Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-04-25

q Mothers love-how faithful even h
to the memory of the dead, I said, as1 cast tt
aside for others of a more recent date a
The supper bell recalled me to life present [
and we all gathered as usual around Il
our uncle's table, and aunt Lucy was there, Il
kind as ever. "
After tea we went into the little parlor, and Y
as the fire burned brightly on the hearth she S
told me what have written, or rather she +
had said so much by way of introduction, | d
depressed to tell you how she came to relate t
me the story of her life, and my own grand t
mothers, and the life of the aged minister. !.
"Amy and l." she resumed, 'were friends !
true friends-our friendship commenced
in early life, when first her father brought 3
her, a pale, trembling girl, from her mothers
death-bed, and left her with US to attend the
school in Evergreen Academy, kept by /,
Miss Phillips dear, kind lady, who has long !
long ago slept over in the church yard and
| often think, Lizzie, her rest in the mansions
above must be sweeter, for her life of inces-
SAINT toll here, without one green spot in the
desert. Amy was two years younger than |,
and as | had no sister or brother, to share the
wealth of my hearts affection, a large portion
of it was given to Amy Wayne, my lifelong,
friend. | watched over her as an older sister
would, fearful that trouble or anxiety might
come and make her sad. 1t is an old remark,
Lizzie, and a true one, but who said it do
not know, that Mature seldom gives both the
power of loving and being loved, equally to
any one Amy was formed to be Loved It
was hsu lite: ! ssjgk f = sfRlk
the mere dislike of any one, she would have
faded from my sight. But there was no need
of that. All loved her, as she fitted about
this house, always so bright, so cheerful, SO
full of sunshine and yet she was very quiet,
never gay, always gentle. Even the little
birds seemed to hop nearer her than any one
else, and fed from her hand with more conf
dence. She generally wore in summer a
pure white dress, and with her bright blue
eyes and golden curls she formed the bright
est picture ever seen at Evergreen farm.
''That portrait" said she, pointing to the
beautiful painting representing my own grand
mother who had died so long ago, us very
, like her. She was lovely, lovely" and for a
l moment she paused as if she could bring her
: back again to life and love. "Amy was her
r fathers pride, and a ~favorite in the school and
village. AS l said, Amy lived to be loved.
o She seemed to expect it as her Inheritance;
I while l had never received the gift of attract
e ing love and so | wandered around with
o Amy, dreaming way my childhood years,
and happy in seeing her loved. God gave
d me the power of loving, of pouring out my
hearts best love, without thinking or hoping
d for a return. 1t was a necessity of my ma
ture, to lone /; of Amy's to be l0Ued and SO
we were both satisfied during our school days.
| loved her and she knew it. Our teacher
N was gentle and kind, and by loving words she
i'd led us along in the paths of learning, teaching
n us much of the lessons given us in books, but
d. far better she taught us lessons in life, how
to be good and kind, and to suppress the
s. workings of the evil inherent in us, and sub
1ao4 o,,u h0orta ~ Al o-:~:4 e ---l - -
lg to lead us in right ways through the duties
e, that lie nearest u.s. to others far and wide
and varied as circumstances can make them.
But just as Amy was frightening into wo-
rs manhood, our teacher died and they laid
nd her to rest, far from the native hills that sur
ne round her home in New England and her
Ia monument is not of marble-it is of work
ne the work of her life. We mourned for her,
u and | most of all, for I loved her, though she
IN never knew half how devotedly, for I did not
Did dare tell her how | hung on her words, and
as longed that she should know the depth of m5
ur- love. She died, and did not-as others have
to done since then. But Amy, it is of her
promised to tell you, Lizzie"
vas mo, no, aunt Susy | know about grand
i'd mother. 1t was of good old Mr.. Hartman
oat asked you to tell me-"
ten "Our minister! well, how can I tell you Q
ose him without telling of Amy too -
5 of The question | did not attempt to answer
rty as | could not see the necessary connection
so told her to go on.
the "Well, Amy grieved too, for her teacher
ing but she was only one of the thousand links tn;
life, bound her to life, and she had so many lie
c as to love her. Our minister was then a studel
UNI of the Rev. Mr.. White, the pastor of Eve
aid, green church. For years he expected to tc
en- for the treasures Of knowledge that he mig
better perform his sacred duties. He W
,ked handsome then, and noble as well as good.
istcr His face was fair, almost to delicacy, and h
7ish- hair so smooth and black. He came to S
tell US often, and Amy and he read from the sar
was, book. They talked of the beauties they sa
own on the glowing pages, and especially VIII
light they read in Gods word of the river of t
d to water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding o
lived of the throne Of God and the Lamb ; in t
blessed land of Eternal day. His face won
any glow with pleasure, and his eye kindle wi
mere the beautiful thoughts that came to his mir
when he thought of his glorious home. Tt
Il me he loved our Amy, none doubted, and
were conscious that it was earnest, true
and such love as only such hearts can feel; a
that Amy did not return it as he wished
You knew, for to ne she was free and confdil
She did not trife with his feelings, she v
There too good for that, and flirting was not pr
hid? ticed then as it is now, Lizzy. Shame, t
II tell there should be such a word now.
sadly But she did not understand his heart
and He loved her; but who did not? She
fam pected the pale student who talked so bea
p had fully OF the bright home to which her mot
aunt had gone, to love her but not with the
bject. ter intensity of manly love that he profes
nings. for her; and when he told her how entil
.rried, he loved her, as he did no one else in the "
< peo- world, and how he wanted her to love hir
she did no other, not even her own IA
asked who had worshipped her from childhood,
nd re- could not understand him. She was
sight, young, and her heart had not felt that Ell
mt SUI devotedness to one that must usher into
united lives of two, the bliss of the mos
Aunty vored life. And he told her how sweet
a stu would be, far from all but her, if it were I
ge for thus to live without performing duty to
", nv world, and how he would cherish her, if
with a would promise to be his own bride, in flu
years. She could not give him this pror
e came and the pale, earnest student went out
of my our home on a beautiful evening, hopeles
/ large 81 shall never forget his sad face: I
| had sitting under the old tree by the gate, an
,: how came to me. | knew he was suffering.
lurmur ting by my side, he told me, as he woul
re was own sister, of his love-his hopeless 10
how from childhood he had never known
oughts, love of woman. His mother died whel
he fire. was quite young, and he never had a S
iously Amy was the only one he had ever loved
cred on never again would he seek love! but ale
US were atone-he would toll till death. Miss S,
: in the he said, as he arose to leave. it is said