemorial. Thither we first bent
our steps. Arude bench had been erec-
ted, now so overgrown with moss as to
render the names carved thereon scarce
lylegible. Henry was by my side, and
as memory recalled the days of youth,
when we had SO often strayed together
10 this same sweet spot, our hearts were
saddened, for where, ohi where were the
many loved ones who had been with US
thenl 1t seemed but yesterday that we
had parted even now their merry, hap
py voices were echoing in our ears. Now
all are gone! Everything around was
the same. The evening breeze stole as
gently through the trees, save now and
then in mournfal cadence, asif the last
sigbs of departing Nature were mingling
with its wall. The little stream flowed
as merrily at our feet, though the youth
ful voices that had mingled with 1t their
Joyous songs were hushed in death. If
those old trees could speak, what tale
would they relate. How many bright
hopes had there been raised, some never
TO be realized. There the lover had
wandered at eventide, to whisper his sto
ry to the fair maiden at his side, aud hear
from her lips the words that were to
bring Joy or sorrow to his heat The
.mourner came there to weep, the peni.
tent to pray, and now nought was left to
tell the tale. save the names rudely carved
on bench and tree in days long gone by.
Henry pointed to our names carved to.
gether, and with the date fifteen years
past. Time had dealt gently with him,
and was he less lover now than when
he had first breathed the magic tale :! No,
,dearer by far was the noble husband,
whose love had been strengthened by
lime then all was anticipation. now the
brightest Of these anticipations was more
than realized. Would that the same
could have been said Of all who there bad
looked upon the future with as fond hopes.
lie had cleared away spot SO thickly
covered with moss, as to render the
names scarcely perceptible, and now
pointed to ae those of " Nellie and Har-
ry," carved together, as ours had been.
How different their fate from ours
Mary" IN e.r s
"Different indeed, and yet we know
that she is happy. l cannot feel that she
has gone, the merry. joyous girl whose
silvery laugh is still echoing in my ear"
A sad, sad tale is hers; aud yet, gen.
lie reader, mayhap you will lend listen
ing ear as we again recall the memory Of
our loved friend, and inger amid scenes
now all passed away.
Nellie Gray was an orphan. Deprived
OF a mothers care ere she could feel that
mothers love, she had found happy
home, where everything was done for her
comfort, and all scattered flowers with a
liberal hand over her pathway which had
been rendered so desolste. She gtew up
under those influences, beautiful, low
ing girl. Impulsive, aftectionale, and
wiihal SO much depth Of feeling that those
who knew her best could not but tremble
for her, as they thought Of the harsh un.
feeling world, where she must soon play
her part. Many fond prayerwas brea.
thed that she might never learn by sad
experience how cold il was. .,. A,5l
Well do / remember, when 6rss she
met Harry Beaumont. Cold, indeed,
must have been the heart that could have
resisted bis charms. Noble in person,
but far more noble in mind and heart. he
was one just fitted to understand a nature
like hers. Con6ding and loving as she
was, he was the one best able TO apPre.
ciate,,hst confidence and love, and when
l first saw them together I could not buI
hope that his should DO the. arm on which
she might lean through life, and his the
noble task to train that gifted mind fol
higher usefulness here snd happiness
hereafter, ES
"Nellie," said jestinQly TO her ont
day, few weeks after lhey had met, ''sc
you have a! last found that sympathisinl
friend for whom you have wished &C
long" She had often told me her long
ings for some one to love, as now tho
she had learned to love Harry. Hel
voice trembled as she answered,
"Mary, his love is not for me. How
noble in him; he told me all, how he hat
woed and won another for his bride. Hi