Year: 1862

with inexpressibIe grief that her reason had
hed-that she was hopelessiy insane But
her madness was Of mild and harmless ma
ture. She was as calm, as peaceful ever.
bot sighed frequently, aud seemed burdened
with some great sorrow which she could
not comprehend. She had one peculiarity
which all who knew her 10 after years must
recollect ; aud this was a careful avoidance
OF men. She also seemed possessed Of the
spirit Of unrest. She would not be eoOfin.
ed, but was continually escaping from
her friends, and going they knew not with.
or.


When her parents lived, by their watch
ful care and unwearyine efforts, in some
measure controlled this sad propensity
but when they died, this stricken child be.
came wanderer, homeless, friendless aud
forlorn. Through the laughing spring and
rosy summer, the golden autumn and TEN.
pestuous winter,it was tramp, tramp, tramp
no rest for her crushed heart and frozen
brain. remember her as she was in my ear
ly childhood, towards the last of her weary
pilgrimage. As my father and elder broth.
ers were frequently absent, and as my moth
er never closed her heart or her door on the
unfortunate, "Crazy Lucy" who often spent
an hour or two at our fresde. Her ap-
pearance was very singular. Her gown
was always patched with many colors,
and her shawl or mantle, worn or torn I'M
til it was all open work or fringe. The
remainder Of her miserable wardrobe she
carried 10 bundle on her arm, and some.
times sne had O number Of old rags, dried
herbs, &c.


In the season of flowers her tattered bon
net was profusely decorated with those
which she had gathered in the wood or by
the wayside. Her love for these and her
sweet voice was all that was left of her of
the bloom and music of existence. Yet
no her meek aud cbildlike piety still lin
gered. Her God had not forsaken her :
down in the dim chaos of her spirit, the;
smile Of His love yet cleaned family, in the
waste garden Of her heart she still heard
his voice at even tide, and she was not
afraid. Her Bible went with her every
where-a torn aud soiled volume, but as
holy still, and it may be as dearly cherished,
my readers, as the gorgeous copy now ly-
ing on your to BILE bound in purple and gold
and with the guiding untarniShed upon its
leaves.


l remember to have heard my mother re-.
late touching little incident connected with
one Of Lucy's brief visits to US. The poor
creature once laid her hands on the curly
head Of one Of my brothers, and asked him
his name. William Edwin" no replied
with timid upward glance. She caught
away her hand, and sghiDg heavily, said
Il knew an Edwin once, and be made me
broken hearted" This was the ouly 10
stance in which she was ever known to re
vert to the sad event which had desolated
her heart.


x


Some 80 years from the time of this bis.
tory, on q black autnmual evening a rough
country wagon drove into the village Of
c. 1t stopped OF an aims house
an attenuated form was lifted out and car.
ried in, and away rumbled the wagon.
Thus was Lucy Dutton brought to her ma.
tive home to die. She had been in a de-
cline for several months, and her miraculous
strength which had so long sustained her in
her weary wandering, at last forsook her
utterly Her sister had died some time be.
fore, and the widowed husband had soon
after removed TO the far west--So Lucy had
90 friends, no home but the aims house
But they were very kind to her there. The
matron, a true women, whose soft heart
even in the contemplation of misery could
not harden, gave herself with unwearying
devotion to the quiet sufferer.


One day about week from the time OF
her arrival, Lucy appeared to suffer greatly,
and those about her looked for her release
almost impatently but at night she was
evidently better, and for the irst time slept
TRANQUILITY until morning. The Matrou
who was by her bedside when she awoke,
was startled by the clear and earnest gaze
which met her own, but she smiled and
bade the invalid good morning" "Oh,
what long night this has been, exclaimed
Lucy. Where am 7 and who are you p
A wild surprise flashed accross the mind oI
the Matron, the long lost had returned
But the good women replied calmly and
soolhingly. "Why you are among your
friends, and you will know me presently
Then may be you know Edwin and Ellen.
rejoiued the invalid, have they returned
Oh, had such a terrible dream. dream
ed that they were married they, thiuk-
Ellen married to Edwin IT'S strange ]
should dream that 7


MY poor Lucy said the Matron with g
gush of tears, that was not a dream---it
was all true.' All true 2 cried the invalid,
then Edwin must be uatrue-and that can
not be, for be loved me-we loved eaet
other well, aud Ellen is my sister. Let mt
see them | she endeavored to raise hersel
but fell back fanting on the pillow. Why
what does this mean ? said she, whs
makes me so weak 7 just then her eye fel
on her own hand. She gazed on it il
bland astonishment Something is the mat
ter with my sight, said she. smiling family
for my hand looks to me like an old WON
ans.


And SO il is, said the matron gently, ,ant
10 is mine; and yet we had fair, plum
hands when you were young. Dear Luc!
do YOU not know me? l am Maria Allen
| was to have been you- bridesmaid


/ can narrate no more; will not maxi
the attempt TO give in detail all that mourn
ful revealing--to reduce to inexpressiv,
words the dread sublimity of that hopeles