The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-05-25

friend Lucy Fisher is out of danger. She has
indeed been at the brink of the grave and it
'+is truly wonderful that she survived
4 "When can | see her?' ! said.
'She goes home this morning" replied the
doctor,
"In about an hour Molly brought my cloak
} and furs, although it was so late in the season
lest l should catch a cold by my first exposure.
How very brightly shone the sun that morning;
how tender and green looked the young grapes
amid the old and dry-and all nature was
! whispering in my ear the promise of bounti-
full season. None but a convalescent can know
what enjoyed during that brief walk to Lucy's.
Her mother opened the door for me and kissed
me tenderly.
"Where is my Lucy?" said. but without
waiting for an answer, stepped hastily into the
parlor. She was there. And yet it was not
her. Those large beautiful eyes were contracted
; never again TO beam out in full-orbed glory.
and her once round face. was lined, and SCARED,
: and scanned into hopeless deformity. 20,
: Lucy" | said, and falling upon her neck, we
wept together This was not the climax of the
trial. There was lover in Lucy's How
5 would he take the change that had come over
her? think men are different from women
: about such things.
He is coming" said Lucy. family. He
will be here tomorrow"
: young Morton was expected in the morning,
so went over to Lucy as early as / was able,
to assist her in her preparation to receive her
t lover. l arranged some young daffodils and
a May flowers on the little table beside her chair.
Over her white morning gown, around her
shoulders, laid my red came-hair shawl, a
: present from my father, that its more intense
n color might reduce hers. Dear Lucy! dark
s ened the blinds, so that the change in hel
. would not be so obvious l heard Mr.. Nor
e TONS step in the hall and left the room.
d He remained with Lucy just five minutes,
n stepped hastily out of the house, mounted his
n horse and rode away. l hardly dared to see
n her. When | reentered the room, she and hen
7 mother were weeping together | OWNED the
e whole"
}, Lucy" said l. how IS it?"
y "It all over" she said, attempting to smile
1t Lucy" said I, Il am the wretched cause
S of all your misery" adding, in a wicked pass
;, ion, "and l wish l had never been born
d Hush, hush!" said Lucy. "God had gooc
e reasons for your birth. and for my surviving:
n love him none The less, or you either Yes,
g she said, looking up and smiling through he1
d tears Il can trust him in the dark
II GAS l looked upon her poor blighted face.
: said to myself, though God has scathed tht
e outer wall of his temple, the spirits still glori
e Gus within
2f "Three cheers for Miss Lucy Fisher" ex
o claimed jim Arlington, Mary's brother of four
teen, who had come into the room unobserved
ls and heard the story. "Three cheers for Mis-
y Lucy Fisher. Why, mother, she is as bravo
h as Wellington" the boy favorite hero, "ant
Is those marks on her face are what call honora
e bic scars"
/ Mary crept up softly to her mother, anc
{ whispered through her tears
sr ''Mama, mama; may not Miss Fisher com
le here and live all the time? Does notthe bbl
20 say something about entertaining anges?"
" THE LAND BEYOND THE MoUSrAINs.-Th
=? little child was dying His weary limbs wer
n racked by pain no more The flush was tadln
of from his thir cheeks, and the fever that ha
e. been for weeks drying up his blood, was no.
lie cooling rapidly under the touch of the icy han
er that was upon him.
I'd There were sounds and tokens of bitter bu
ne suppressed grief in that dim chamber, for tn
id dying boy was one very dear to many hearts
ID They knew that he was departing, and tn
th thought was hard to bear; but they tried
st command their feelings that they might not dis
lis turb the last moments of their darling.
r The father and mother and the kind physi
y clan, stood beside dear Eddy's bed, and watch
~ ed his heavy breathing. He had been siler
~ for some time, and appeared to sleep. The
in thought it might be thus that he would pas
es away but suddenly his blue eyes opened wild
er and clear, and beautiful smile broke over hi
r features He looked upward and forward first
then turning his eyes upon his mothers face
w said in sweet voice, Mother, what is the nam
of the beautiful country that | see beyond th
e, mountains-the high mountains?',
efl Il can see nothing, my child, said the moth
n. er, sIhere are no mountains in sight Of ou
| house"
st Look there, dear mother said the child
lg pointing upwards, 'tyonder are the mountains
Can you not see them now?'' he asked IN tone
I'd Of the greatest astonishment, as MS mothe
shook her head.
w "They are near me now-so large and high
in and behind them the country looks so beaut
at full, and the people are SO happy-there are n
ce sick children there. Papa, can you not see be
its yond the mountains? Tell me the name of thf
W. land"
ID The parents glanced at each other and wit
Be united voice replied, "the land you see is heaE
en-, is it not, my child?''
ou Yes, it is heaven. thought that must b
its name. 0, let me go-but how shall l eros
d. these mountains? Father, will you not carr
ne me, for they call me from the other side, and
1 must GO
There was not dry eye in that chamber
and upon every heart there fell a solemn awe
Iy as if the curtain which concealed its mysterie
was about to be Withdrawn.
q, "My son. said the father, will you sta
mt with US little while longer? You shall eros
ne the mountains soon, but in stronger arms tha
mine. Wat--stay with your mother littl
ne longer; see how she weeps at the thought {
er losing YOU
ge 20, mother--O, father-do not cry, bu
It, come with me, and cross the mountains
,h come!" and thus he entreated with strengt
OF and earnestness which astonished all.
n, The chamber was filled with wondering an
Sc awe stricken friends. At length beaming wit
to rapturous delight, and stretching out his linl
tn arms for a last embrace, he cried, Good bye
rs mother, am going, but don't you be afraid
I'd the strong man has come to carry me over tn