The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1869-04-15

brain.
L remember her as she was in my early
childhood, toward the last of her weary
pilgrimage. AS my father and elder
brothers were frequently absent, and as
my mother never closed her heart or door
on ''crazy Lucy she often spent an hour
or two by our ireside. Her appearance
was very singular. Her gown was always
patched with many colors and her shawl
OF mantle was worn or torn, until it was
open work or fringe. The remainder of
her miserable wardrobe she carried in a
bundle on her arm, and sometimes she had |
q number Of parcels Of old rags, dried t
herbs, &c.
= A. t'4e season or G~-rers her tattered !
bonnet was profuseiy decorated vi thasa
which she gathered in the woods or by the
wayside. Her love for these and her
sweet voice were all that were left of the
bloom and music Of her existence. Yet,
no; her meek and childlike piety still lin
gered. Her God had not forsaken her
down in the dim chaos of her spirit the
smile of his love yet cleaned faintly-in
the waste garden of her heart she still
| heard His voice at eyentidc, and she was
not afraid Her bible went with her ey-
/ erywhere-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
''purple and gold with gliding untarnish-
ed upon its delicate leaves.
Thirty years from the time of the COM
menoement of this mournful history, on a
bleak autumnal evening, rough country
wagon drove into the town Of c.. 1t
stopped at the aims house an attenuated
form was lifted and carried in, and the
Dutton, brought to her native town to die
She had been in decline for some months,
and the miraculous strength which had so
long sustained her In her weary wanderings
at last forsook her utterly. Her sister had
died some time before and the widowed
husband had soon after moved to the Far
West SO Lucy had no friends-no home
but the aims house.
One day, about week from the time Of
her arrival, Lucy appeared to suffer great
ly, and those about her looked for her re-
lease almost impatiently f; but at night she
was evidently better, and for the first time
she slept TRANQUILITY till morning. The
matron who was by her bedside when she
awoke was startled bv the clear aud earn
est gaze which met her own, but she Smll-
, ed and bid the invalid Good morning"
Lucy looked bewildered, but the voice
seemed to reassure her, and she exclaimed:
'tWhere am and who are you? [ do
not know you? do not know you"
A wild surmise flashed across the mind
? of the matron the long lost reason of the
: wandercr had returned. But the good
! woman replied calmly and soothingly:
r "Why, you are among your friends and
: you will know me presently"
''Then maybe you know Edwin and FL
r len," rejoiued the invalid; "have they
, come Oh, had such terrible dream
/ | dreamed that they were married? Only
r think, Ellen married to Edwin. Strange
tbs that l should dream that"
: ''AIy poor Lucy" said the matron, with
a gush of tears that was not a dream
'tw as all true"
"All true" cried the invalid; then
: Edwin must be untrue, and that cannot be-
for he loves me we love each other well
]; and Ellen is my sister. Let ME see Them
| viii go to them"
t She endeavored to raise herself, but fell
. back fainting on the pillow.
What does this mean 2" said she; what
makes ME SO weak p
Just then her eyes fell on her own hand
f that old aud withered hand She gaz,
: ed On it in blank amazement.
. Something is the matter with my sight, >
she said, smiling family ''tor MY hands
4 look like an Old woman's.
: And so it is said the matron, gently
: ''and 50 is mine; yet we hsd fair, PLUMP
: hands when we were young Dear Lucy,
4 do you know me? | am Maria Alien
was to have been your bridesmaid"
0 [ cannot say more-I will not make the
: vain attempt to give in detail all that
q mournful revealing-to reduce to expires
: sive words the dread sublimity Of that
hopeless sorrow.
. TO the wretched Lucy, the last thirty
years were as though they had never been
r OF no scene, or an incident, had she the
Y slightest remembrance, since the recreant
r and traitorous lover stood before her ano
t made the terrible announcement.
: The kind matron paused frequently II
n the sad narrative of her poor friends mad
i ness and wanderings, but the invalid would
Y say with fearful calmness go on, g
c on" though the drops of agony stood thicl
# upon her forehead. When she asked fo
y her sister, the matron replied:
'She has gone before you, and your ia
e ther also"
e 'And my mother ?" said Lucy, her fac
i lit up with sickly ray of hope
+ sYour mother has been dead twent,
years"
r Dead all gone Alone, old, dying :
$ Oh, God, my cup of bitterness is full, . an'
:; she only wept aloud.
d Her friend bent over her, and mingled
's her tears with hers, said affectionately
But vou know who drank that cup befor
= YOU ~