New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-09
and endeavor by that means to remove th'


arrow which is lodged in my heart.
1 glanced at my ring, that fatal engage
ment ring. My first impulse was to destroy
| it; yet, somehow could not, for his fingers
had placed it there. 1t was bitter re-
| hinder of my own lost hopes, although it
seemed tremendous iceberg, bearing
down and crushing this poor weak hand.
1 took no interest in anything at home, now
all my dear ones had left me, SO | soon
made my preparations for foreign land.
| I must go forth girded in the armor of good
| Intentions; trusting to God for the rest.
just as boat pulls away from blazing
| ship did / pull away from all my old asso-
Citations and home, and soon found myself
| in small German town, where l proposed
receiving few pupils for Englizh instruc-
| ton. AS no one ever succeeds unless they
give themselves up entirely to their voca-
ton, was faithful
In one of my daily walks accidentally
| passed by house where crowd had as
| sembled. On inquiring the cause found
| that gentleman and lady had been thrown
| from carriage and the former instantly
| killed. The latter was severely injured.
do not know what impulse directed me, but
I entered the house, when oh merciful
Father, what did behold The man whom
| 1 had so loved lying in the cold embrace OF
| death could only think of my wrongs
could not forgive; could not weep; but
| laughed, aye, like any iend All at once
| the bitter waters of disappointment were
| changed to the wine of Joy, which drops
seemed to charm me. felt he was swept
away. Twas rejoicing over the death, perhaps
everlasting death, of that sinful creature
Was not offending my Heavenly Father
never knew how to pray as | ought, and
what is human life without it 1t is rud-
derless, and soon drifts to wreck and ruin.
did not feel that was being of soul-a
candidate for eternity. Why should l re-
greet his DEATH No, no, the dominant senti-
ment of my soul was relief, for she, his
wife, would also be deprived of his love.
/ returned to my home and the next
| morning retraced my steps to the house
of death. l inquired for his wife, finding
that she could admit me, and went to her
room, where found her terribly injured,
although perfectly conscious, and nearly
wild with grief. She allowed me to speak
with her, but those words came from a
heart like the streets of ruined city, the
marks of the chariot wheels. of grief had
so cut it up, and bitter jealousy still lin
gered. 1t was not until l saw him con-
4
myself to softness; then wept, for felt
that the cold, dark, silent grave should
shelter all from animadversion. l was a
wiser and better woman afterward, for
every spare moment from my pupils
would pass with Inez and her lovely little
child, to whom was only known as Miss
Grey OF course Inez knew nothing of my
heart history. We have sought his throne
together, l praying to be guided through
my difficulty. She became ealmer, and
thanked me for it and said II had converted
her from the darkness of her ways" She
spoke with unreserve of herself and the be-
reavement which smote her so sorely. Oh
had she but known that heart of mine at
the beginning; / am not at loss to know
the treatment my consultations would have
received.
Her trials sanctifed her. She recognized
her grief as the agent Of the "Retiner and
Pacifer of Souls how human life fades as
leaf, and contrasted it with the hope that
is unehanging. Her injuries did not prove
fatal, but she can not ever be anything but
cripple. Having only arrived few days
before her accident, she consequently had
no friends near, so that my society was
more than welcome.
Her means being limited, l shared gladly
with her, and took her to my home to
attend to her; and well does she repay me
for my care and kindness, The little
'Lina" is more than "well spring of
pleasure" | instruct her with much pains.
I have often controlled myself with a
mighty effort, when called upon by little
Lima" for ''little story" for fear l might
relate some incident in my own life.
am now an old woman, but the friend
ship of Inez and the eompanionship of this
dear young creature have helped to unlock
my spirits by the secret magic of sympathy
and love. They do not see the disappointed
spinster who appears before them in the
person of "good kind Aunt Ruth" My
feelings of sorrow, though not extinct, are
very much fainter now then they were, and
can no longer call life disappointment,
though l would gladly do away with all
memory of the past.