Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-05-20
My Portrait Gallery.
BY NELLIE CLIFTON.

ours can only be taken from US by the master-ba
that painted them, The most practical man of bus
iness, who roads these lines will confess to himself
that there are pictures in his gallery before which he
stands with bowed head and beating heart but Of
which his most intimate friend never DIRE AIMED the
existence The world calls him stern and cold per-
haps, and yet there are moments when he gazes with
wistful tenderness upon portrait in that gal
| lery. 1t may be that of the fond mother who pill
lowed his childish head upon her breast the fa
vOrite sister whose early loss taught the first sad les
son of death; or the fair young maiden whose face
| blooms memory's in perpetual beauty;
or sadder STILL the idolized wife and mother, above
whose true heart the graveyard sods lying. that
lork KS down on him with the love-light never dim in
her geu;ie ey,,
| We constantly make accesaionS to the number of
our p1rtrlits; but the old defaced or
crowded out. Dust and cobwebs may hide their lin
eAmeuts for awhile but there times when mem
ory with relentless hand sweeps away the ObScurtes
and they stand forth with wonted elearness
! Most pictures need a strong light to bring out
their peculiar beauties; but these seem to put on
their most vivid coorIng on day like this.-Back-
ground, a dull, leaden gray sky-lowering and sui
len clouds drifting heavily with the wind-fore-
ground leafess trees, moody swinging their gaunr
arms in the % wild March weather." and the rain
falling with ceaseless drip the already sodden
earth. On such day memory leads me through
the gallery when her hand is ever busy upon the
canvass.
Before one portrait I stop with streaming eyes and
a sadly aching heart. The picture is that of be-
lored friend Mrs. Eliza Fassett Sickler, and the
light that g!ores every feature shines through the
open portals Of the New jerusalem where she has
gone to join the celestial band that thrOngs its golden
streets. The human flower upon her maternal breast
has been transpIanted by the Lord of Paradise to
blossom in immortal loyelness the gardens Of the
best
An can it be that there remains to but the
portrait and that the coffin lid has forever shut out
from mortal eyes the dear face Of the original -
Why could not death have chosen as his victim, one
less endeared by every sweet, womanly virtue to the
hearts where her Image is cherished? In very truth
d" he loves shining mark"
Hers was a noble ch,rdcer-s:ern only in julging
herself, she was ever ready 70 throw the white
tie of ch agit others fIiIings. devoted daugh
ter afectouate sister, loving wife, fond mother and
faithful fre nd in every relation of life good and
pure christian woman. Firm in her allegiance to
the h ght, she yielding whore the only sacrifice
required herself Her noble intellect and fine
Conversational powers were embellished by refined
delcacy Of feeling and gentle courtesy o: manner
In November 1866. she went from her fathers
house and from pleasant family circle i'll Forkston,
Wyoming County, happy bride, with one every
way worthy her love and trust She left her por
trait in tho gallery Of each member of that home
band yet the sadness Of that parting vas sweeteued
by the hope of many future meetings She went to
her new home in Monroe, which had lacked only the
sunsh h'ne of her presence. How happy was their
welded life-how she made that home earthly
paradise to the she loved-is it not written in
fadeless characters upon the heart in which her i'm
age is ensErIncd
Iu September 1867 their cup Of happiness was |
hlled to the Urim by tiny hand that opened the !
food gates of parental love. No " Holy Mother and
Child ever painted by the hand of Murillo or
Guido, could be 50 worshPped 10y srt-overs, as
are the portraits OF taat mother and child by the
now bereaveI husbAul N father.
The parent stem witLerel in psrfccting the BIOS
sumption laid lis icy hand upon the sPrings
of life and the silver cord was Io1sed and the gol
den bowl broken Tue hues Of health never re
TUNED to the check where Death had set his sgnet in
a fatal hectic Everything WIS done that devoted
affection could suggest; but all in vain. Oh who
picture that husbands anguish be saw that gentle
being fade from his side day by day She suffered
no pain and January 25th, 1868, without single
complaining word, and seemingly without the shad-
ow of a fear she went down into the valley of the
shadow Of death" and across the River to the Faith
~ huus~. not maize wIb hands but eternal III
tac 1e4ven."
Little Howard the blby-bQy, fingered ab3at two
months longer and then went 10 join his mother,
leaving the sorrowing father doubly desolste. Side
by side they rest in the churchyard Of her native
place. Her departure has cast added gloom over
the household mourning the loss of another beloved
daughter and sister-a lovely young wife and moth
er-w1o left them last June for her heavenly home.
The cold stream that has borne away the desolate
hu stands dearest earthly hopes, never be re-
crossed by his loved yet little longer endur
ance of Lifes weary burdens and be shall go to join
them on the shining heights beyond the River Of
Death
" They await him in that suu-bright cline
Unstaned by sorrow-unhurt by time;
IT'S where the song of the seraph swclIs,
Where the radiant Lord of brightness dUeEs.
There are rivers Of waters gushing there
Mid blossoms Of beauty strangely rare;
And a thousand wings are lowering DER
The dazzling wave and the golden shore.
There their angel forms are arrayed in white,
Beings Of beauty clothed in light;
They dwell in Heavens immortal bowers.
Mid the fadeless hues Of countless flowers
Ear hath not heard nor eye hath seen.
Their swelling sorgs and chargeleSs sheen
For their vests of light and harps of gold
Aud &owns Of glory wax not old
In that sun bright Cline"
Important Musical News.--In consequence
of the tax on manufactures being removed, and 9TH
er expenses somewhat lesscned, L. b. Powell, of
Scranton has reduced the prices of the celebrated
Decker Bros. Pianos ten per cent. Now Is the time
to secure one of these beautiful instruments, every
one of which has their patent plate. rendering the
tone perfect, and pure throughout the whole
compass of the piano. Send to Mr.. Powell for
eircul ar ard price list. n4u"z'
They made her a grave too cold and damp
For q soul so honest and true"
u IoJ bo.r mia ba diTau ssifv of