The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-10-11
Vol XVI Ashland Ohio Wednesday Morning. October

heart she worked among the purple
: laden vines, and saved her earnings to
buy bright ribbons for her long black
braids when Angelo should come
home. The bay looked bluer, and the
water rippled cooler at her feet as she
/ fingered to catch the echo to her song,
which she loved to tell herself was
Angeles voice replying. The days
rolled on, and the ship sailed proudly
in the bay, but alas she brought no
Angelo; and With sigh and tear
Carlotta laid her ribbons by, and be-
gan the weary task OF PATIENCE
Waiting, waiting-ever, ever waiting !
To have the sun go down upon a
breast whose tortured heart can seem
to bear no more, but learns, when
gray dawn drives away the blessed
hours of sleep, it still must battle on
and bleedl Ah me ah me! How
deeply dyed with sweat and tears are
even the brightest threads we draw
from out the tangled skein of life
Time passed by, and still Carlotta
waited. The golden autumn faded,
and the mighty breath of coming win
ter waited her voice back from the
water like an elfin dirge; and still An
gelo came not. Winter bowed his
hoary head and died, and when the
spring flowers were born Carlotta's
only parents slept beneath them.-
Then sad but brave, she took her lit
tie fortune in her hand and went over
the water to seek her lover. She ar
rived in the city that he had gone to
first, and began her search! She
/ found her old employer, but he knew
nothing about him. The wheel had
again turned him a golden number AMI
to his credit, he offered to give Carlot-
tn all the money that was due Angelo,
but she refused it.
"No," said she, "keep it. If he
lives / shall find him, and we will
C ,me back for it together. II he is
no more-Holy Mother! That gold
is the price of his life; 1 cannot touch
It." And she went away.
Poor Carlotta! her heart almost failed
her now. Alone i'll a strange land
and strange words sounding in her
ears. But she must not falter, and
with hands meekly folded ON Ter
breast, she knelt before her crucifiS
aud praycd for strength and courage.
For many weary days she walked the
streets Of the city, looking anXiously
among the throng for the beloved
face, and many a careless passer paus-
ed to look back at the sweet pale
countenancc and sad wistfUl eyes that
had gazed so earnestly into his
Weary grew the poor girls feet, and
her strength wasted away, but still she
kept up her pilgrimage. If he were
in the city she must some day meet
him, and she dragged her aching feet
along till one evening she crawled to
her room, worn aud faint, and when
the last note of the hymn died away
sank swooning to the floor. They
went to her, laid her upon her bed,
and sent for physician. But Carlot-
ta's purse was soon empty, and then
what remained for the pcnniless
stranger but the hospital? There she
would have been sent, had not the
doctors heart been touched by her
youth and helplessness. He told her
case to an institution of her church,
and they sent their Sisters of Mercy
to take her away and nurse her care
fully until health returned. She told
her benefactors her story, and they
mingled their tears with hers, as they
babe her stay with them and trust all
her care with God. Carlotti's worn
and weary heart was soothed by the
holy love and peace that reigned
around her. She blessed them for
their kindness, and when her strength
returned, joined them in their works
Of mercy.
Six months passed with the sisters.
Hope of ever seeing Angelo began to
fade, and she resolved that. should
another year pass and bring no news
of him, she would take the VOWS of
the order, and devote her life to Hea
ven.
Another six months rolled by, and
then the superior received letter
from a sister, asking nurses for the
army hospitals. A band of noble wo
men at once responded to the call, and
Carlotta begged to be one of the num-
ber. Her request granted, and she
was soon ministering to those noble
suffering men, soothing with her gen.
tie touch and voice many dark hours
of anguish. She still kept her spirit
tryst, and she was called throughout
the hospital, the "Sad-eyed Nightin-
gale" while the sick n,er blessel her
as an angel from heaven. '
At length there was a fearful bat
tie. Carlotta's heart grew cold rs she
saw the man sled bloody forms borne
in and laid upon the little cots, and
heard the groans of agony; but she
sternly forced the trembling back, and
gave every thought and care to the
sufferers. Many a war-marked hero
will now softly breathe blessing on
the dark eyed sister who held the cool
ing cup 20 his lips in that hour OF
agony.
The sun went down upon tue fearful
field. The battle was over. and the !,
long hall full of bloody ghashly FORMS. |
Far away, at tie lower end OF the !
hall; lay man whose ietty hair and !
swarthy complexion proclaimed his |
southern birth. A ball had struck /
his shoulder, and the arm lay shatter
ed by his side. His eyes were closed, !
and but for the occasional groan that |
broke from his pale lips, one would ,
have thought that death had ended his
suferings
A surgeon approached and looked
at him.
"Bad wound said he, to his at
tendant. "Lost a great deal of blood;
scarcely strength for an amputation."
HE put his fingers ON his pulse,