New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-05


but as if could have prayed from the bot
tom of my heart that she might be released
from her suffering. "h'a&v
One warm spring day she was carried
into our room. She looked very PALE
but her eyes were deeper and brighter
than ever; and she sat on her couch and
called us to her. ..-.
This is my birthday" said size; land
this morning I was confirmed. Now 1t
is possible" continued she, looking
smilingly towards her father, "that GOD
will soon call me to Himself, although l
would like to remain with you . long
time. But if do go away from you l
would like that you would not quite Tor
get me, and therefore have brought q
ring for each of you, which you must
wear now on your forefnger, but when
you grow larger wear it further until 1t
fits only the little finger; but there you
must wear it all your life"
With these words she took five rings
that she had on her fingers and drew them
off one after the other, and looked so
mournful, and yet SO gracious, that l
closed my eyes to keep from crying. She
gave the first ring to her eldest brother
and kissed him, and then the second and
third to the two Processes, and the fourth
she gave to the youngest Prince, and
kissed them all as she gave them the
rings. l stood Fear and looked steadily
at her white hand, and saw that she had
still one ring on her finger, but she leaned
backward and seemed weary. Then my
eyes met hers, and as child's eyes speak
so loud, she must have heard what was
passing within me. I had much rather
not have had the last ring, but l felt that
l was stranger, that did not belong to
her, that she did not love me as much as
her brothers and sisters. Then something
in my breast hurt me, as if q vein had
burst or a nerve were cut, and knew not
where to look to hide my distress
But she raised up, and laid her hands
on my forehead, and looked SO deep into
my eyes, that l felt that there was no
thought in me that she did not see.
Slowly she drew the last ring from her
finger, and gave it to me, and said THAT,
l wanted to take with me when 60 away
from you, but it is better for you to wear
it, and think of me when am no longer
with you Read the words that are written
upon the ring, 'as God wills You have
a wild and gentle heart; may life tame it,
but not harden" And then she kissed
me as she had her brother, and gave me
the ring All that passed within me 1
do not really know. I was at that time
already grown to be lad, and the tender
beauty of the suffering angel was not
without charm for my young heart.
l loved her as boy can love,
and boys love with a fervor, o
truth, and purity that but few
retain in youth and manhood. But
thought she belonged to the strangers" to
whom one might not say, II love you" 1
hardly comprehended the earnest words
she spoke to me; only felt that her soul
was as near to my soul as two human souls
could be. All bitterness had vanished
from MY heart. no longer felt myself
alone, nor stranger. nor shut out, but by
her, with her and in her. Then thought
that it was a sacrifice to her to give me
the ring, and that she would have liked to
take it to the grave with her, and a feeling
arose in my soul that outweighed all other
feelings, and l said, with trembling voice,
IF you will give me the ring, you must
keep it yourself, for what is mine is thine"
She looked at me for awhile, wonderingly
and thoughtfully. Then she took the
ring, put it on her finger, kissed me again
On the forehead, and said, softly, "You
know not what you say; learn to under
stand yourself, and you will be happy and
make many happy.