The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1860-08-02
For the Journsl.


,IAfI Duty. TN' B,
A little red school.house, neat pl'y grounds
sipNl ptle Of wood, from six to dozen lit'lc
chldrcd. A lady sitting in the old fag-bot'
toned chair, -,hst was all What weary look
she had, how those brgh, crimson spots come
and 80 on her fair delicu,c checks. Wns there
anything interesting theteP guess Ernest
Grey though there wOs.at leus, bis visits were
very often. The school had been in progress
two months, or maybe only one, and our teach
cr, Miss Eaton, was failing. yes, failing, slowly
but surely she was sinking int) the grave.
Every day her step grew more languid and
her checks paIo. Well as ! said she had been
teaching n short time when Mr.. Grey made his
second visit Never shall | forget that manly
form, the proud bearing and beautiful brown
eyes that spoke volumns Of love for the fair but
beautiful being, (all the more beautiful for her
irOity) by his side our teacher, Miss Ethel
Eaton. mn
ol how tcndcrly hr shielded her with his
strong arm. The children had gone out for
recess, and l. a little mite OF thing, always o
sober child, wished TO remain in close, oh so
very close to Miss Elton; nesting my head in
her lap, hearing every word they said, and treas.
uring II up in NY memory. And they. Of course
thought such n very little child surely would
not take notice Of their words. How he begged
hcr TO leave her school aud try and regain her
health, aud with what firm determine ion she
withstood his appeals AS he was leaving he
took her small white hand within his own, aud
plead So eagerly fora decision in his favor.
a" Ernest, my own heart pleads with oil
its strength aud love for you, but duty bids me-
rema n; aud the thoughts of my dear brother AM
the promise | made tn my father TO care for aud
educate him, that is the one thing that keeps
me here. Besides Earnest you are over anxious
about my health; Shall soon be as well as ever.
Never Ethel, never unless you leave imme-
diately. And how often have told you that
while have cent to call my own. Harry
need never leave college. o, Ethel could your
father Iok down from Heaven, do you think he
would wish you to mOhe this sacrifice Thu
sacrifice of health, f,eeJom, happiness. and the
very life OF one YOU love. Forgive mo darling
did not mean to speak SO plain, it was my
pour HtdIt piedulHS. IL was w iaIc Nutl
Ernest Grey, Tenderly he supported tho faint
ing form while from those pale lips the crlm
sou blood oozed, and before we children coull
know what was the matter, he lifted her care
fully and placed her in his carriage standing b,
the door. The lips that rained tho kisses on he
white forehead were not more liie.lika than hcl
own.
Old DR.. Dmlnp shook his Wis
head aud murmered something about over ex
citcmcnt, feeble constitution, too much exersize
aud doubtful recovery.
A little brown cottage, pretty yard, and
beautiful orchard, Und there in that room whor
YOU see the window raised and one blind closcC
there lies our Ethel. How still she lies lhos
lips move not, aud with her hands folded ol
her breast, she is sleeping. All but it is th'
sleep of death Earnest Grey is sitting Their
too, what calm resignation is written in hi
face, for there hu learned by Tho death. bed O
his Ethel to put his trust in Him "who doeth al
things we'll" Aud they laid her to rest wher
The old forest trees marko the great deep shadows
nnd where the bright gay birds marble the
songs of praise. Tho mack violet and will
flowers send forth their perfume over tha grav,
her we loved too well.
Mtny years have come and gone since then
but green in my memory is tho brief Sojourn o
our teacher aud her young life sacrificed to th'
performance Of Duty. BkLLp.