The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-25

The partner of her life, The history
OF that mistaken love, and he, in turn,
With tenderness had babe her dry her tears
And think Of it no more.
HIS bidding was
| ber law bis wish her own, and thus IL was
That faded fast tbeDceforth from out her soul
| The vision OF that starlit night in June ..
And of that fearful twilight Christmas Eve,
The Alpha and Omega of love.
In course Of time. about her children PLAYED;
And often looking in their faces fair,
with 81 mothers tenderness. she'd pray
Their future lives had not in store for them
A trial such as that which she had passed.
cANTo III-THE MERRY CHRISTMAS.
And Gerald, too, in that far distant cline,
subduing. not forgetting bis regret,
| had found fond companion OF his life,
And bsppy in q wife's and children's love
IVES pioddlng on, a sober earnest man.
\ through all these years, not once had he beheld
Ihe Gear old home where childhood's scenes were
laid,
And oft longing heartfelt. aye intense.
| Stole DER him to revisit that loved spot
And bringing with him to his parents side
| The rosy featured idols Of his heart,
| nay-"See the treasures God has given me-
And with the thought, there came another. Twas
| Ihe wish that she who once had cast him of
| Perchance In misery aud gloom to die,
Might know his triumph.
And within his heart
| Ibis constant fixed assurance ever dwelt,
| That surely as the sun did shine in Heaven,
| Their fearful parting on that Christmas Eve
| was not their last. That they would meet again
| And make their peace, be was as certain as
be was that she bad once possessed his love.
| Twas naught. They yet sometime should meet
| again.
| Andtbus it was that on an April day,
And 1.-THE Aour OF sun ct, Gerald stood
| With fOlde6arms and thoughtful brow. erect
Upon vessel entering the bay.
whose waters laFed the spot where he was born.
| WIN beating heart, he saw once more the home
wherein his childhood passed, the trees, the
spires,
| And sll the thousand objects, long forgot,
| Yet now familiar to his memory
| tear nnbddeD trckled down his cheek,
As of his heart he asked inquiringlp
Why he had ever left a scene so dear
Then all at once be spied snowy sail.
Ano then aDOther-aDd another still
20 Hitting by athwart the vessels PROV.
A little tiny feet of pleasure boats
Each laden with its freight of Joyous souls.
While ever and snon across the tide,
CLASSY and placid meath the setting sun
Was heard the grateful harmony OF soag
Or childish laughter borne uDon the cir.
But cen as Gerald gazed, a piercing, scream
wall ofsgony unspesksble
came mingled with the mirth and melody.
Great GOD, have mercy" twas mothers prayer,
sbe sees her darling fsr-hared, first 5orn child
WIN arms ontstreiched for succor, disappear
Beneath the wave all this, too Gerald saw
God give me strength. he murmured inwardIv
by this redeemipg action to eff zee
The Evil of the Past" Then, quick a. thought
SpraDg bravely DER the taffrail; meath the wave
An instant disappeared. then rising pressed
Wuh sturdy strokes toward, the very spot
Where last the golden riDglets of the child
Had vanished.
Look again the little hands
Arise to pray for rescue, and again
Go down. All, God-'tis vain too late, too late!
Now, Gerald, give fresh impulse 10 thine arm,
second now were worth a score of years.
There-there-he's reached the spot, and dis
appears
Again, but quickly rises-God be praised
The child i saved. Its dripping ringlets fall
Upon his shoulder. and its psllid face
Upturned toward the setting sun, doth vet
Give hope of life within. moment more
And weary, Yet triumphant, Gerald stood
Upon the sailbOat's narrow deck, his arms
Outstretcbed TO give the mother back her own.
He lifted Up his eyes and in the glance,
Encountered hers-thOse same, sad, thoughtful
eyes
Which on that De'er forgotten Christmas Eve
Long years before On seemed but yesterdayl
Had bio him De more kind when next thew met.
She die not fear the glance. She only knew
Ihst be, as one who cOmeth from the dead,
Had come TO save her we'll beloved one.
:. Oh, bless you bless you, Gerald, God will give
HIS recompense for this good deed OF yours ~
She said, and clasped the now reviving child
To her fond, mothers heart.
Her words to him
Were full repayment for the weary davs
OF anguish AID regret. He kissed the child,
ibis heart was then O'erful for utteTance)
And bowed his head in grateful reveries.
Another scene and all the tale is told.
score Of years have come and lived and gone.
lis Christmas Eve again, and merry
The vesper chimes come tiDkling on the air
From out the belfry, joyous messengers
VI peace and Gods good will to all on earth.
They found an echo IA two happy hearts,
A manly bridegroom and maiden fair,
Who, sneeliug at the ehsncel steps before
The altar, beard the holy maa of God
Pronounce the benedicton on their love-:
" Whom God hath Joined together let no man
Dare put asunder,n and the solemn words
Re-echOtG from the dark ming walls and aisles
Acquiring thence new sOlemnity.
Within the shadow of the lectnrn knelt
Gerald. His locks were family tiuged with gray
And DER his face the furrow-msrks of Time
Had crept. tho steslthily. There, by his side,
A mstrOn. fair as the Madonna. knet.
Her eyes uplifted, ana her countenance
AL radiant with rays of heavenly light
Before them kneeed the idols Of their hearts:
His rosy featured boy TO manhood grown;
Her fair haired daughter grown TO womanhOod,
And on their brows the light Of happy love.
OF pure devotion shOne. Yet not mOre,pure
Than that which hsllowed then the hearts of those
Their parents, who upon the Christmas Eve
Long years before, hsd parted, and in tears
g All, GeTald.n whispered she with tenderness
" This moment brings Tequtsl for the past
That oneness God long since denied to as
He gives 10 ours, and thus once more mites
Our hearts" Then Gerald fixed his gaze
Upon that face il still was dear to him
And muTmured "Pe8ce az last : a perfect peace |
Our God IN Heaven d0sth all things well.-
UIoody Rencounser Ia Tenaessee
TRAGIC RESULT OF PUNISHMENT OF A DrsoBEDrESr /