Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-08-01
NUMBER 81.

glancing around saw her through the
open window, just melting out of sight
in the dim darkness. And many times
attorward | caught partial glimpses of q
thin, wasted form, but never once was L
in position to catch or detain her. At
last moved by compassion for what 1
knew to be in that poor mothers heart,
| posted an advertisement on all the con-
spcuous places near my dwelling, which
was something like this;
"If the mother of Dotty and Lilly will
come to me openly, she shall see her
children without reserve. But in case
she shall have reasons of her own for not
coming, | would like to let her know
that he to whom she gave them thanks
her with happy and humble heart for
her precious gift, and will pledge him
self never to provo recreant to so sacred
trust"
Now, SO far from this producing the
effect had desired, it seemed to Danish
the mother entirely away; and it was
nearly twelve years after the children
camo to me that the next event happened
TO us.
There was an exhibition in Lily's
school, and she was to have the leading
character in some amateur theatrical per-
iOrmanco. She was pleased and excited
quito beyond her natural self She stud
led her part with avidity, and with tho
most brilliant action she rehearsed it
n Ooin on1 ouoin T., ,,o NVbo, A. Ill.
came, she appeared on the stage in char
acter, oxquisitly dressed with court train
and jewels. 1t was the first time l had
seen her out Of short dresses. Who was
it sho reminded me Off Surely had
knows somo one at somc time of my life
just like my splendid darling. listened
to her and watched her, with what pride
who can tell? until the last act, when tho
curtain falls upon her in tableau-with
hands crossed upon her breast, her ten
der oyes upraised, the whole wealth OF
her pale golden hair falling in ono curl
ing misty cataract down her waist, tho
innocence of angels radiating from her,
and yelling her girlish form with gem
tie grace, so wonderfully paro SO tender
ly touching. Through tho happy tears
that filed my eyes saw halo encircle
her like n rainbow and then the curtain
foil, and | heard a scream from some
woman in the audience. Tho scream
pierced my heart like knife, for, lifted
out of myself as was by tho intensity
of my feelings, there came TO me per-
feet revelation of all the inexpicable
events Of the last fow years-so full OF
quiet content to me, so full of agony to
others. In vain, for some moments, /
struggled to penetrate tho crowd wh---~
issued that terrible cry. At last reach
ed her pale. PROSTATE, hfeless. "Stand
back ~ / cried, "she's mine oh En-
ma Emma ~
There is little moro to tell. took her
to her old home-to the very chambers
she had brightoned with her presence
when n child. She was faded and worn,
and old beyond her years. Her splendid
fragrant hair, whose touch upon my
check and shoulder had once tuned my
pulse to the delicious, maddening rhythm
OF love, was now "half gray, half ruined
gold" Sho knew her children, and
they brought her all the garnored affee
lion Of their fresh young hearts. But
even that could not save her. She faded
from us daily; and at last, with many
promises Of reunion in that world whore
we hope to rcctify tho mistakes Of this,
We parted.
"And oh, thank God for that older
fashion yet Of immortalityW For who
could live to bear the ills Of this life, II
deprived of tho one great hope OF n life 10
come?
Charley had died before the twins were
born, and poverty had pursued her re-
entlossly-btterly Oh, if she had only
come back TO the heart that cherished
her! How that thought tortured me,
how it wore upon me and darkened my
life for years. And how those lines OF
Whittier rung their endless refrain thro'
my tortured brain:
"Of all sad words Of tongue or pen,
Tho saddest are theso-it might have been"
1t was years before the remainder OF
the poem took root in my heart, but at
last could say:
"Oh. woll for us some sweet hope lies
Deeply hidden from human eyes
And in the hereafter angels may
Roll the stone from its grave away"
-OUeridnd MOnkh[y.