Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-04-05

still maintained her strange silence
This continued for many weeks, when
it partially passed away, and her
friends saw with inexpressible grief
that her reason had fed-that she was
hopelessly insane! But her madness
was of mild nature. She was gentle
and peaceable as ever, but frequently
sighed and seemed burdened with
some great sorrow which she could not
herself comprehend. She had one Pc
culiarity, which all who knew her must
recollect; this was a wild fear and
careful avoidance of men. She seem
ed possessed of the spirit of unrest
She could not, she would not be con-
fined, but was continually escaping from
her friends, they knew not whittier.
While her parents lived, they, by
their watchful care and unweary ef-
forts, in some measure controlled this
sad propensity but when they died
their stricken child became wander
er, homeless, friendless and forlorn.
Through the laughing springs and
rosy summers, tramp, tramp, tramp
no rest for her Of the crushed heart
and crazed brain.
l remember her, as she was in my
early childhood, toward the last of her
weary pilgrimage. AS my father and
elder brothers were frequently absent,
and as mother never closed her heart
or door on the unfortunate, "Crazy Lu-
cy" often spent an hour or two by our
tireside. Her appearance was very
singular. Her gown was always patch
ed with many colors, aud her shawl or
mantel was worn or torn until il was
open work and fringe. The remand
er Of her miserable wardrobe she car
ried in bundle OH her arm, and some
times she had a number Of parcels Of
old rags, dried herbs, &c.
In the season of flowers, her tattered
bonnet was profusely decorated with
these which she gathered in the wood
or by the wayside. Her love for these
and her sweet voice were all that
were left her of the bloom and music
of existence Yet, no; her meek and
childlike piety still fingered. Her God
had not forsakcn her; down in the deep
chaos Of her spirit, the smile of His
Elovc yet cleaned faintly--in the waste
garden Of her heart she still heard His
voice at eveptide, and she was not
afraid. Her bible went with Ler
everywhere-a torn and soiled volume,
but as holy still; and it may be, as
dearly cherished, my dear reader, as
the gorgeous copy now lying or your
table, b0and in "purple and gold,"
and with the gliding unsarnished upon
its delicate leaves.
Thirty years from the time of the
commencement of this mournful his
tory, on bleak autumnal evening,
rough country wagon drove into the
town of G.. 1t stopped at the aims
house; an attcnuated form was lifted
Ap and carried in, and the wagon rum
bled away. Thus was Lucy Dutton
brought to her native town to die
She had been in decline for some
months, and the miraculous strength
which had SO long sustained her in her
weary wanderings, at last forsook her
utterly. Her sister had died some time
before, aud the widowed husband had
soon after removed with his family to
the far West; SO Lucy had no friends,
no home but the aims house.
One day about week from the time
Of her arrival, Lucy appeared to suf
fer greatly, and those about her look
ed for her release almost impatiently !;
but at @ight she was evidently better,
and for the first time she slepttranquil-
ly till morning. The matron who was
BY her bedside waen sac awoke, was
startled by the clear and earnest gaze
which met her own, but she smiled
and bid she invalid Good Morning"
Lucy looked bewildered, tut the voice
seemed to re-assure her, and exelairn-
ed:
"Where am /, and who are you p
| do not know YOU"
a wild surmise flashed across the
mind Of the matron; the long lost rea-
son of the wanderer had returned.--
But tho good woman replied calmly
and soothingly:
"Why you are among your friends
ana YOU will know me presently
"Thcn may be you know Edwin and
sEuen, ,rejoined the invalid ;"have they
come? Oh, / had such a terrible dream.
I dreamed Ahatthey were married =
| Only think, Ellen aaarried to Edwin!
Strange tits that / should dream that. !"
"My poor Lucy" said the matron,
with a gush of tears, "that was not a
dream twas ali true..'
"AH true!" cried the invalid ssthen
Edwin mus BE untrue, and that can
not be, for he loves me; we loved each
other we'll, and Ellen is my sister
Let nae see them l will 60 to them"
She endeavored to raise herself, but
| fell back fainting on her pillow.