Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-06-14
4 MYSTERY SOLVED

ooh dearn' sighed lady FRIEND as
the coffin containing all that was mortal
of young mother, cut off in the very
prime of womanhood, was borne from
the door of the opposite dwelling "this
does seem hard | cannot understand it.
Look at those three fair young children;
their faces pressed against the chamber
window. All, how little do they COM
prehend the meaning of the word
motherless = A shadow is on their
dwelling; soon, very soon, it will fall
coldly and gloomily on their hearts.
When just at the age most to need
mothers care, why is the mother re-
moved? 1t is a mystery; deep, dark
mystery. l wonder not that the heart,
crushed and bleeding under the weight
of such an atiliction, should question the
wisdom and benefcence of so fearful IL
dispensation.
"There is no mystery here we an
swered; "nothing but just relation
between cause and effect"
q" call it strange providence" said
the lady, speaking with something of
impatience in her tone. "Why was she
not spared to her children a few years
longer? With God are the issues of
life. The Angel of Dissolution chills no
life current with his icy fingers, except
at the bidding of the All-Sceing Om-
nipotent. Without him, not sparrow
falleth on the ground"
"And one human life is of more valne
than many sparrows," said we, impress
sively, hoping to suggest to her mind a
higher idea of Providence than it enter
tanned for the time being.
"True, true; and yet the arrows of
death are thrown with sort of blind
energy that makes one think of malig-
nant spirit, rather than a merciful God"
The lady's warm cheek, half indignant
tone, and almost flashing eyes, evinced
the strength of her feelings.
Gently, gently" we said, laying
hand upon hers. "There is no mystic
rious providence here. Tt was the
mothers own act that removed her from
her children"
What You do not intimate self
destruction p
Not premeditated self-destruction.
Yet had she observed the laws of health.
her children would not, this day, be
motherless.
"She was fragile flower, know,
and as beautiful as she was delicate"
"Open the windows; let in the frosty
air upon one of your hot house plants
and note the consequence"
" 1t will droop, and wither, and die"
" AS Mrs. Melbourne did. In either
case the effect depends upon a clearly
apparent cause. There is nothing of
mystery involved"
&C. l did not know her intimately.
only met her once or twice but | have
always admired her-always heard her
spoken of with affection by her friends.
She was beautiful in person. 1 have
often looked at her as she sat by the
windows opposite, with one of her fairy
like children in her arms, and thought
1t the most beautiful sight my eyes had
ever rested upon. Oh, it is so sad to
think that her loving arms will never
again encircle them, nor her bosom pill
low their heads. Her husband, it is
SAID, almost worshipped her. Poor
man! what heart-sorrow he has to
bear"
Ten years ago." said we, after our
fair friends excitement had little sub
sided, "a young, beautiful, and sylph-
like creature, DIRE ssed in full costume,
came down from her room about nine
o'clock in the evening, and a light silk
scarf thrown across her arm. She was
met at the parlor door by pale woman,
whose shrunken face, large, bright eyes,
and husky voice, told but too plainly