The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-08-16
ASPASIA LEAD.
One more unfortunate, weary of breath
Rashly importunate, gone to her death.

Hood
II all the roofs in Madrid were taken Of
what sad sights would be seen. But none
more gloomy than has come under our obser'
walton in the past few days. In our general
rounds in search Of items our attention was
attracted by an unusual crowd of inquisitive
men and women looking in at the door of a
certain palatial residence inhabited by the
'demi monde" Naturally supposing that
some occurrence Of unusual interest was
transporting our footsteps were directed to-
wards the gathering, when our eyes rested
upon the emblem Of death swaying to and
tro in the gentle breeze.
| Never before having witnessed the rites of
this class, and the door being open, we entered
the spacious marble hall, when we were met by
| the head OF the house, who told us that one of
| their number had breathed her last. She then
conducted us into the Urge and richly furnish
ed parlor, where strange sight met our gaze
There in the centre Of the floor, upon decor
ated stand, rested a richly ornamented coffin,
covered with numerous floral offerings Of
snowy wilderness, with white crepe looped
.round its sides. Encircling the easement Of
death were numerous candles, whose sickly
flames, Pickering in he light OF the expiring
day, cast strange shadow upon the face OF
the corpse, rendering the scene one of the
deepest gloom.
Resting in the coffin was woman who,
from appearances, had seen about twenty
eight summers come and 60 She was robed
was a wreath Of small white buds Her
countenance, though wan and emaciated by
long suffering and the inroads of sickness,
wore peaceful smile, and all seemed happy
with this bride Of death. Instead of the reck-
less gaiety general in places Of this kind a
death-like stiffness pervaded the room, and
the pail of sorrow was for the time drawn
around the scene. The gaily dressed women Of
the house gathered in groups around the coffin,
producing strange contrast of their life and
death. The sun just sinking to rest, threw
its light through the richly col red glass, and,
as its rays rested upon the face of the dead
woman, the frail creatures around the corpse
involuntarily drew back, filed, as 'twere. with
a superstitious awe, and seemed to won Ter in
their bewildered minds if this was death, and
q fear came over them for what their hereafter
would be, or what would become of them in
this world when the bloom of youth should
fade and their blood, that now flowed freely
and nourished life, should ebb slowly through !
their veins and chill their very souls? And |
in their hearts they wished, poor, frail crea-
lures, that they could barter oil the tinseled |
oys of tie past and the present for one mo-
nent's future happiness
They thought that their lives had been cast
Up upon the ocean of eternity to float upon
is waves for moment, and then sink into
darkness and nothingness. And as they gazed
n amazement upon the inanimate cl ~ OF their
ost sister, whose soul had burst its prison in
earch of rest and peace they thought of the
right buds Of hope and sweet blossoms of
assion that lay withered and dead, with
aught remaining for them save the chill
7aters of memory. We have seen the infant
linking down like the stricken flower, the
trong man breathing out his soul upon the
attic field, the convict standing on the scaffold
efore the awful abyss of death with deep
urse quivering upon his lips, all, all of these
ave we seen and yet the death Of this poor
oman, how differently it effected US, with
er gaudily attired companions around her.
no scarce comprehended the moral lesson
ley surveyed, and who, to her, were but as
rangers, who for her loss would only feel a
pang of regret.
Yes, dead in strange land, with no loved
nes OF her childhood to gather around and
reathe prayer for the redemption of her
,ul; and now her eyes, that had once looked
pom loving father and motter, were
aled; her lips that had 50 often in her early
sys lisped forth the NJ lkers praise were now
lshed in the awful stiffness Of death, and the n
ices of her loved ones were now shut out p
om her ears forever more. In her dying
oments deep and long were her supplica- b
ms for forgiveness, and she poured forth at Z
e altar Of her NJ .ker the tide of agony from 4
r hearts secret urn: and followed by Il
:angers she was taken to her last 4
sting place in Greenwood Cemetery, n
d as the cold sod closed over her, q
asked if earth could be he, ?
ly abiding placer And the thought ~ :.
me to US, how hard must be death when the d.
esent, past and future bring in the dreadful .;
1tence, that "all is lost" And yet, who O
ows but that by her long suffering and sup f
cations in her Last hours she was forgiven, $
4 that God hal touched her with the purl- q
Lg fire Of his altar? Who can say but thai a
: trials were sore, and the blight came down L
e mildew upon her life? None: and so We Fl
We her verdict to the Judge of all judges in
1, though she sinned let the grave bury
Try error, extinguisu every resentment, and s. s.
N its peaceful bosom naught but forgive
IS come. ~
'oR BATON RoUGE.-To those intending to =
it Baton Rouge during the coming Con-