Year: 1863

ueIu' OF eDourlng long and harrasslng
marches; whether reposing upon the
bare earth amid pelting rain, or racked
with wasting disease, whether facing
the deadly cannon's mouth or amid the
Ieaden shower; still the gentle eye of
Alice seemed hent upon him, inspiring
his sinking spirits with new energy, and
bidding him to "hope on, hope ever."-
And how often did he resolve that no
act of his life should render him un.
worthy of her love, or cause q blush of
shame to dye her check.


Alice was little aware of the new and
pleasing emotions she had unconscious
ly awakened in the heart of the Young
soldier Her young heart may have
beaten more quickly when she thought
OF his handsome person, and noble
bearing, and more especially the very
kind manner iu which he thanked her
for her flowers, but this was soon check
ed, for she thought he would not deign
to notice so simple le.hearted, unpretend-
ing girl as herself. At length she
received letter, couched in kind and
respectful terms. Almost doubling her
own senses, she hastened with child
like simplicity to lay it before her
mother. Could he be in earnest? Did
he still remember her2 And did he re-
ally feel that interest in her he profess
ed to feel? These were question, that
for time agitated her bosom; bit the
answer from her own innocent heart
was invariably in the.Ofirmative. Pure
minded herself she could not suspect
another; but feeling in her own noble
heart that all who had hazarded their
lives for their Country, were friends and
brothers, she responded kindly; allu-
ding to the dangers to which he was ex.
posed and to the uncertainty of life,
and spoke of our. Heavenly Parent, as
the only source Of safety in the hour of
calamity.


At length another letter came. and
another answer was written. AMI then
month after month passed slowly away,
and no tidings came to cheer her heart.
from the young soldier. The unwel.
come thought gradually forced itself
upon her, that he had fallen upon the
battlefield, or by the wasting hand Of
disease.


Two years had passed away, and
May, lovely May, was here again, with
all her new born beauties. Calmly and
sweetly she smiled upon this sin dark
ened world, as if the unbridled passions
of man had not wrought ruin and de
vastation all over our fair land, making
the young-the pride, the glory, and
the hope of our nation, their hopeless
victimsl


'Tis morning. Who can describe the
beauties ofa lovely May morning2-I
But we have neither time nor inclina-
tion to pause and drink in its charms,
for all night we have watched beside
the bed of suffering, and seen Death,
with his giant hand, "grappling for the
heart-strings" ofa fair young girl
One, two, three days and nights we
have scarcely quilted her side, and OF!
how have we wept and prayed over her,
as we have watched the progress of dis
ease and felt that no earthly power
could rescue her from the insatiate Jaws
of deathl How hard to sever those "ten-
der ties, close twisted with the fbers of
the heartl" How hard to give to the mar
row confines of the darksome tomb, one
so young and full of promisoI But the
last cherished hope of life lies with cred
in our hearts. All night she tossed
and talked strangely. Talked of her
school, and her lessons, talked to her
absent friends as if present, repeated
poetry and sang a stanza of favorite
hymn. Poor grill She is stepping,
all unconsciously, upon the threshold of
the Eternal Worldl


But harkl o, can it be that reason
sits enthroned agaiDl She opens her
eyes, and ia her own soft tones breathes
the name of a loved ope who is bending
over her; but It's her last recognition of
earthly things,


'Tis evening. The sun is slowly
sinking to rest behind the western
hills.


In yon little room, just beside the
open window, lies that fair young girl,
already dressed for the grave. The
last kiss of affection has been pressed
upon her dying cheek, by one who was
forced to leave her while life yet linger-
ed. All day have loved ones watched
beside her, as she struggled 'twixt life
and death; and from the altar of many
Q heart has the silent prayer aScended,