Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-08-21
CHAPTER Iv.-rnE pEATunEp.

The summer sun shoUe proudly down upon
( the gay and smiling earth the bright sky
seemed insensibIe that 1t was smiling on scenes
/ Of sadness and despair. The feathered songs
tiers WarbIod as sweot:y and gaily in their
leafy bowers as if sighs and tears we're things
unknown
Grace Woodley was dying, Her couch had
been drawn 70 the window that she might
once more behold the setting sun. Again she
gave her child to the care Of Edith, aud her
head sank wearily upon her pillow.
e go" she said to those assembled around
her. . Lord. 1 come - and when the setting
sun salk beneath the bills her pure spirit went
forth to meet its Maker.
1t vas not until after the BURIAL Of her sis
ter that Edith fully realized her lonely oondi-
ton. Mr. Woodey seemed inconsolable at
the loss of his wife. aud Edith had hopes of
his leading better life than formerly He
bade adicu TO Edith and his child and return
ed to the west Edith's whole care ard at
tontion vas devoted to the management of tue
household affairs and to her young charge.
Minnie was very frail, and her aunt exert
/ ed every faculty to bring the bloom of health
/ to her cheeks. The physicians assured Edith
that The hope she cherished OF her sight was
( vain one; that Minnie would never sec the
bright sun aud flowers, and the one who loved
/ her SO well
/ Time, iu its ceascIess rounds, rolled on
( Ten months after Mrs Woodlcy's death Edith
! received two letters; the first she opened was
! from Herbert We tract the following
/ from it:
| a. have heard Of your sisters death, dear
/ Edith. and the thought soon came into my
mind that the fairest aud sweetest flowers are
the first to fade. But can it be that she, too,
/ has Ief, Us? Could one SO gentle and lovely
as our blue-eyeI Grace wither and perish Ike
an early flower? Alas it is too true. She
has indeed gone-gonc vi h the dead forever.
I Never more shall we behold that faultloss
form; the chill of death is upon that fair
young brow No longer skall we listen to
the sweet strains of the harp, for, alas the
chords are broken, and the delicate fingers
which tuned them have been touched by the
cold hand of the destroyer. No more will
those beautiful eyes beam with pleasure at
our approach ; the silent sluuIbor of death has
sealed them in darkness. Yes. the cruel spoil
er came. and the rose was blasted on her
check. and she faded and died. I fancy, dear
ELi:b. I see you now as you stood over your
beloved sister, lovely even IL death. The last
sad look given, you family murmur, They
are al gone, and I an left alone All sad
and lonely one, well may'st thou wander be-
meath the moons cold rays and weep at thC
grave Of the departed. Yes, thou art indeed
left lonely; that tender, faithful one is gone
and though other friends may love thee well
vet q sisters love thou wilt never know
again"
This is but portion of the long beautiful
letter: aud although It brought the painfu
scene more vividly before her. yet she fOunC
sad pleasure IN reading It and the paper wa
soon b.istered with tears. Her other lette
was from Mr. Woodloy. She turned yer.
pale as she read, for it contained an offer o
S marriage u must have my child with me,
he wrote, q ard if you consent to be my wife
/ all will be well, if not you can imagine th
S consequences
Edith's hand trembled violently as she has
F.; tily penned an answer, firmly rejecting hi
? offers, and bidding him to write no more tohe
: on the subject But he needed not her re
= quest, and soon she received another that frOz
{ her very life current
5 Edith Temploton," it read, g deman,
: my child Once more advance mp propo
e sails, and il two weeks time shall be witl