The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-04-14

One year ago this day my father died
DYING be would have been in charity wit
all. and broke the silence of years by
brief letter in bis own hand. grown trem
ulous with age and illness, bidding me t
bis presence, that he might bless me be
fore be died. went, bat found only hi
cold clay. He had been dead for hours
and | was again too late!
Next ny boy sickened, at the foreign
university where be had gone to finish hi
education. | travelled with frantic hast,
to reach the bedside. Fearful storms de
tanned me. when scarcely score of leagues
separated us. When, at length, I wal
set down before the gate of bis lodging
they told me had been buried week.
Again | was too late! Those sunny
eyes were closed forever, that glorious
form lay in the cold obstruction of th'
tomb. For me we're only bis last dying
messages, and the tale of his piteous cries
for the mother who would have periled
ber life to reach his side, bad it been pos
sible Again the bitter refrain hung il
my ears, too late!
wrote to my husband telling him al
No answer came. | had expected none
for during years We had held no commu
cation, yet pined even for has sympathy
the only one beside myself who nourned
for my boy, though be hated me. Little
did | guess that be was too i'll to write
But at length third sum u ons invaded
my solitude. My presence was desired
beside the sick bed of my husband. Be.
reavement and sorrow had softened my
heart [ went, and was again too late
Still the curse pursued me, and the rec
opciliation Colonel Scatton SO much de.
sired, and which, in the humility of my
sorrow | would have yielded to, was not
permitted. l saw him living, breathing
wreck of bis once proud manhood, with
out sense. or power of motion: his lungs
only performing their function, aud slow.
ly marking bis passing moments. Fol
days be fingered in this state-tben died
and made no sign. Too latel too late!
[ came home humbled exceedingly
The man | had wronged had reached tc
me the hand Of reconciliation, and deeply
| felt bis Doble1ess of character. when ID
penitence and sorrow were too late: Un
availing regret were now all I could give
An ample fortune is mine, and scarce
ly past the prime of my live | might nov
return to the world l have long abandon
ed. But solitude best BELTS my feeling,
and my position. Here | will rem ain
and here die, in the time He shall ap'
point.
OctoJer A, 1S-. One more sorrow
one terrible grief the last-all that was
needed to crush my already bleeding
heart Yesterday stood By the bedside
OF the only man | ever loved. Gerald
Mount came to me from beyond the sea
from the foreign lands where be has worr
out his sad, hopeless life, came, full o
love and new-awakened hopes, to CLAIM
the woman who all these years has filled
bis heart, and has been truly loved spit,
of all the wrong that drove him from BIZ
native shores.
He reached but to diel He landed
weak and i'll from his long voyage. A
sudden cold, increased by his buried
journey and its exposures, Frustrated BIZ
remaining strength. He never left his
bed, 10 the little inn at the village, bu
daily l sat by his side, and We re-
newed the vows of our childhood, and
talked of the hopes now only to find tbeil
fruitiou beyond the grave.
So happiness came to me too late, and
the dark pail of Death shut the gloriou.
vision from my longing eyes. Gerald
we shall meet again-tbou art not los
forever!
Thus, dear friend, you have learned ths
fearful trials and dark sorrows of my
life. Blame and pity will fill your hear
as you read, but compassionate her whom
you have loved, when you remember tht
bitter harvest reaped from the seed sowr
by her undisciplined nature. Yet thinl
of me gently, as of one who has suffered
and repented, and, in many an anxious
prayerful vigil has sought from the Iuf
mite Father, and dies believing the boon
long sought, has been granted. Pray
thou, that this repentance, also, como nc
TOO LATE.