Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-04-08

her miserable wardrobe she carried
in a bundle on her arm, and some
times she had number of parcels
of old rags, and dried herbs &c.
In the season of flowers, her tat
tered bonnet was proiusely decora-
ted with those which she gathered
in the woods or by the wayside.
Her love for these and her sweet
voice were all that were left her Of
the bloom, and music Of her exist
ence. Yet, no, her meek and child
like piety still fingered. Her God
had not forsoken her; down in the
dim chaos of her sperit the smile Of
bis love cleaned faintly-in the
waste garden of her heart she still
heard His voice at eventide, and she
was not afraid. Her Bible went
with ber everywhere-a torn and
soiled volume, but as holy still and,
it may be, as dearly cherished, my
dear reader, as the gorgeous copy
now lying on your table, bound in
s.purple and in gold,' and with
gliding untarnished upon its deli
cate leaves. ....--
Thirty years from the time of the
commencement Of this mournful
history, on a black autumnal even
ing, rough country wagon drove
into the town Of c.. 1t stopped
at the almshouse; an attenuated
form was lifted up and carried IL,
and the wagon rumbled away. this
was Lucy Dutton, brought to her
native town to die. r.r
She had been in decline for some
months, and the miraculous strength
which had so long sustained her in
her weary wonderings forsook her
utterly. Her sister had died some
time before; and the widowed hus-
band had soon after removed to the
far West; so Lucy had no friends,
no home but the .almshouse.
One day, about week from the
time of her arrival, Lucy appeared
to suffer greatly, and those about
her looked for her released almost
impatiently; but at night she slept
TRANQUILITY till morning. The mat
ron who was by her bedside when
she awoke, was startled by the clear
and earnest gaze which met her own ;
but she smiled and bade the invalid
"Good morning. to reassure her,
when she exclaimed "Where am l ;
and who are you? I do not know
you. sa ss. a-=.
A wild surmise flashed across the
mind Of the matron; the long lost
reason of the wanderer had returned.
But the good woman replied calmly
and soothingly.
"Why you are among your friends
and you will know me presently"
"Then maby you know Edwin
and Elem rejoined the invalid :;
"have they come? Oh, 1 had such
a terrible dream! I dreamed that
they were married! Only think,
Ellen married to Edwin Strange
that I should dream that"
My poor Lucy, said the matron
with gush Of tears. that was not a
dream twas all true"
"All true!' cried the invalid ::
"then Edwin must be untrue, and
that cannot be, for he loves me; VIC
love each other well, and. Ellen is
my sister. Let me see them. I will
go to them.' -..-.-
She endeavored to raise herself,
but fell back fainting on the pillow.
What does this mean? she said
what makes me so weak !?
Just then her eye fell on her owr
hand-that old and withered hand
She gazed on it in blank amazement
Something is the matter with my
sight, she said, smiling family, fol
my hands look like an old woman's
| And so it is, said the matcon gen
tly, and so are mine; yet we had
fair plump hands when we were
young. Dear Lucy. do you know
me? I am Maria Allen-was to
have been your bridesmaid
I cannot say more-I will no
make the vain attempt to give in de
tail all that mournful revealing-tc
reduce the expressive words th'
dread sublimity of that hopeles:
sorrow.
To the wretched Lucy, the las
/ thirty years were as though they haC
never been. OF not scene, nor al
incident had she the slightest remem
| berance, since the recreant ant
traitorous lover stood befor her ant
made that terrible announcement.
The kind matron paused frequent
ly in the sad narrative of her poo
r friends madness and wonderings
| but the invalid would say with fear
full calmnes-Go on thick up you
r forehead, When she asked for hel
r sister the matron replied: o.
!, She has gone before you
: and your father also.
I. And my mother said Lucy, he
| face lit up with sickly ray ofhope
, Your mother has been dead TWEEN
7 ty years.
Dead! All gone! Alone, old dy
, ing ?-Oh, God. my cup of bitter
: mes is FULL and she only wept aloud
Her friend bent over her, ant
) mingling her tears with hers, sai(
f affectionately: But you know wht
= drank that cup before you? s-
Lucy looked up with bewil
3 dered expression; and the matrol
r added: The Lord Jesus; you re
member him. E2pssft aat 81"
? A look like sunlite breaking
| through a cloud, look which onl.
| saints may wear irradiated the tear
7 full face of the dying woman, as sh'
replied: H a- t-"I
! Oh, yes. I know Him and love(