East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-04-08
GONE-A SKETCH FROM LIFE.

of the window; she was gone, our friend
Fanny. How pretty she looked thnt
summer morning In her straw bonnet
and white ribbons, her muslin dress and
silk scarf But one never took notice Of
what she had on; it was her face that at
tracted you, sweet and gentle and woman
like; and when she spske you listened in
spite Of yourself, the tones were SO low
and musical. &c.,.
She was the Oldest sister Ia the family,
aud well did she discharge the duties
that devolved upon her; no wonder that,
as they saw golden circlet on Fanpy's
finger that morning as she went of to
the excursion, the brothers and sisters
heaved a sigh amid their youthful frol-
les, as they thought, 'our Fanny will
soon be ours no longer" te4
And the mother, with what matronly
pride did she gaze upon that young
couple who were soon to leave the ma
ternal roof for new aud untried home
Of their own. Sammer and its excur-
sions, its flowers, and its fruits, had passed
away, and the season for lectures aud
concerts, gas lights and sleigh-bells, had
arrived, when oae evening happy group
assembled in Mrs. -----'s parlor II was
the wedding Of our Fanny. Many were
the warm congratulations received by the
young couple, and many were the bright
suguliss and hopes for the future By the
friends who surrounded them.
Next morning they went off on wed.
ding trip, and again she was gone, my
friend Fanny. We saw little of her after
this; she was away in home of her own,
but doing her duty, as she always did, by
making that home happy. One Of the
first steps Of the young housekeepers was
to connect themselves with Christian
Church, this Is often quietus to con-
science in the mind of well-disposed per-
sons, and as long as prosperity is theirs
and warm friends are round them, as was
the case with those of our story, all may
go cheerful rs q marriage bell; but
change must come: in the order of Prov.
idence it is wisely ordained that into
each life some rain must fall, into each
household some dire trial or calamity
must enter to remind them that they are
but denizens of earth. fe
Little ones, like olive plants, had gath.
cred round Fanny's table, beautiful in-
fant boy nestled on her bosom, and long
happy life seemed her promised lot
Alas, that the picture must change, that
the happiness OF earth is 80 transientl-
One evening the husband came home to
find low aud stricken the wife whom, in
the morning, he had left strong and
healthy. 81 am going to die" she said,
IL feel it; and o husband, l have not
been living for eternity" Her bodily
sufferings seemed forgotten, and those
who had always supposed her Christian
were surprised that she should be uneasy
about her SOUL
A Christian mothers prayers, together
with her own agonized pleadings, pre-
vailed before God, and at last an evidence
of pardon was hers; she who had always
been so good, SO exemplary, so fit for
heaven, as the people of the world said.
But q few days were hers to enjoy her
new spiritual life; not week from its be.
ginning to its close was that short fatal
illness that took her from u.s. and yet it
was May, beautiful May, with its singing
birds, and spring flowers, aud soft green
L
Inscrutable are the ways of our heaven.
ly Father: mother is taken away when
her little ones need her most, and q
father is stricken down, and his family
are left perishing for food; it is all mys-
terry, and there is no fathoming il, only
let it be ours not to murmur in the face
of the All.wise, but trmst him where We
cannot trace him.
The older children had left the room,
the chubby face of the baby rested in its
sleep by the cheek Of the dying mother.
"Open the window, dearest" she said to
her husband; "it is the last time shall
see the sunshine;" and as the shutters
flung back, aud the rays Of the setting
sun stresmed into the apartment, she
turned uneasily, shade of sadness cross.
ed her face, and she exclaimed; 20 the
world is beautiful don't it seem hard,
mother, that must die so young? My
baby" she said, laying her hand on his
head, 40 God, keep him; my husband,
my children. must leave you alp" The
struggle was hard but short one; Of.
fectual fervent prayer prevailed on her
behalf, and God gave her the victory. A
heavenly smile lit up her countenance,
she was enabled to give up everything
earthly. Calmly she entered the dark
valley, and softly and swcetly as she had
lived so she passed away, while those who
stood around felt that M
[" Jesus make dying bed
| Feel soft downy pillows are,
| While on his breast she lcant her head,
And breathed her soul out swsetly therc.'
Now she is indeed gone, and the heart
aches to think what blank her homo is
without her. But her. memory is pre-.
cious, from the fact that her influence
was for good on those around her. And
If one so true and lovely in life felt her.
self unfit for tho paradise Of God, is it
not one moro proof that only holiness Of
heart is fit passport to heaven? TX
i t.r M. j. STEPHENSON.
A poor son Of the Emerald Isle sp.
piled for employment TO an avsrioious
hunks, who told him that he employed no