White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1871-08-31
ALICE AND pAwBE tARy.

The following extracts are taken from a per-
sonal sketch furnished to the Independent by Mary
Clemmer Ames:
During the last year of her life, through physi-
cal suffering, Alice came to be dependent upon her
younger sisters nursing and care. Through all
their lives before Phoebe had materially, ntellec-
tually and spiritually depended upon Alice.
Though Phoebe had the more robust health, it
was Alice who had the more resolnte spirit. Over
all the long and tOisOme road from poverty to
competence, it was Phoebe who leaned on Alice.
1t was Alice who bore the burden and heat of the
day, and who smoothed the paths for her sisters
feet. know the contrary is thought by many;
but it is not true Alice looked so yielding, and
was tender and loving, it was difficult to rea-
lie that with this sympathetic soul was welded
a will which no obstacle could datnt, and an in
dustry which never faltered till it grew still in
death. Through her courage and toll the younger
sister lived for many years. Not that she was
idle and did nothing, but she paused, and doubted
and waited by the way. Tears dimmed the lovely
eyes of the elder how often; pain and WEAKNESS
would have staid her steps, but her high heart
said, Nay Necessity said, you must not! She
went: she led her sister till they came to a
height where both stood side by side. Then, the
painful journey done, in the evening shadow 1t
was Alice that leaned ON Phoebe, and leaning thus
she died.
Alice was tall and graceful, with a suggestion
Of majesty in her simple mien. Her dark eyes
were of a wonderful softness and beauty, with
fathOmless depth of tenderness in their express
sion, which men and even women love. Yet there
were not wanting lines of firmness and energy
about the feminine mouth, and there was an i'm
preston of silent power pervading her very gen
tleRess. Phoebe had all the soft contours, the
complexion, hair and eyes of Spanish woman.
And with all her sparkle and repartee she had be-
sides a Spaniard's languOr. The mental con-
trasts of the sisters were as marked as the physi-
CAL Alike in tastes and aspirations, they were I'M
like in temperament, in their habit of thought and
of action. Each, in her way, out of her own life,
sacrificed much to the Other-hOw much God and
their own souls knew. Out of this mutual
rifce was weeded bond stronger and closer than
many sisters know; through their lifelong assO-
catiOn their sympathy, their very sisterhOOd, it
drew them nearer and nearer together to the end.
1t produced at last an Identification of existence
such where the natures of husband and
wife have become perfectly assimilated because
their life and fate are one. Phoebe said to me
last winter: Il feel as if a chord reached from
Alice's heart to mine. Nothing hurts her that
does not hurt me. feel all life through her.
Having passed within the VEIL what wonder that
even SO soon she has drawn her sisteri With Al
ice on the other side there really no life left
for Phoebe here. Rendering her apparently 10
bust strength this seems sad and almost unnatural.
Yet il is not so. With Alice her inspiration and
motive in existence passed TO another sphere. BY
the very law of her life she has followed after
them, and has gone up higher. Thinking of these
sisters as i have known and loved them long,
nothing seems more natural than that so swiftly
Phoebe should have followed after Alice. never
could have felt that had lost Alice quite while
Phoebe lived. Now she is lost irrevocably to me
for all my mortal days."