Year: 1861




sole object Of her and affections knet beside her
his face bowed upon her pillow for now only in mo-
ment of solemn communion with his mother had she
revealed the fatal TRUTH and told him she must soon die!
He had watched and hoped, and trembled for many
weary months but never yet had he admitted to himself


the probability of losing her. her fading cheek and
sunken eve could reveal to him the progress of decay
and so long as the loved voice maintained its music to
his and cheered him with promise Of Improvement
so long as her hand still clasped his he had hoped she
would recover


He had been blind since he was three years old:
stricken by lightning be had totally lost his sight
dim remembrance of his widowed mothers face, her
smoothly braided hair and flowing white dress was one
of the few recoectons entwned with the period before
all became dark to him.


The boy grew up, tall slender, delicate with dark
pensve eyes which bore trace of the calamity that
had destroyed their powers OF vison grave though
sad; dreamy, enthusiastic and requitng his mothers
care with the deepest yeneraton and tenderness In
the first years of his childhood and also whenever his
education did not take them to London and elsewhere
they had resided town the sea-coast in one OF
the prettiest parts of England.


Independently of the natural kindness which very
rarely fails TO be shown toward any person who blind
there that about the widow and her son which in
yafabg rendered them acceptable guests for their ia
teectual resources and powers of conversation,
equally diversified and uncommon. Mrs. Ovens had
studied much in order to teach her SON. and thus by
o
common stamp; her intelectuaity, however, being
always subscr7ient to, and ly shadowed by the supe
rior feminine attribute of love- genueness, and sympa
thy for heaven help the woman in whom these gifts are
not predominant over any mental eldowments what
soever.


When they walked out together his mother took his
arm; he was proud of that he liked to fancy he
some support to her. and many plying eyes used attery
follow the figure of the widow in the black dress she
constantly wore and the tall pale son OH whom she
leaned conhdngiy il striving with a8wee deception
to convince him that lie indeed the staff of her de-
elining strength But gradually the mothers form grew
bent, her step dragged YEARLY along and the eNpreso
Of her face indicated increasing weakness The woks
we're at end; and, before long she too feeble
leave her bed, excepting to be carried to a summer
parlor, where she lay upon sofa beside open window
With flowers tBtnng around the easement and the
sunshine filling all things with JOY, her torebodng
heart and the anxious who incessanty hung over
her Friends often to visit them and turned away
with deep sadness tAey noted the progress of her
malady and heard the blind man ask each time whether
they did think her betteroh surely little better
than when they had last behed her?


Among all these, no friend was welcome brought


such soIace to the sick room as Mary Parker JOYOUS
girl Of nineteen OF the beauties Of the county and
the admiration and delight of all who auew her Mrs.
Owens had danced Mary upon her knee, and Edward
used weave baskets and make garards or her when
be boy Of twelve, and she, little fairy Of six
years old thereabouts stood before him. praisug his
skill and wondering how he could manage so cleyerIy
though blind. None Of his childish companions ever
led him so carefully Mary, seemed so much i'm
pressed with his mental superiortyShe would leave those


games OF her ymaes in which his blindness prevented
him from joining and would listen for hours 10 the
stories with which his memory well stored, which
his own imagination enabled him TO invent.


As she grew mp, there change in the frank and
confdng nature Of their intercourse Mary still made
him the recipient OF her girlisb secrets and plans and
dreams just she had done of her little gries in child
hood asked him quote his tarore passages OF poetry
or stationed herself him st the piano suggesting
subjects for him to play, which he cxtemporscd her
bidding Bright and blooming with animation and en-
joyment, no attention capable Of rendering her
uumiEdiu Of him; and she often known sit out
several dances IN an evening to talk to dear Edward
owen who would be sadithe thought himself neglected


And now she daily visited the invalid: her buoyant
spirits tempered by sympathy for her increasing suffer-
ngs; but still difiusiug such Sphere OF sunshine
and hope around her, that gloom and dependency
seemed to vanish at her presence Edwards sightes5
eyes were always raised her bright face if he felt
the magic influence it impaired


His mother had noted all this with mothers watch
Iuncss and on thar day when strong in her love she
had undertaken to reveal the fact which all others
shrauk from communicating he spoke likewise of Mary
md OF the vague wild hope she had always cherished Of
Of one day seeing her his wife.


No, mother, not exclaimed the blind man. Dearest
mother, III this you true to yourself! What
Would you wish To see her III all her spring of
youth and beauty sacrificed to such one as Ito see
Mary you have described her to me- my soul tells
me she is, tied down to be the guide and leader and
support, OF one who could make step in her de-
fense; whose heplessness alone in the eyes of men,
would be his means Of sheterng and protecting hcr
Would you hear her pted our bright Mary pted--
ls Il bIud mans wife motherp


But Edward-if she loves you, as am sure she
ioes-n


Love me mother Yes, as angels love mogtas, as
sister loves brother, you love me! And for this
oengnant love- this tender sympathy coudknee aud
Kiss the ground she trcads upon but beyond thwere
you cucat her marry your blind and solitary SON
and fhe in pity answered yeS-would accept her on
such terms and riVet the chains she had consented to
assume? Oh mother mother have not studied YOU in
rain your life has been long self sacrifice 10 meta


silent teaching shall bear fruit Do not grevc SO bitterly
or me God was very merciful in giving me such
mother; let us trust him for the future!n


All poor tortured heart speaking so bravcly forth


riyng cheer the mothers failing spirit when all to
lin was dark, dark, dark


She raised herself upon her pillow, and wound her
weak arms about his neck and listened to the expressions
If neffable love aud faith and consolation which her
on found strength to utter, to sustain her soul Yea
that hour her recompense had begun: in loneliness in
ecrct tears, with christian patience and endcavor with
n exalted and faithful spirit, had she sown and in |
leath she rcaped her high reward


They had been silent for some minutes, and she lay
Jack exhausted, but composed while he beside her,
olding her hand in his, ancying she slept, and anx
ously listening to her breathing which seemed more
han usually oppressed rustling heard amidst
he flowers at the window, aud bright young face
ooked in.


"EIush9' said Edward recognising the step, flush,
iary, she is asleep"


The color and the smiles alike passed from Mary face
ghen she glded into the room. "0h, Edward Edward |
he il not asleep, she is very, very ill"


Mary! darling Mary' said the dying lady, with diff
uIty rousing herself II have had such pleasant dream
mt have slept too long. IJis night. Letthem bring
andes. Edward, can not see you now"


Night, and the sun 50 brightly shining The shadows
f the grave we're stealing fast upon her.


Other steps now sounded in the room and many faces
altered round the couch; but the blind man heard
othing-was conscious OF nothing, save the painful
abored respiration the remulous hand that iuttered in
is own the broken sentences


Edward my dearest, take comfort l have hope
iod is indeed mercilu'


20 Edward, do not grieve sadly! 1t breaks my heart
see youcry. Forher sake be ean-for my sake tool"
larry knelt down beside him, and endeavored to soothe
be voiceless anguish which it terrified her witness


Another interval, when no sound broke the stiffness
bat prevailed; and again Mrs. 0wen opened her eyes
nd saw Mary kneelng by Edwards side. They were
ssoeated with the previous current Of her thoughts
nd smile lighted up her face,


"As wished as praEed, to die Ny children both.