The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1863-12-22
MIST$.
BY JENNIE oAULFIELB.

BY JENNIE CAULFIELD.
( Continued.
I endured this sorrow silently. I gave
assiduous attentions to my studies, and 1
sometimes was quite reconciled and proud
But there we're moments, the swift little
bright-winged moments, of memory that
rush in upon US, taking US all unawares,
and painting wildly their pictures, that,
however they may belong to the past now,
We love them because that they once be-
fonged to us; jt may be lifetime of sacri-
fees that were made for US; and perhaps
a mere word, titly spoken, loving smile,
wordless act, It matters not Do yoR
know that exquisite little poem, a Even
Me- was an unwritten mugieiB the hearts
of numbers before its gifted author wOrded
it 50 happily, and the quictening truth of
genius made it sweetly flowing melody?
Well, strive as I would, some remembrance
of Kindness be had performed would come
back from the dead past and touch me,
and was always contrasting other friend
ships, and sensible of a lack in the ox-
4 pressed good will of others.
When Clara received letters with for
eign post,mark, my heart throbbed so, and
my eyes ached to rest for moment upon
the words hers devoured. But we were
mutually silent respecting their contents.
4 L was true to-the very letter Of my prom
( ise to nay mother. This was hard at first,
but, in time, it became quite easy; custom
can soften down the hardest difficulty.
New faces, new.friends, different surround
ings and various necessary occupations,
effected forgetfuIuess.
Commencement broke in uPbn US. We
were rather frightened that It had surely
come-yes, that it had come; for we did
not seem to have advanced toward It, step
/ by step. Then I had been elected to read
the valedictOry, and if you think am
proud aud foolish about it, you are right.
I am. It was the most unloOked-fo mark
of esteem ever shown to me, and I was so
exultant that she and I wrote, night after
/ night, in succession, regardless of fatigue,
and wasted quantity Of the "gilt-edgpd"
]
to sinful degree. I was SO preoOeu2ied
that my toilet was left out Of mind entirely,
but my mother AMI Mrs. Wilson came to
the rescue. Mrs. ". herself presented me
with handsome white satin for the
occasion, otherwise my mothers, and my
own choice would have been simple white
muslin, which, to say the least, was more
suitable to my station. But Mrs. Wilson
was not to be opposed, and, as my mother
was quite inGispOsed on the evening of tbs
exhibition, she insisted upon superintend-
ing my toilet herself. And [ confgss,
when l beheld my TRANSPORTATION, in an
opposite mirror, mine was as vain and sat
ished heart as was ever doomed to sud-
den disappointment. My mother became
alarmingly worse. The carriage in at
tendance was dismissed. Ny handsome
dress and new jewelry (even my gradu-
ating ring) and the flowers in my hair
we're thrown away for an apparel more be-
coming to the night watch in the sick
room. had no time for thought. was
quite beside myself, giving orders and
countcrmanding them, and confusing the
alarmed household, until the physician,
who had been summoned, came. It was
hard, hard to witness the suffering of my
mother, and fear that it was not within the
reach Of human hands to save her I can
not picture to you the intensity of my an
guish and the utter hopelessness Uf my de-
spair; it was beyond the expression Of our
poor words I was dumb with. misery.
Mrs. Wilson afterward said she was so glad
that had been so self possessed, and Ma
rion said 1 had shown myself to be exactly
what she bad predicted Of me-a selfish,
hard-hearted creature.
An hour from the time Of her attack,
analeyiatmg opiate had been administered,