The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-07-22

THE DYING GIRL.


that may feel the wind on my for head for
the last time forever-raise me up. that
may look npcn the sun once more before
die As size requested, plaretlmy arm.
under her head, and raised it from the
pillow. How beautiful was her pale face
lying there SO hclplessly, with her large
bright eyes turned up to t! q sun like ii
worshipper. the black hair sweeping over
her arm to the pillow, and the golden light
lying upon her thin features, i,nbuing them
as it were with glory and vitality, till thu
whole form seemed consumed in bright
essence, burning intensely within, ,adia:ing
| without. Her eyes grew brighter as sl,e
gazed, and she seemed refreshed with the
sntt wind stirring about her. "IIow bright
Iy ana quietly" whispered" docs he 90
t" his rest. melting away tint by tint from
the sight!' Turning her head YEARLY
away, che sank to the pillow, murmuriug"
.. 'nat my departure may BE- like that
may sink to my death calmly and pain
'essly' 10y leaving behin1 me the bright
reflections Of brief existence.'
For few moments she languitlly closed
her eyes and remained; then opening them
again. she gazed in nv fare and said
"Dratl,, death-if this is it, it is neither
sad nor painfu-it is only going home to
meet parents, sisters, friends in glorious
w0r'd' region Of spirits, bright, high, how
-" here her voice again died away in soft
murmurng sound. She gathered strength
moment and continued,
"My brother lie is in n strange laad, how
will he grieve when he hears that lam
'lead-tell him that prayed for him, that
, shall meet him in the eternal world of
glory. where we shall live for ever and ever
when am gone, give him one of these
and she attempted to raise her slender
hand to the hair lying in mass upon the
pillow. But the almost transparent fingers
wa"dered Tor moment in the air, and then
tell teeb'y over the bedside.-Her Iips
moved again. ut is all fading, floating"
she said;"how glorious the angels throng
above NE. smiling, beckoning, witt, wings
so beautiful-nca,er they hover, settling
on my piIlow-softly, softly, thcy-"A
heavenly smile broke upon her face, her
v"ice grew fainter, then stopped like tone
| Of smothered music. The features settl,.,l
; sliiver ran over her frame and alI was
over. Her spirit had gone to congr-gate
with angels in happiness. laid my hand
on that forehead-it was growing fearful
cold. My heart cranped; tho strength of
nv manhood gave way I sunk to my knees
and wept bitterly.
Again [ stood beside her, when her
friends had done their office of love. Out
! stretched in her shroud of pure white sl,.
lay, her stitfcned hands confined over her
TO- ON with knot Of white ribbon, and the
dark lasI,es lying. so like sleep. on her
marble checks. That smile was there, like
starlight on heavy crusted snow-it was
buried with her.
Az SHE requested, I took long curl from,
her head-that bend on which had 30
often tossed flowers in childish play. |
stood gazing ON the corpse ill strange
mysterious feeling Of another world cr.ptt
over mel felt as ifa dark spirit was
overshadowing me. Awe-struck, I held up
the ringet aud gazsd upon Il. No tsurl,
OF death was there. Bright and beautiful
as ever, it strea,nel from my hand.
looked till it seemed to grow alive in my
grasp. Again Ietnrned to the death and
The wandering of my soul ceased. knelt
down and prayed fsrvently that my death
bed might be like hers.
enclosed the hair in purse Louisa had
worked during her illness, aud gave i. to
her brother, who Afterwards raised the
wins slab over her grave, with the iascrip.
tion Of MY Sster."a =,