The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-02-29
OLl0 NO. z
"A Legend" and Molly Bawn.'
oY NRs. Nj. n. WHITAKER, AUTHOR or ALBERT
HASTINGS.
A LEaEN

The peculiar sweetness and purity of Ade-
laidc prpctpr's poems we may well liken To
the placid translucenee aud warbltng dow Of
some gentle streamlet ripplng over white
pebbles, while odorous flowers besprinkle its
banks. Her "Legend Of Provence combines
the above named qualities with mournful
pathos and moral grandeur truly admirable.
She has found higher employment for her
graceful faculties than the elimination Of
nickly love ditties, or the incongruous and
affected eentimentality often embodied In
s'poems," more especially when these owe |
their birth 10 lady poets.
There is nothing pretentious In the opening |
OF her Legend" Only dark picture In a
dim, religious room awakens curiosity and
invites investigation. There was deep sor-
row In It's saddened face; II was the semblance
OF o nun. Rembrandt would have gloated
over that sombre Image, with pale, thin
hands folded meekly across the bosom, soft,
dark eyes. shadowy and profound, with
slightly compressed, yet subdued lips, and
forehead calm, though stamped with the seal
or suffering. That face was hers to whom the
l0gcnd pertains. III itself sad, yet doubly 40
through the grace Of the narrator, Who In soft,
flowing verse, filed with all woman's true
instincts, interests us deeply, sending thrill
through our hearts such as poets only can
awaken. Tho original, she tells us, was
young girl, the convent's child. fair Angela.
whose pArentleea youth found In the Rfets-
tlonAte Sisters all she had ever known OF hu-
man love and care.
..Ot MI the nuns no. heart was halt - light
No 0yeltds yelling glanc0e half ~ bright,
No stap that glided with such noiseless feet.
No face that looked SO tender and 20 sweet.
Sss Sosss to.i e ali s The oshsrs 81 s hsi d 20 dear
40 surely touched by others pain Or woe,
ldueasing tho Rrief her young life could not
No seal d sa!lsli.ss 81 faith naasa'ca Ss';s
But there came time when var shook his
red banners on the breeze; when the convent
the solemn bell warning To religious obeerv-
ancee were shaken by the roar Of cannon,
and peaceful occupants OF the grove surround
Ing Il we're scared from their habitations. A
terrible skirmish had transpired.
n: One nisht came straaxlinS soldiers with their
or wouI led. dying comrades. and the band,
Half-pleading. yet though they might COM
Summoned the trembling sisters. eraved their
Then rode away and left the wounded there"
Every sister did her duty, and there was
more than work for all. The elder and more
experienced took charge Of such as were des-
perAtely hurt, and to younger hands were
consigned less dangerously wounded men.
A young and handsome cavalier among the
lRtter fell 70 the care Of the blooming AD9e-
In ".ris an old tale and often told" She
. prayed beside him, watched his troubled
sleep, noted his lightest want; and, when re-
turning animation lighted his eye, and health
began TO flush his cheek she told him convent
tales and descanted on
The glorious pomp sublime,
In which the chapel shone In Easter time:
The banners, vestments. gold and eolors bright,
Then In minute de all went on to cay
How the high affairs looked on Christmas day
srss stsp " a
He In turn discoursed OF Tits and tourna-
ments, of ladies favor and knights devotion,
OF the world and Of love. No longer could the
maiden prAy--a charmed vision was before
her eyes; she had tasted Of the fatal draught;
she worshtpped the wounded soldier.
$50 days went on. until the convent gate
Opened one night. Who burst so forth so late
Across the moonlit grass. with stealthy tread.
TWO silent shrpuded figures passed and he'd:
And all was wRkeless save the moaning seas.
trees"
The sequel may be readily inferred:
4 ''She saw each day and hour more worthless
The heart for which she cast away her own;
And ii; her soul learnt. through bitterest inward
The slight. trail love for which she wrecked
her life.
The phantom for which all her hope was given
The cold. bleak earth for which she barteret
heaven"
After long years Of misery and destitution
She altered Angela, reft Of youth and happi
ness, but sincerely repentant, turned hel
steps toward that gray old clotster which hat
protected her youth. The scene OF her recep
tion there is both touching and graphic. Sh,
encountered q sister, who spoke thus:
For all thy daily duties have done
Gathered thy flowers and prayed and SUM
and wept:
Dids't thou not know. poor child. thy place wa!
k6pts
Kind hearts are here: :Tet would the tenderes
one
Have llmits to Its mercy-God has none.
And mans forgiveness may be true and sweet
But yet he stoops to give 1t. More complete