The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-05-22

amd there,
Troop me home 10 churchyards.
SHAKESPEARE.
Mrs. N, was an invalid when |
hrst knew her. She came TO us in the
spnng OF Is. from her far Southern
home, in quest Of that bes, ol blessings,
hralth. She had been a woman Of rel
matkable personal attractions, and her
form and face, though wasted and faded
hy sicknsss anh age, still bore traces OF a
peculiar and Striking beauty. iIer form
was t"'I, graceful and majestic still, and
her lace was fine enough for n Grecian
model. Her hair originally black as
midn'ght-was now siverv with age.
but abundant, glossy and curling. Her
complexion, though quite pale, WAS
smooth /" polished marble; and her ewes
her most remarGahle fea,ure-fiue,
full and dark. defed alike the ravares of
time and disease. She was then seventy
years old, and suffering from a painful
and deadly msl@lv, vet her mind was
unimpair-d, and, during her intervals Of
comparative ease, her conversation was
animated. interesting and Intelligent
Mrs N was MT Christian. and
often spoke os the Bih'e anli,s believers
in vein pf bitter sarcasm. know no,
what were her religious opinions. She
scemeG to h"lieva in the existence Of an
over ruling Deity all prrvhding spirit
Of tie universe and often spoke Of her
G"d AZ n being superior to the God Of
tn" Bible, in Mercy and goodness
Fer some months after she came 10 us
she was able 10 walk and ride \ little eve
~ dav. but as the summer advanced she
~sxel fe-lrler. and when an'umn hegar
to "sprinkl" p"ni'"n,ial dd>rs and ashes
on the chss'nrr's head" she WAS unable
TO leave her chamhcr
One p'easau, September morning, as 7
sat hy her hed>ide, she attempted 10 ari<e
unassis,ed. bu, finding lsr,clf too weak.
she sank back upon her pillow exclaim
ing:
shsl die soon. am weaker than I
have ever been. 1 know that nv time
on earth is short. and 2 few more davs OF
pain will bring me to the end"
"Bn, Won viii live again." 7 answered.
"and the grave is but the portal to nm
Other and better world"
"Whc, NV friend."she exclaimed, hath
been TO yonr better world. ard hath ever
'r'-"" from The grave To tel us 'ha, we
shall liv. agsin! Your Lazarus. though
four DAYS in his chsrnsf cave, tells us no
thing Of the mysteries Of another life
As | said, I shall die ere many DAYS will
pas; and if,here he another state Of ex
is,ence. | so'emnlv promise you that. II j,
be possible, | will return aud reveal i, TO
you"
lew days after this conversation took
place between us, she died. saw her
form array we'd IT, the grave cloths. her face
bound in napkin, and her hands and
fee, (which think verv barbarous and
ravo',inr cus,cm} firmly bound toge,he..
I'aw her lle'ssd1 Md stark in her coffln.'
] saw the coffin lowered into its last rest
ing place. aud the clods Of the VALLEY
lbrown over it
The night after her funeral. and the
third after her death, was suffering from
very severe spell OF headache. I drank
a cup OF tea and went early TO bed. |
lsf, n candle wick aiekering in The socke'
where had laid myself down. and no
ticed that tie full moon hung low over
the horizon, and cast its pale beams ,hro'
the thick br~oches Of an oak that grew
jus, outside my window.
Being fscked by pain anA unable 10
rest, ! Arose abou..twelve o'clock and
ssnt OF, into tie moonlight. hoping that
lhscool nigh, air would bring ms some
Teliet. Close to our dwelling lies a dense,
dark pine forsst--s favorite place cfsrs
aort with me-and thiIh.r cow bent my
steps. The wiud sighed dsma'ly in the
pine. WHOSE TALL trunks and rugged limbs
racked and cIesked as il they were srug.
Cling with some mighty invisible giant {;
while, whst struck me a. exceedingly
strange. not breath was stirring tie at
mosphere in which ! moved.
How Tong I walked in this for"s, do
no, know, but. as 7 listened to the moan.
iug Of The wind. and paused to watch The
writhine Of the old pines, there suddenly
arose before my .tartlaa ewes a spectre,
At the recollection Of which my soul is
t ~ 4 a