The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-07-16
AUNT DEBBY.
BY GAETA GAYLoRp.

81 hAhTA hA0LOhbs
THE mention Of that name brings back to my
memory long train of bygone years years
from earliest infancy to almost womanhood. dur.
ing which scarcely an act or plan OF my life was
free from the Influence, in some way, Of the one
of whom write. Aye, even now, though my
lufg-tried friend sleeps peacefully in tho lone
country churchyard, yet does my life beer the
impress of that patient early guardian.
Aunt Debby was maiden lady, who came TO
be an ir nate of our family long before my re-
membrauce. Her personal appearance to
stranger was not attractive. She was tall and
very slender, with a small head asd thin dark
hair. In her later years | remember a few sill
yer lines cleaned ont from the carefully adjusted
cap. Fer gray eyes were kindly in their exprea-
sion, but her month was made too prominent by
protecting front teeth. There was many line
of toll and care craven on her broad brow, and
her thin cheeks sunk away sadly henea,h large,
high homes The loving hands that abored So
necessarily for my comfort we're large and bony
and the joints of the wrists and fugers were
disrended by sesere toll. Certainly, you would
not call her person ptepossessing. Bat to my
childish heart, long years ago, and to NV fond
memory even nov, no image stands forth with
more lovcliness than that of my dear Aunt Deb
by.
Ny first memories are of her bearing me away
10 her arms from my mothers sick room, and
striving hy many successful art to soothe nv
childish sorrows. II was weeping at he litlp
griefs that seem so foolish to older years. Aun'
Dehhy did not laugh at my mu,nlng, but wi h
sad face she clisped me in her arms and cover
ing me with kisses, made me know she felt my
sorrow.
When the long rainy days, that will 50 often
come, prevented my usual sports on the A)wery
hillside, she devised thousand exppdents to
light up the room where she remained, so thai
need not feel the oppression of the confue
mpnt
When the dark shadows fell on the evening
he rhstone, she went with me ia my lit'le couch
aud carefully prepared it for nv quiet rpposr
And then, how pi'ieniiv she would sit besil
me when my timidity made me dread to BE-
HiOhpi ana naFFate many Jhle ol HefOlsm cr
virtue.
remember on one occasion, when some child
ish griei called forth from me a loud cry, she
ran so hurriedy to my relief that, her toot alp
ping, she fell, and received aD injury rom which
she suffered for many months. And yet, never
once did hear from her lips one word of re-
proof for my unnecessary outcry but while she
endured the gre lost pain for my folly, she would
call me to cit bcs,j her and talk OF my artless
plans o / can see her now, as the beaded per
spita'ion stands thckl' m her wrnked brow
reaching out her thin arge hand to beckon me
60 her side How warm, from her kind unim-
passioned heart were her frequent kisses of af-
fecHop. Hers was love disiuterested, pure.
Nor was the wayward, ungratelul cbild the
ouly otiac, of her affection. She loved Eer ST.
viour. Every day she led me hs the hand away
20 her secret resort, where, falling before the
ll-seeirg One, -he poured out her foil soul, Of
|Fen in on agony oi earnest suPplicatiOn to her
S4viour, Father, Friend, How l used 10 won
der at such times why snch good heirg should
need to seek so humbly for Gods favor. Yet |
knew he heard her prayer, aud imagined many
precious promises that he had wins percd to her
20 csnse her lace TO shine with such a holy JOY
when she rose from her Gpvottons o, the SOU
that beamcd out az such times from her lin gra,
eye gave me my first idea Of sprir-beau'y.
Ny paymates called her old aud homely and
so, perhaps, in tn" material, physical, her tea-
lures were but there was vail OF Ioveliness-
nav, life, an essence a sprit.chsrm, that per
vaded her whole being and made me wonder and
admire. l often asked myself what was that Sc.
cret Influence that so changed her unlovely torn,
to one all lovely? And the onlv answer m,
chd-hearr then could give was Love" " She
loves me" pleaded as a reason for her powe'
upon my heart,
In later years have asked again the secret Of
spirit-beeuty, and yet my heart will answer,
Love !ruly, whore love is the reigmng in
HGence all is beauty. 0 this is a world OF love
The very air is whispering love" as it comes
10 sustain our life. The perfume of the zephyr,
j., only love. The sparkling waters mnrmur
"love," aud every fIwrr aud rushing leaf re
peas the word E,ch brd-slng from th for
est bough, or thunder-tOue from ralure's orches
; ira, l. but note in the universal song of love
All nature sings Gods love 70 us, aud the sonl
reveals the sprit of beauty that is reg in
everywhere.
Would We have our lives accord with nature
beauty? Would We weirA charm to draw al
hearts TO ours? Let love be established sover
eigu upon our hear -thrOne.
Aunt Debby's love-lthors on earth we're end
ed long ago But floating on the air from 'h'
f,r-off land of spirits bear her angtlvoice call
ing in kindly tones, Come, come home