Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-09-30
Fr0m Haper,s New Monthly Magazinc.
One of the Noble.

lovelest, Of whom l would dearly love to
speak. There is one on whose picture
my hand falls as it lies before me in its
little gilt frame. / take II up and look
at it, meeting a pair of sweet, sad eyes,
in whose depth slumber love and mercy.
The fair, pale brow, the brown waving
hair, the gentle, tender mouth are all in
keeping with characters l knew once and
loved so well and as it is no fancy sketch
shall tell you, hope to do some good
by the recital of her brief life history.
Marian Vrain was motherless at the
age of twelve years, and at eighteen her
father and only brother both fell at Fort
Donelson. l can never forget the day
she received the news. Through all time
her white face and anguished eyes will
haunt me with the same chilling sensation
| felt when she dropped the letter upon
her lap and looked up at me, giving vent
to low, peculiar cry that sent tie blood
in waves to my heart.
Father, brother, both gone Oh me ?
The last two words we're spoken in a
long, heart breaking moan and then the
little hands clasped tightly, and l saw her
trying to suppress the tromor that shook
her from head to foot.
oh, Marian, darling, don't do that p
| exclaimed, going to her side and kneel-
ing by It to enfold ber. Give way to
your feelings and cryl Let the tears
come freely. They will do you good
Il can't she whispered 'Oh, can't"
The letter lay upon her lap still and /
took it up. 1t was written in fair, del !
icate hand, by the wife ofan officer in the
fort. Father and son were in the same
regiment, and the same shell killed them
both. The lady dwelt upon the toucb-
ingness Of the incident, and expressed her
sympathy in beautiful terms for the be-
reaved daughter. She had learned her
address from her husband, who knew Mr..
Vrain well, and took the sorrowful task
upon herself, Offering her sympathy aud
her prayers.
Tears streamed over my own face, but
I suppressed my sobs to read aloud the
touching passages, lingering over them in
the hope of reaching the sealed,up foun-
tains Of Marian's grief White and tear
less she sat for long time, gentle and
unmurmuring, yet crushed and stunned
by the magnitude Of the fearful blow.
That night I sfaid by her and no
change came. But on the day following
a little package Of the beloved ones ef-
fects were brought her, and over them
she could weep at last. The pent up
food came in torrents till she was cx-
hausted, and then she slept for hours with
the precious mementoes Of the lost ones
clasped to her bosom.
One day more was given to tears and
silent mourning; but after that she rose
up to duty again. Her little feet were p,
seldom at rest, her little hands always at
work. To hundreds she carried comforts
and consolation; and when people won
lered and questioned, she would answer
with gentle earnestness.
Can l be idle when the work is yet
unfinished they died trying to accom-
oHsh? No. l urged them to 60. They
lave fallen aud my work is consequent
y doubled
The white sorrow-strcken face told
is story, and the eyes seemed each day
o grow sadder, but never a murmur was
leard from her lips-nor did her energy
lag for one moment. Labor was the on
y antidote for a grief like hers, and she :
eized upon it eagerly. :,
Before the secession of the Confeder- 8
.te States Marian bad been betrothed to
young man of acknowledged merit; but Ii
afterward he was forced to o
70 to Europe on business which his father
lad left unsettled at his death, and did II
lot return till after the event just related. il
That she loved her promised husband Sc
Ondly l knew well and l knew also is
hat her hope was to see him take up the IL
ause of the Union warmly on his re-
urn. o
1t was one among the first wishes
be uttered after their meeting, and the &.
conversation that followed showed the no
le devotion and sel(-sacrifcirr ,,ar1ra
I .a9 gIri. Sitting by the window l =,
card it all, as they paced the veranda in y
he clear white moonlight. Her face =,
'oked fairer under its silvery beams, 81
nd her black robes falling around her y,
lender form seemed to give it singu- W
lrly sacred appearance in my eyes, W
'nce as she passed, I saw as she looked ar
p towards me that her eyes were full ar