Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-01-26
From the Christian Waichman and Reflector
THE BROKEN HEARTED.
A SAD, BUT TRUE STORY.
What though the spicy Dreez
Blow soft DER Ceylon's Isle,
Though every prospect p!eases,
And only man Is vile %

Curiously enough, l was just repeating this
stanza, when my new acquaintance called for
me. had met him while on business visit
to Ceylon, as countryman of mine, and was
pleased with the opportunity that afforded me
more intimate personal knowledge.
l thought myself fortunate in falling in with
SO agreeable a gentleman, and considered his
face and manners peculiarly refined. On our
second meeting noticed singular restlessness
of the handsome dark eyes, an irritable biting
of the lips, and disposition to be constantly on
the move, shown in the tapping of light BAN
boo cane, or the motion of foot or hand
These things, however, did not strike me as
singular at the time, but coupled with what
afterwards learned, were certain evidence, that
the man felt already the cravings of the worm
that never dies
One forenoon we left the little seaport town
where l was sojOurning, and rode short dis
tance into the interior of the gorgeous Island
Most glorious were the surroundings on every
hand. With prodigality quite undreamed OF
by the inhabitants of colder cline, nature had
| showered her most exquisite floral gifts everV-
flowers, their intense colors vieing with the fo
liage Of richer green, from out of which they
smiled; tall cactus plants, with crimson, goblet
shaped blossoms; lilies, gorgeous in the queen
Iy unfolding Of form and color-everything rich,
lavish, wonderful met our eyes, feasted to full
ness with this tropical luxuriance.
''That is my house," said my new friend
pointing to low-roofed cottage, surrounded by
wide verandah, from whose clinging vines
sweet Odors were flung upon the soft atmosphere
but from the moment the words were uttered
his genialIty departed.
, Surely" thought I, "here is a paradise, i
, only love be not wanting"
n Within the cottage enclosure were walks
bowers, and fountains. Chaste statuary wer'
dispersed over the grounds with most charmin!
effect. The house seemed almost fairy struc
ture, rising in the midst of flowers and foliage
And the man who sat beside me, whose smil
!, mounted no higher than his lips-the dream
:, far-looking discomfort in his eyes growing ever
# moment more perceptible-was the owner G
a this Eden-like home
We were met on the threshold by Lowell
: :. | child Of some eleven summers. Her hair hun
Ii in curls. Her eyes were particularly lustrou
yet mournful in their beauty, and on the youn
brow 1 seemed to see a something's shadow
sadness-an unchild-like quiet, as l greete
= my new friend.
Dressed in pure white, she glided in befol
Is u.s. and to her was left the duty of entertainin
me; while Mr.. c., excusing himself in the 7,
q. mark, that sickness necessarily called him ava,
All, thought l, there is always some ILL., Th
oi man whose manner to me seemed uneasy an
at times constrained, bears upon his heart tt
e. dread, perhaps, Il at a beloved wife may die.
,k ais your mother very unwelll" asked
We the little girl, who with those shadow-flled ey
of hers, was regarding me, gently, but attel
l, lively.
"Yes, sir, mamma has been sick long time
q replied she, dropping her eyes, while her liz
ng trembled.
'Did you come from America" she askt
timidly, after long silence.
'e, "Yes, my dear. Do you know anything
ry that country !" returned, growing more al
" more pleased with her expressive face.
ID. "Only that mamma came from there, and
: think" she added hesitatingly, ''that did,
=, But Mr.. c. will never let me talk about ii. "
III III "Are you not then the little daughter of N
'e, G. Z" asked somewhat astonished.
81 am my mothers daughter" answered ii
- child, with grave dignity unusual in one
Oh youDg-and minute after she arose and OF
not etly left the room.
~ sat watching her white robes fitting throu!
- the long shady walk opposite my window, al
Ne knew that the child brooded over some dark sc
row, for her eyes were filed with tears.
Why was it, questioned myself, that pal
~ full thoughts took possession of me as S
Tas there 1t seemed as if were sojourning in
nd enchanted spot and that some honor was su
- denly 10 break upon me.
led At my side, nearly covering beautiful tab
of of letter wood, were several costly gift books
~. l took them up carefully, for have reveren
'D' for books-and turningt the fy-leaf ofa sple
did bound copy of Shakespeare, read rh
CO. ''To Mary Frances F., from her devot
to hnsband-Henry E. F."
md A thrill of surprise and anguish ran from We
ted to vein. My thoughts seemed realized 7
truth had burst upon me with such suddenne
that the blood rushed with shock to my hea
- KNEW Henry E. F., had known him
az timately for years He was friend, towar
nee whom all my sympathies had been drawn,
son he had seen such sorrow as makes the he;
ual grow old before its time. oJ ..la
His wife, whom he loved, had deserted hi
sts The had taken with her his only child s
had desolated household; and forgetting ho
-. or, shame, everything that pertains to Writ
.eo oo and to God had fed from the country with t
'oo man whose arts had won her wanton love.
How could remain under this roof that nj
seemed accursed; How meet the destroyer,
en-. virtue,-the fend who had reyelled in such
;ch conquest!
~ For mcment or two 1 strobe up and do'
the room uncertain what to do The child e
Aer tered the apartment just then. How my hei
vo- bed for her. Sweet innocence she had be
Idy made in some sense partaker in the consequt
he ces of this wickedness-a sufferer and victl
through one she called by the holy name