The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-06-27

quently, and sesme S,urdened with
some great sorrow Which she could
not herself comprehend. She had
one popularity which all who knew
her in after years must recco'lect:
and this was careful avoidance Of
men. She also seemed possessed
by the spirit Of unrest. She would
not be confined, but was continually
escaping from her friends, and 90.
ing they knew not whittier.
When her parents lived, by their
wstchful care and unwearylng Of.
forts, they in a measure controlled
this sad propensity; but when they
died, this stricken child became a
wanderer, homeless, friendless and
iorlorn. Through the gleeful spring
and rosy SIMMER, the golden AN.
tumn and tempostuous winter, it
was tramp. tramp, trsmp-no rest
for her crushed heart and frozsn
brain. remember her as she was
in my early childhood, towards the
last of her weary pilgrimage. As
my father and elder brothers were
frequently absent, and as my mother
never closed her heart or her door
on tho unfortunate, Crazy Lnce' oft.
en- spent an hour or two st our fire.
eide. Her appearance was very
singular. Her gown was always
patched with many colors, and her
shawl or mantle. worn or torn until
it was all open fringe. The remain.
der OF her miserable wardrobe she
carried in a bundle, on her arm, and
sometimes she had a number OF old
rags, dried herbs, &c.
ln the season OF flowers her tat.
tered bonnet was prolusely deco
rated with those which she had gath.
cred in the wood or by tho wayside.
Her love for these, and her sweet
voice was all that was left her Of the
bloom and music OF existence. Yet,
no! her meek and childlike piety
still fingered. Her God had not for.
saken her; down in the dim chaos
of her spirit, the smile of His love
yet CLEANED family, in the waste
garden Of her heart; she still heard
his voice at even tide, AMI che was
not afraid. Her Bible went with
her every where--a torn and soiled
volume, but as holy still, and it may
be as dearly cherished, my readers,
as the gorgeous copy now lying on
your table bound in purple and gold,
and with tho gliding untarnished
upon its leaves.
| remember to have heard my
mother relate a touching little Incl
dent connected with one OF Lucy's
brief visits to US. The poor creature
once laid her hands on tho curly head
OF ore Of my hrntIers, and asked
him his name. "Wiliiam Elwin,"
he replied with q timid upward
glance. She caught away her hand
and signing heavily, said, 81 knew
an Edwin once, and he made me
broken hearted" This was TIE on.
ly instance in which che was ever
known 10 revert to the sad event
which had desolated her heart.
Some thirty years from the time
Of this history, on a tleak autnmna
evening a rough country wagon
drove into ths village Of c.. 1t
stopped at an alms house; an atten.
uated form was lifted out and car.
ried in. and away rumbled the wag
on. Thus was Lucy Dutton brought,
to her native town to die. She had
been in = ecline for several months,
and her miraculous strength, which
had 90 long Sustained her weary
wanderings, at last forsook her ut
terly. Her sister had died come
timo before, and the widowed hus.
band had soon after removed to the
lar West-so Lucy had no friends,
no home but the aims house. But
they wereyery kind TO her there. :
The matrop, a true woman, whose
soft heart even the hourly contem
plation Of human misery could not
harden, gave herself with unweary
ing devotion to the quiet sufferer
With the eyes Of christian faith, she
watched the shattered barque OF that
life, as borne down the tide while II
neared the great deep Of eternity,
with anxious interest.
One day about a week from the
time OF her arrival, Lucy appeared
10 suffer greatly aud those about her
looked for her release almost impa.
tiently; but at night che was evi
IDENTIFY better, and Tor the first time
slept TRANQUILITY until morning. Tie
Matron who was by her bedside
when she awoke, was startled by
the clear and earnest gaze which
met her own, but she smiled and
bsde the invalid "good TJrning."-
Lucy looked bewi.dered, but the
voice seemed to rsassTrs her, and
she exclaimed: "Oh what a long
night this has BEEN" Then glanc
ing around ipquiriugly. she added,
"Where am l2 and who are youT'--
A wild surprise flashed across the
mind Of the Matron, tho long lost
reason OF the wanderer had returned! |!
Bot the good woman replied calmly
and soothingly. "Why You are
among your friends, aud yon. will
knou ma nraaantlv " UThan NAV ha