Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-10-19

irrauiatsu his lace, ana MS arms once
again enfolded her. She looked up and
murmured with something of her old play
ful tenderness, more touching than the
widest burst of grief.
" Are you not stronger, dear William p
"Ah, l fear not my love"
" This is strange, for when felt the
strength cbbing from my own heart,
thought it had flowed into yours"
"Thank God for the weakness which is
lovlier than strength must never leave
you Annie"
"Never ~
y
The morning of the wedding day had
come, and was arraying Annie in her
bridal dress, beautiful muslin, guiltless
of ribbon or lace. L wished to twine in
her hair a small string of pearls, which
was once her mother's-but she gently put
it from me.
What, no ornaments 2" I enquired.
" Nonc," she replied, but yes, if you
will 60 into my garden, you will find a
lovely white rose tree, which William
planted when | first knew him-bring me
one of its buds, and | will wear it in my
hair.
l have seen brides radiant in healthful
bloom-glittering in jewels-dazzling in
satins, rich wells and costly wroathcs, but
never have beheld one so exquisitely, so
wonderfully beautiful, as that dying girl
with her dress of simple white, her one
floral ornament, the dewy lustre of her
soft blue eye, aud the deepened hectic Of
her check When the ceremony was to
be performed she wished to rize, and as
she was too weak to stand alone l stood
by her side and supported her. She
smiled sadly as she whispered-you re-
member Grace, promised you should be
my bridesmaid.
As the beautiful marriage ceremony
Chat of the English ChurclD proceeded, :,
the face of the bride became expressive
alternately of earthly and heavenly love
of so!tness and of sublimity, Of the woman
and of the angel, till it grew absolutely J
adorable,
At the last she received the fearful con
gratulations of her friends with a graceful
manner, and with the most cheerful! smiles
playing about her lips.
1t was morning-and morning born of
bloom and beauty-so soft, SO glowing it
seemed.
Like rainbow clasping the bright earth,
And melting in covenant Of love.
Annie Gordon was lying on her couch by
an open window, with her fair head sup
ported on the breast of her husband.
And she fathers joy, brothers pride,
the wife of two short weeks was leaving us
now. Every sunbeam which looked into
her eyes, saw their violet hue grow paler,
and every soft air which kissed her faded
lips, bore back fainter breath on its light
pinion. Her doating father knelt in
deep trance of grief at her sido-I stood
holding one Of her hands in mine, while at
her feet sat her younger brother, Arthur
Moore, weeping with all TIE uncontrolled
passionateness of boyhood.
Annie had lain for some moments ap-
parently insensible, but she looked up yet
once more to William, with her own sweet
smile and murmured,
Pray, once again, my belovod-it will
plume my spirits wing for its upward
flight, but place your hand upon my
heart, that you may know when | am
gone y
And William Gordon lifted his voice in
a prayer, all saint like submission and a
child like love. He solemnly and tonderly
committed the passing soul of the wife, the
daughter, the sister and the friend, to her
Saviour and her God, and meekly i'm
plored for the stricken mourners, the min
istrationS of the blessed spirit. Suddenly
he paused-her heart had ceased its beat
ings His brow became convulsed and
his voice was low and tremulous, as he
added, " she has left us, Oh our Father,
she is with Thee, now -
"Gone our Annie dead exclaimed
poor little Arthur Moore, and springing
forward and casting one look on that still
face, he stretched his arms upward and
cried" oh sister, sister, come back to
us, come back !"
We arrayed her in her bridal dress, even
to the white rosebud, twined in her golden
hair. We laid her to rest by her mothers
side, in lovely rural grave yard, and a