Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-07-06

TO tend breathed their grateful in
cense, and she sung on, in a kind o
! negative happiness that held posi-
bilities for either grand enjoymen
| or fearful agony.
Tonight, as she sat alone, thou
| sand minor keys were being touch
ed by the spirit she was woOing.-
Visions of what her life had been
/ of what it might be. No wOndel
her soul rebelled at its fetters; We
underneath all ran a sweet melody
of gratitude for blessing.
90, what a JOY to existp she mur
INJURED rapturously; Some time
shall be free, shall mount the gilt
tering stars and track the wind spir
! its to their homes. Oh! how tran
scendentally glorious to be immOr
taI!'
She sprang up in ecstasy Of de
light, as if to rid herself ofthe cling
ing weight of flesh, then sank again
upon her knees, hot tears bursting
| up.
How hard to be aloneP mOaneC
/ the quiYering lips. IF only some
one would think and feel as l do
would pity and guide me-
Very tenderly over her soul broke
the music of q still small voice
whispering: Cast thy burdens OF
the Lord With frame bowed and
tremulous she Wepts=s her sorrows
out before the All-loVing Heart, and
when she arose a sweet trust, q holy
| confidence, enveloped her as a man
tie. All through her dreams wound
the stream of new, strange peace
and her awakening utterance wa:
one of thankfulness and WOndrOu:
bliss. With her, believing was do.
ing, and she carried her faith con-
tinually about her, nothing changed
save a gentler, more patient tone
and added earnestness.
A year, a whole year passed and
again the early blooms were bursting
forth. In the sweet Sabbath even
ing had, MinRie'Wandered forth, as
was her delight, to seek the first
viOlets in the pastures. Close by
the brOok-side she found them
gems of starry beauty, all mirrOred
in the clear pure tide. Her song
ceased, her eager fingers sprang for
ward to gether the blue delights,
and joyous ripple-a song without
wOrds-brOke from her lips.
Long she sat among them, forget
ting herself, everything, in her child
like pleasure. They, like all sweet
finger-prints of the Creator, only
lifted her thoughts from perishable
things to the changeless glories of
that fair country to which she was,
all unCiously, fast fastening. Her
heart, full of deep emotion, welled
over, and her thought found utter
rance as to some listening creature
ooh! if l could only take you with
me. could find you there she ex-
claimed at last. 1T seems so hard
that pure beauty like yours should
be fading, while | so gross, so un-
lovely, may be exalted to immOrtali-
ty, and learn and grow wiser all
through eternity. And l shall find
those there who will understand me-
God grant itp uttered a voice at
her side, so tender, so full of sympa-
thy that it scarcely surprised her in
he reVerie. Looking up she beheld
a face rejecting all the varied feel
ing that was playing upon her own;
and the stranger continued, as he
gathered up a handful of blooms
that had fallen from. her lap,and held
them in his grasp
Il owe you an apology for my ac-
cidcntal intrusion, but l hasten from
that to offer you thanks. a nature
like yours will not regret betrayal
when you know how deeply your
words have cOmfortcd me, soothed
me, as none ever have before. Long
ings and loneliness like yours have
been my lot. In the stir of busy
world have ever been alone, and
my heart has cried retlessly for sym
pathy. Here l have found it-full,
pure. would have retired at the
sound of your voice, but my spirit
stayed to drink the sweetness it for
ever craved. Forgive me, and
again let me thank yOu.'
Her eyes were dimmed by tears
of unutterable feeling. She would
have answered, but her voice refused
He took her hand,
it in his clasp for an in
slant, and was gone.
In the gray dawn, amidst the hum
and hustle of the farmhouse duties,
Minnie was missing from her place,
and when they sought, they found
her lying very still and white, with
a strange radiance in her eyes.
Not sick, but very, very tired"
All day long she lay like a thirsty,
flower, her flushed cheek
crushing the wilted violets that
streWed her pillow. Her sister, sub
stantial, bluntly-kind duplicate of
her parents, moved Wanderingly
about, and could not complaint
Good, spirit-blind creaturel None
to bodily suffering, but the meaning
of mental anguish, a thirsting for
sOul-foOd never felt could not un-
derstand she brushed the shriVeled
bits from her pillow and snowy
spread, brought up lsuch tempting
food as her tact suggested, bathed
the hot forehead, and left her to her.
slf.
Evening came, and again the dawn.
Still Minnie was no better. They
must have q physician. They had
little use ordinarily, for such aids;
colds and toothaches were the pre-
vailing diseases in the Dale family,
and were, unexceptionally, repulsed
by seasonable resorts tO'penny-royal
tea and hot poultices. But they
must have q doctor now, and &C
farm hand was dispatch
ed to the village for such represen-
tative Of his skin as could be easiest
found. Soon he came, and the eager
ly Outstretched hand, the smile on
the weary face of the patient girl,
the quick flash of pain that crossed
his, were the mutual sings of recog-
milton.
lie replied to her anxious ques-
tioning, giving explanations as they
could best understand. Her frame
was exhausted, her strength gone
He left simple prescription, and
recommended physical quiet and
Days passed, and she did recover.
DIR. Hallem sat for hours at her
couch, talking of the things she liked,
reading from poems that thrilled
her through and through, and her
soul was in ecstasy. But she would
not gain strength. At last, one day
he threw aside his book, and bent
over her in anguish.
Minnie, sweet sister Of nv soul
he cried, is there no hopel Will
you not return to me2 OH come
back to happiness-it is ours
She smiled wearily, lifting her
hands to his. Fully and well had
their souls understood, though Ian
guage had been idle. 1T is too
late" she replied, piteouslY, 'too
late now; but by-and-by we may talk
and roam together. Do not grieve.
Ny memory viii be 10 you what
you are TO me as ! near the cross
ing"
She bade them all good-by, and
grieved to see their hearts so full of
pain. "And now sing to me-" She
said, as her face lit up with an IN
earthly brightness.