The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-12-31
A NIGHT OF YEARS.
ny GRACE GREENWOOD.


gathered IN the woods or by the wayside. IIef
love for these and her sweet voice we're all that
wero left her Of the bloom and music OF eNis
taDoe. Yet, no her meek and childlko piety
still fingered Her God had not foraker her ;
down In the deep chaos Of her spirit, tho smile
Of His love yet cleaned iain'ly--in tho waste
garden Of her heart .he slill heard HIS voice at
oventide, and she was not afraid. Iier biol,
went with her tverywhcre--I torn aud soilud
volume, but as holy still and it may bo, a.
dearly cherished, ny dear reader, as toe gor.
geous copy Los lying on your table bound In
purple and goli, and with the gliding untar.
lishod upon dtic"e hs'e'..
Thirty yearp from tn, time tho commence.
mont Of this mournful history, on a bloik au.
tumnsl evening, a rough country wagon drove
into the town Of c.. IL stopped at the
aims house an a,tonu,tcd form was lifted up
sn1 carried in, and the wagon rumble away.
Thus was Lucy Dalton brought to her native
town 70 ole.
She Rad boen in d,clnr for some months, ard
tho miraculou' strength which bad 80 long sus.
tanned her In her weary wandorings, a. last for
rock her utterly. Her sister died some tims
before, and the ~ SHOWED husband lad soon ai.
tor rem vod with hi, fam " TO the far West,
~ Lucy Rad no friends, no home bu. tho aims
house.
One day about wcok from tho time Of her
arrival, Lucy appeared to suffer greatly and
those about her looked for her release almost
impatiently but at night she was evidently
better, and for the first time she slept TRANQUILITY
till morning, The matron, who was by her
bedside when she awJkc, was startled by the
clear and earnest gaze which met her own, but
she smiled and lid the invalid Good Morning. "
Lucy looked bewildcred, but the voice seemed
TO rs assure her, ana she exclaimed
"Whero am AID who arc you do not
know you."
A Wild surm'se flashed across the mind Of tho
marion the lo7R lost reason of the wanlctcr
hid returned. But the god woman replied
calmly and othingly
=, Why you are among your friends and you
will know me presently,
g Then may he you know Edwin and Fllon,
fcjOned the invalid 'havo they Gomez Oh. 1
had such terrible dream! dr, AIMED that they
we're married Only think, Ellen married 10
Edwin Strange It's that should dream that "
NV poor Lucy said the m .tron, with
Eu'h Of tears, +" that was not cam twas
all true,
IAN true !" cried the invalid "then Edwin
must bs untrue, and that cannot be, for he
loves me we loved each other WELL and Ellen
She endcsvored to raise herself, but fell back
fsinting On tho pillow,
What does this mean p said she-"whst
mskes me 80 weak Z"
Just then her eye fell on her own hani-that
old and withered hand She gazed on ii in
blank Amusement.
Something is the matter with my sight" she
ssid, smiling family, "ior my hand looks like
an old woman s..
'And no il is, said the matron gently, ''aud
80 is mine yet we had fair plump hand. when
we were Young. Dear Lucy, do YOU know me ?
] am Marin Alen-I was TO have been your
bridesmaid"
cannot say more-I will not make tho vaia
attempt to give in detail all that mOurnful re-
vsslinS---to reduce 10 expressive words the
dread sublimity Of that hopeless sorrow.
To the wreChed Lucy, the last thirty years
were a. though they had never been. or not a
scene, not an igcdent, had she the slightest re-
rnembraIce, sirco the recrcant lover and trail
tOroUs sister stood before her, and made that
terrible announcement.
The ia ma,rSn paused Frequently in the
sAi nan alive oil her poor friends madness and
wardefings, but no invalid would say with
fearful calmnsss, go on, 20 or, though tho
drops of sgony stood thick upon her forehead.
When she asked for her sister, the mitron 70.
p,iea
she has gone before yoi, aud your father
also.
''Ard my moihcri" laid ucy, her face lit up
with sckly ray Of hope.
"Your mother has been dead for twenty
years"
dead All gone Alone, OLD, dying' Oh,
God, my cup of bitterness is full = aud Tho wcp,
aloud.
Her friend bent over her, and minglng her
tears with her said aff. ctionately:
Bat you know who crank that cup before
you'll
Lucy looked with bewildcr,d expression
sud the matron added e" The Lord Jesus, YOU
remember him."
A lock like sun light breaking through cloud,
a look which orly saints may wear, iTrldated
the ,ealful face Of the dying woman, as tho re.
piled:
|" Oh yes l.new Him AMI loved Him BET re
fell asleep"
The man Of Gcd was called. A lew who had
known Lucy in her early days, cami also
There WAS much revere ti,l fotliug, and slne
weeping around her death boa Thea roS, IN,
voice Of PRAYER. Al tirs: her lips moved he
weak spirit joined in that f. ry,ut appeal acn
they grew still and poor Lucy va, dead dead
in her grey haired youth.
Those who galsd upon that placid face, and
remembered her harmless life and p,ticnt -lr.
fering, doubt TO thGtn morn Of an ctcrrgl
day had broi";s,ryT her "Nisht Of Years
,HE FNB.