Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1889-06-15
For WoMAN's CHRONICLE. |
A'J
NELLIE.
BY JOHN r. WHERRY.

GeO. ~. frentlCe leaves us IueSe WofuS, IakeH
from the drama of "Ion:" 'sWhen about to yield
his young existence as sacrifice to fate, his Ale
mantha asks if they shall meet again. to which he
replies, have asked that dreadful question of the
hills that look eternal of the clear streams that flow
forever, of the stars among whose fields of azure
my raised spirits have walked in glory-all were
dumb; yet, as gaze upon thy living face | feel
that there is something in the love that mantles
through its beauty, that cannot wholly perish-we
shall meet again, Alemantha. 3"
When first knew this love of mine she was a
sweet child of six summers. had never been
favorite among children, and children seldom had
any charms for me, but in this case the attraction
was mutual. She would leave her paymates at
any time to join me, and many time | have
found myself hurryng through my days work and
walking rapidly away to meet little Nellie. We
had our fayorlte place to sit on pleasant evenings
shady forest tree grew close to the porch, facing
the West and with an armchair drawn so that the
Pickering shadows from the setting sun would play
over us, we would sit and talk for hours-she on
my lap-and we made and sang our own songs,
too; songs that conveyed to each other our own
thoughts, however meaningless they might be to
others, and as / looked into the clear depths of
her blue eyes she would meet my gaze with such
calm, loving smiles, that knew | was valued as |
never had been before, and now know never can
be again, and |, in turn, loved her as strong man
love, all that is pure and sweet in childhood
Years rolled thus away, and our attachment for
each other knew no change We met beneath the
shadows of the same leafy tree each pleasant even
ing and sang our songs, and told our stories all
the same, only now she sat on low stool at nv
side, and when heretofore l had folded her in nv
arms when she became weary, she now would clasp
her hands on my knee, and resting her head there
on, would gaze afar off; 0, so far away into the
depths OF eternity it seemed to me, and at times
twas difficult to recall her. and when she would
come back to me it would seem as if we had been
parted long, long time.
Whittier vert thou then, O Nellie? To what far
off land had you been? Poor blind mortal that
was, not to know that such as thou were not
destined for full life in this cold world If all
angels have at one time to be mortal then tbou
vert mortal that thou might be an angel.
Eight summers had passed since our acouaint.
ance began, and Twas leaving to be gone some
time. When came to bid Little Nellie farewell
| kissed her and sad ''Nee, this is the last kiss
Will ever give you as child" and as that far
away look came into her eyes, she said, eyes, but
you Will kiss me again, some day." and | was
gone When returned they showed me low,
green mound in Mount Holly, and told me it was
N n grave But Nellie is not there, know.
Had never heard of better land, future ex-
lstence, an immortality beyond the tomb, would
still know that Nellie was not there, but would
know her as having gone forever to that far off
shore she left me so often to visit while it was vet
IN her power to return. Why did you not tell me
then, sweet child to what distant cline YOU had so
often wandered; and, ''shall we meet AGAIN.,
with what trembling transports do l recall her
last promise and await the time when shall kiss
her again, but "not as a child"