Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-07-03
THE TWO PICTURES.
BY FANNY HOWARD.

There had whispered voice. twas the voice of God
love thee! love thee pass under the rod.
Come Willie let mamma put on your pretty new
dress And stand still like darling, while curl
your hair there, now you are ready to have your
likeness taken; and what pretty picture mammals
pet will make! So thought young mother, while
she gazed with parents pride on her little boy, as
he stood before her in all the radiancy of infant
beauty, his cheeks dyed with the joyous light of
childhood
Wle's mother was about leaving her native land,
to seek home with the stranger as she thought
how pleased her dear old mother would be to have
likeness of her grandson, so that she could look
upon his sweet face whenever her heart weared for
him; so there pretty little scarlet dress made
for the occasion, and new hat bought ; and now
mamma has put them on, and is going to take him
to sit for his likeness.
But another picture was taken of mothers little
darling; and oh could she have raised the veil from
it, as it hung, shrouded by the dark mistS of the
future how her heart would have shrunk within her
to have witnessed the change that had passed over
the face of her ooy.
There in a tiny coffin mid the folds of the scar
let dress lay little Willie but the pulses of
life had ceased to beat and the roses had faded from
the waxen face, while the long sken fringes had
fallen softly over the blue eyes, hiding their joyous
light forever; few flowers were clasped within the
little hands, while some scattered around him,
sweet embems of the beautiful form that lay there
so very STILL
The shades of evening are falling softly around :;
thejoyous songs of the sweet birds hushed they
have folded their wearied wings and gone to rest;
little Wilie's merry laugh is no longer heard; his
feet have ceased to dance about the floor; he too,
has gone to sleep, and the happy mother softly
murmurs lullaby at the side of his couch.
Night now has thrown its dark mantle over the
sleeping earth, the mother has laid down on the
couch by her child, and deep though her sumbers
are something more than wonted diSturbS them
Can it be that dark forebodings of evil are shading
the light of her dreams? See how her lips quiver,
while she murmurs the name of her little son; now
she clasps her hands wildly and springs from the
bed
The moon has arisen in all her beauty, and her
beams are falling over the face of little Willie; but
oh, God the agony their light reveals to the heart
of the poor mother, as they rest on the pinched
features of the child The eyes are half open and
fixed; large drops have gathered on the brow, half
shaded by the faxen curls while from the half CON-
pressed lips comes smothered gurgling sound, then
mournful wal-the parting adieu of the mourn(ul
spirit.
The doctor arrives but he shakes his head, and
turns from the agonizing glance of the mother, as
he exciahns ' too late I'
He has no hope to offer, for we'll does he know
that the work of death is nearly finished.
The morning opened in splendor, shedding its
golden light the beautiful flowers, while their
blossoms expanded beneath the warmth of its glor-
lous rays. The little birds awoke, and from the
boughs of the trees filled the air with sweet melody;
and the pet bird that lay trembling and convused in
the arms of its mother, during the night, awoke
from the sleep of death, and unfolding its little
wings sang one of the songs of Paradise as it soar
ed above to nestle on the breast of Jehovah
The mother sits all alone in her chamber-her
heart is desolae for the couch is empty by the side
of her bed, and vacant little chair stands in the
corner. Sad thoughts arise as she gazes mournfully
the picture before her. bearing the impress of the
beauty reflected there only one day previous The
features seem full of life in the mimic face the bright
eye, the glow of health, and the playful smile of
innocence vain delusons of mortaty-all are there
Then she turns to little coffin that lies on a table
near by, the lid is moved aside and waxen figure,
bearing true resemblance to the likeness in her
hand meets her eye; but light beams over the face
reflected not on the other; an angel, when he bore
the spirit away, stamped with the seal of Heaven
Young mother! many heart sympathizes with
you to day. and fervent the peadngs that ascend
to the throne on high in your behalf Yes! plead
ing that the Nazarene may pass by, and while ne
gives you strength for your day, he may say to the
dark waves that surround you "Peace, be still"
DEATH OF CAyoUR.-The great CaVour is dead. =
With Eim dies half the brain, and possibly all the
fortunes of New Italy. He has left his work incom
plete. Rome is not yet the Capital of the United
Kingdom; and perhaps the Church may again win,
with last card, the tremendous game that has SO
often been played on that peninsula with the same