The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-02

ornament her handsome tresses should
also cover her after death.
She held me in her hand. | sighed to
think that this little girl who by her
beauty, grace and lightness so much re-
sembled flower, should die before them,
and | could not prevent the remark, GLOW
much the life of mortals resembles ours
for, like US, they only live the space of
day."l
~ only need that to make superb
bouquet, y exclaimed the little Mathilde
81 must have it."
Saying these words, the child
leaned over. With one hand she held me
tightly against her heart, and the other
she stretched out to grasp the lily.
stop, for the love of God, stopi One
step more and you will be amongst the
angels. Oh, God, give me the power to
stop her. |, who viii soon die; grant at
least that my death may be rendered
glorious by this good action.
"Oh, fatal beauty, OH deadly lily,
why were you not sooner closed Why
stand you there motiOnless, Coldly gazing
at this soul, who is about to die for your
beauty. For the love of her youth, van
ish beneath the waters of the lake!"
But no, the lily could not hear me-
The child hung over-I saw no more |
shudder with horror. But / hear--yes-I
hear the cry of despair-of disappoint-
ment, of woe, and all Is calm. Then my
eyes opened and | saw that the lily was
gathered, but the child was dead Upon
the agitated waters of the lake see gol-
den hair-a white arm-a little hand
which holds tightly the Iily-a lily for
which she was dead.
The birds reused by the cry of the
child shake their plumage, and give them
selves again to slumber. The waters of
1,lr
only on its surface the golden hair, and
faded crown.
"Mathilde Mathllde" Is il an echo2
No. This single word is pronounced with
accents too piercing TO be an echo. II is
rather the voice of person who fears,
but who dares not say what she fears. At
last, raising my head, | perceive before
me woman and l find in the altered
features, in the wild eyes feeble resemb-
lance 10 the brilliant Duchess of NJ. She
looked around, but, not finding that which
she sought, she walked swiftly to the
lake.
Never, no never, will forget the cry of
despair which the duchess gave; and |
gazing at her l saw that she had tainted
upon the grass. She had seen her whom |
she sought; she had seen her upon whom |
all her hopes were founded She had seen |
upon the lake THIS golden hair, this white |
arm which she knew belonged to her |
dear Mathilde. At her cry the servants |
ran, and, looking on the lake, saw their |
dear little mistress. Immediately they |
drew her from the water. But alas they |
came too late. Her heart had ceased TO |
beat.
Bearing her sad remains, they returned |
slowly TO the castle. The flowers which |
an instant before had seen the little Ma |
thilde pass so happy, now beheld her |
motionless in death. They dropped a |
tear, which God in his goodness changed |
to a flower, and they said THUS is life"
On the morrow they buried the little Ma
thilde. When the funeral cortege passed |
through the streets children left their
games and asked their mothers what this
meant. Then the mothers took their
children near to them and related to
them this sad history, beseeching them
not TO go near to water. The children /
let fall tear in memory of Mathilde,
and returned to their play. And /, they |
placed me on the tomb Of the dear little
one. Behold, that was my destiny"
Flattered, admired, envied, i finished my
life upon tomb.