Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-11-01

bid fair TO be the support and consolation OF
bis mothers declining years In less than two
years he led to the altar fair young being,
beautiful as the spring time flowers, and also,
as frail. 1t was not long before the beSetting
sin that brings blight and ruin to 30 many no
bic hearts-so many happy circles, began to
show its fearful influence. George Nelson lived
in that sweet little cottage just over the brook,
whose siVery song makes music through the
live-long night, and its coCl damp breath
gives a richer green to the shrubbery that half
hides the building from view. Oh, how often
our hearts ached at sunset, when we walked
over the little bridge, to spend few moments
with the lone widow for in little nook near
the brookside. sheltered by the inteTlacng
boughs that shut out the prying sunbeams, we
we're almost sure to find the poor, pale Agnes
looking wistfnlly toward the village. She
would smile--a faint, sad smile as l ap
preached her, and rise to 90 into the house
with me, talking all the while in a merry
strain, or singing, may be, some light carol Of
the olden time But | was not deceived
knew this feigned merrment was bat the
white foam that gatheres on the wave, that
seems SO calm and still while far down, the
waters are fretting against the ragged rocks.
A few more months aud Agnes lay on her
death-bcd. Those small white hands, where
the delicate veins seemed like purple threads,
were thin and transparent and but for the
tracery of lfe's mysterious meshes would
scarce be noticed on the snowy countcrpaue.
Her life was slowly ebbing out, yet the spirits
concentrated love beamed in her soul lit Orbs,
and rested ever and anon upon tiny bud Of
bnip hot Inv slaa,fprr bv hor ciIa Sba ba1
looked for love, the high end pure she had
given her souls alteration to one whom her
foud Imagination had endowed with all noble
quali,ies She had made her an idol, and
bound it around with the tendrils Of her own
heart, and gave it the rich incense of woman's
undying love She found that idol clay, vet
hers was not a nature to bewall that worship.
So for few short months she looked sadly
out on the ever varying beauties of nature,
and then lay quietly down to find that rest in
the embrace of the Savior which human love
had denied her. That long tried mother stood
by her. consoling her in the solemn hour of
departure and the young husband was there
too crushed and heart-brcken by a sense Of
his own sin. a have murdered you, Agnes, ;"
be cried in husky tones, :" / have murdered
you, my own life yet God knows how we'll |
have loved You. o if you could live, | might
vet reform"
Weep not for me, George, said theyoung
mother in the low sad tones that speak CT the
cold, dark grave DO not accuse yourself :;
yOa have always been kind to me. Never has
frown, or an unknd word from you cast a
shadow on my heart. Remember love- We
shall soon meet, where the flowers are all
-, - -. Ii
cast with clouds. Take little Margaret, for |
have named her after your mother cherish
her as a sweet blossom to remind you of me-
shall not forget you in the land to which l
20, aHd if the beings Of that sphere are per
mtted to visit the scenes where the soul has
been glaidened, | shall come to you often,
though unseen and wait with Joy to greet
YOU on that starry shore
"You will not wait long. | cannot live
now. have poisoned the cup Of life for you,
and that corroding memory will soon wear out
the links Of life's mysterious chain"
He spoke but too truly In three days Ag.
nes was laid in the quiet mansion where earth's
weary ones forget their sorrows. One would
think the circumstances of health would exert
a restraining influence on the erring man but
sorrow and remorSe increased the madness that
follows intemperance. Before little Margaret
was year old, her wreiched father filed q
drnuka.d's grave. Poor Margaret did not
bear this all unmoved she had been more or
less than woman if she bad Bot she still
trusted in that God she had worshipped in her
yOuth-who adOrns the green meadows with
the smiles Of his love,-whO heedeth the Cry of
the furnishing raven and eareth fer the spar
rows of the field. She has lived for the lovely
littlo graudchld, who is now the only link
tha; binds her to earth. To cultivate that in
faDs mind-to inspire it with a love for ali
things pure and beaUtifUl-to lead it up to ma
turity in that trusting love which is a shield
and a support in the hours of human trial is
her highest ambition.
And she viii 90 on in her secluded pathway
striving to fulfill her mission in the maune.
most acceptable to that Savior who toiled sor-
rowfully over the dusky thoroughfares of life,
TO show rs the exceilency of that life, which
in humble trust leads Us ever nearer the throne
where gush the pure waters Of spiritual peace.
All the bright dreams of her youth have fad
ed those yearning hopes which are the crown
of JOY to womans heart so long as she can
dream OF their fuIillment, have been crushed
and blighted. Yet her faith iu God has not
failed, aud she looks forward with joyful hope
to that glad morning when she shall res: from
earth's trials in the bosom of eternal love-
Nor is her lot wholly unblest even here. Sym
pathy, and love and trust are meted out to her,
as to one of ths noblest of sorrows children
Now from the simple story Of poor Marga-
set learn this truth: that a pure, loving, trust
ing spirit, is q talisman 10 sustain the sorrow
ing heart in the darkest hours Of trial-that a
firm dependence upos Him who sits enthron-
ed within ibe circles of ineHable light, viii
lessen the burden Of poverty, wrong and woe,
and calmly lead the soul down the shadowy
-ala u The r,n-tals -rhsrh nrar "a thnra rrinri.