Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-03-28

her; not 50 with me. / am weary of life, and
1 would to God, could cross the dark river
1 for her.
1t is 4 sad, sad sight TO me, to see that fair
young girl drifting TO the other shore. But
1 do nOtlet that occupy my mind all the time.
I viii do all can to alleviate her sufferings
l think of the poor mrther, God help her to
/ bear this second blow +"
Leslie Grahame bent his head on his hands,
and the tears trickled down through his fin
gers. "Oh Miss Clifford, = see it with a
new light now. / will-try and not be SO sell
/ fish. will think Of the aufferings of others.
Amy Clifford. you are a noble woman Wo'd
to God there we're more like you. Oh Al
ice, my darling, viii strive 10 live SO on
earth that / may one day meet thee in Hea-
ven. You have learned me a lesson, Miss
Clifford. and L thank you for it. But oh !
forgive my weakness, for you. can never know
how heavy this burden l have to bear" And
with more manly look in his face than had
seen thtre for weeks, lie left.
That night the Doctor came. 81 do not be-
lieve she viii live till morning" he said, feel
ing the fast weakning pulse. Slowly passed
the hours, as we kneIt beside that dying bed
Long the good old Minister prayed tor her
soul, beseeching aid to help her shrinking
/ spirit over the dark river. at last the watch
/ pointed to three o'clock. I" Life or death
low" said the old Doctor. holding the slen
der wrist. Four-fve o'clock Still he held
her wrist. Thank God take heart, she
will live See see |" and he pointed to her
cheeks, into which faint color was creeping
| Oh ! what moment of thankfulness
Let us pray r. and the whte-haiied Min
lister that had christ ened Alice when she was
an infant, offered up a prayer that thrilled
through every heart-a prayer that viii
never forget till my dying day
| Then 1 thought of Leslie Grahame went
to the Library and wrote; Take heart !;
she will live. Come and you may see her."
Then dispatched a servant with the note 10
him.
Great joy reigned in that house Oh
can never describe the joy of Mrs. Lee, Les
lie Grahame, and all the friends of Alice.
Very slowly did Alice regain her lost
strength. She would be an invalid and a
cripple, the Doctor said. but Alice did not
complain. He doeth all things well!'' she
said meekly, the white hands clasped, the
| blue eyes upturned. You are an angel"
Leslie said, showing the love and admiration
in his face: She smiled sadly down on him.
= Don't speak that way, Leslie am very
far from being even good.
! Three years passed thus. 1 had settled
down in the village; l had found a home Of
peace lived next to Alice we were very
dear friends now. Alice was nineteen,
three years older. I had been left an orphaA
when a child. and had drifted over the world ;
had seen its selfishness and deceit till [ hated
both it and myself-and then came to Green
vile.
Dear, patient Alice suffering all the time,
| yet so accomplishing. Oh how had learn
ed to love he | had never known Moth
er's or Sisters love. Is it strange that 1
turned to her-that 1 almost worshipped her 2
Every one loved Alice"
Leslie was waiting for Alice to grow bet
ter-waiting very anxiously for the day he
might call her "My Wife" And my heart
trembled when 1 heard him talking in such
hopeful strains of the home he was to build
for his bride And l could see sad lool,
steal over her face when he talked thus.
One day we were in my little parlor. Al
ice lying on the sofa, L sitting on an ottoman
by her side. i want to tell you something,
Amy, darling" she said at length. " Do you
knog l viii not live long ?-that my very
life is drifting away day by day l can feel
myself farther and farther away from you ev-
cry day. Three years. and L am not any
better, but growing weaker day after day."
"Alice, o Alice do not talk that way" I
said in voice so sharp and ringing with
pain. that she looked at me ia surprise. A" No,
no. I win not believe it your eyes are bright
and beautiful as ever. Your checks are pale,
but you have exerted yourself so much late
ly. Do not fill your mind with such morbid
fancies. OH Alice and 1 bowed my head
while bitter tears filed my eyes. 1 had once
comforted Leslie Grahame, but / could not
comfort myself. l had never found any one
to love before; why must she be taken away
"Amy, Amy, my dear friend, and do you
love me so much ?" The little hand was laid
on my head, and the sweet voice was very
sad. " 1t is very hard to leave you all. You
can never know how hard. But, F" He doetll
all things we'll Do you remember, Amy o.
Yes, remembered. had told Leslie Gra-
hame those very words. How they rung in
my ear
One beautiful. dreamy afternoon. in the We
ry month i had first seen Alice Lee, we were
all summoned around her dying bed. Oh
how inexpressibly sad that scene looks to me.
as recall those years of long ago There
was no hope now, she was surely dying.
could almost see the pearly gates open to re-
ceive her.
White as a snow-drift was that loved iace
and oh so wasted. al must bid you all
goodbye befole my voice fails me" she said,
smiling sadly. Passionately her Mother fol-
ded her in her arms "Oh Alice. Alice, my
darling child ! stay with me, or wait and !
viii go--with you. My child, Oh my child,
moaned the heart-broken Mother Mother
do not mourn for me. Father and I viii
watch for you there. Cheer up my Mother
not gone forever. only gone before" +" No
no. Alice Alice I" and she looked vacantly