Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-12-09
The Dying Girl.

once more before | die AS she re-
quesled, | placed my hand under her
head, and raised it from the pillow. How
beautiful was her pale face. lying there
so helplessly. with large bright eyes turn
ed up to the sunlike a worshipper, the
black hair sweeping over her arm 10 the
pillow, and the golden light lying upon
her thin features, im6uing them as il
were with glory and vitality, ill the
whole form seemed consumed in bright
essence, burning intensely within. radia-
ting without. Her eyes grew brighter as
she gszed, and she seemed refreshed with
the soft wind stirring abou. her. "How
brightly and quietly" she wispered,
"does he go TO his rest, melting away
tint by tint, from the sight" Turning
her head YEARLY away. she sank TO the
pillow, murmuring, 80. tha. my depar-
lure may be like ,hai-may sink TO my
death calmly and paiulessly, by leaving
behind me the bright reflections of a brief
existence"
For few moments she languidly clos
ed her eyes and remained mo,onless:
then opening them again, she gaZed in my
lace and said
death, dea,h-if this is it, it is neilh-
er sad or painful! is only going home
to parents. sisters. friends, in glorious
world, region Of spirits, bright, high.
beautiful, how" here her voice again
died away in soft murmuring sound.
She gathered strength moment and con-
,inued
my brother. he is in a strange land,
how will he grieve when he hears that |
am dead-lsll him lha, prayed for him,
,ha, shall meet him in the eternal world
of glory, where we shall live for ever and
ever-when I'm gone, give him one OF
lhese-and she attempted TO raise her
slender hand TO the hair lying in mass
upon the pillow. But the almost trans
parent fingers wandered for moment in
the air and then fell ieebly over the bed
side. Her lips moved again. "ll is all
fading, floating" she said, "how glori-
ously the angels ihrong above me. smi-
ling, beckonine with wings so beautiful
nearer they hover, settling on my pillow
softly, softly, they" heavenly
smile broke upon her face, her voice grew
fainter. then stopped like tone Of smolh-
cred music. The features settled, shiv-
er ran over her frame, and all was over.
Her spirit had gone 10 congrega,e with
angels in happiness. ] laid my hand on
tina, forehead-it was growing fearfully
cold. My hear, cramped; the strength OF
my manhood gave way: sunk 10 my
knees and wep, bitterly.
Again stood beside her, when her
friends had done their Office of love
Outslre tched in her Shroud Of pure white
she lay, her stiffened hands confined over
ber bosom with knot Of white ribbon,
and the dark lashes lying. so like sleep,
on her marble cheeks. That smile was
there. like starlight on heavy crusted
snow-it was buried with her.
As she requested, took long curl
from her head-,ha, head on which had
so often tossed flowers in childish play.
stood gazing on the corpse until a
strange mysterious feeling Of another
world crept over mel felt as if dark
spiri. was overshadowing me. Awe.
struck, held up The ringlet and gazed
upon il. No touch of dealh was there.
Bright and beautiful as ever. i, slreamed
from my hand. | looked till it seemed TO
grow alive in my grasp. Again turned
10 the dead, and The wandering OF my
soul ceased. knelt down and prayed
fervenlly that my dealh.bed might be like
hers.
| enclosed the hair in purse Louisa
had worked during her illness, and gave
it 10 her brother, who afterwards raised
the white slab over her grave with the in.
scrip,ion Of MY Sister"
4 / l. Il r Ii 49,.