Year: 1861

TIE LIGHT OF OfHEk D4fS'


BY ELLEN STEPHENS.


Now, aunty Are you ready to tell me
Iou know You promised me a story tonight,
and want real, true one, so l will not have
10 think, after you are through, that it was all
made simply to crafty nay childish fancy" and
gnes Summers threw herself into a low chair
at Mrs Brandon's feet


Would you Ike 10 hear part Of my own
history -


''Oh yes, if you are willing" she answered,
imprinting a fervent kiss on the lady's cheek,
which told how well she appreciated the prom
ised favor.


Perhaps 1t VIII surprise you, as you seem to
think that have shared but few of the troubles
and trials Of life that have 6lled The world with
sorrow,


The home of my girlhool was to me almost
an Eden. My fathers mansion stood beside
the rolling waters of the great Pedee The
grand old pOplaTs that fringed the winding ave
nue, are woven like an emerald chain in my
history; and now, when dreams portray them
to my eager vision, the sweet associations with
which they are so closely twined come back
again, and am once more the happy girl used
70 be. was fifteen. l remember well when
the FIRST shadow fell across nay pathway. Death
came, with my mothers name on his cold lips
and called her to heaven. She had been fol
years an invalid; victim TO the wasting fires
of consumption, that CLEANED in the hectic
bloom on either cheek.


The sweet young spring was looking on us
smiling through the frowus of departing winter
The first warm breath of Yi0lets was blending
with the mellow fragrance Of natures morning
And the fettered stream, that had so long hushed
=. rr-gHk
low chirp Of neB-fed birdlings, perched in the
hanging branches that dipped their leaves in its
sparkling waters, as it guTgled on to the broad
bosom Of the mighty river. But was happier
than either bird or flower, for on this bright May
day, while my mothers parting kiss get fingered
on my lips, l joined the merry throng of Tevel-
lers by the brook-side And the last drop of Joy
WAS added to nay brimming cup when Julian
gently laid the wreath of flowers on my head
to crown me for their queen. The day was
spent in those innocent sports that always glad
den the hearts Of youth. But all things have
an end. The brightest day will close. The
mo0nbeams were making long shadows across
our path when We quiekened our steps through
the wooded way that led us home. stood at
the gale and watched him until the trees and
their shadows came between US, and he was
gone.


| turned faint light gIimmeTed in my moth
er's room. With a shudderiug dread of some
coming i'll, ran quickly up stairs A servant
met me on the landing, but did not stop 10 hear
her. The next moment had reached the sick
room, where lay my mother already chilled by
the icy touch of the destroyer. knelt down by
her bed, and took her soft white hand IN mine.
pressed it to my lips, and tears fell thick aud
fast Very tenderly she raised my bended head,
aud bade me listen to her last request She
r.. 1 I IL.
my own. And then, had an angel spoken to me,
1 could not have listened more eagerly, so pre-
cious were her words to me


Alice, nay darling, must leave you soon. J
know that before the sunlight streaks the east
again, my spirit Will have passed the portals OF
the Eternal City, where death is a stranger and
ufering never comes. And you are so young.
The tender years of girlhOOd vet lingeT around
you. Not yet has care beclouded the brow where
innocence has It's seal. Home has thrown around
y0li Us profession. frsi dream not q The sHares
that beset even the path Of the youthful for You
have scarce gained an insight to the treachery
and sinfulness Of the world Gladly would
always stand beside you, that together we might
tread the heavenly road. Bat am almost there.
am standing on the river brink, and as is cold
waves dash around me, l think Of you, my
daughter. When l stand before the throne
amOng the bloodwashsd, and the angels bring
tdings that new spirits are entering the portals
Of tlat holy city, may / look for you among
them!7


All this was spoken at intervals, with quick
drawn breath, for her strength was failing fast
promised to meet her in the better and to
keep this, her last sweet token, as talisman
against the tempter's smiles. We sang to her,
and while the notes of the anthem were borne
aloft from that chamber Of sorrow, her happy
spirit winged its flight to home in the skies, 70
join in the music OF heaven.


When l was conscious again, none, save the
stars, saw the tear-stans on my face had
tainted in my mothers arms, and they had carried
me from her to my own room. could not real
ze the facts as they stood. l tried to believe |
vas waking from fTightful dream. l crept
down TO where she lay, and when | cTouched
down beside her knew it, felt II all, and there
before that still, shrouded form of her ] loved ]
almost cursed the hour that brought me a living,
breathing thing to earth; and there | PRAYED
that too might die, aud lie down beside her in
the stiffness Of the grave. But the heart would
throb on, and the Iife-blOOd leap through my
strong young veins, all the same, now that life
seemed burden and earth but prson-hOuse
to my iettered spirit. My idol had fallen, and
lay before me in skaters. 1t seemed so hard to
live without her. Lies thOrny path stretched
out before me, and feared TO wander through
its mazes without her guiding hand to lead me
wandered back to my own room, for the still
ness of the place was oppressive.


We buried her by the river side, beneath the
willows, where the solemn music of the ever
rolling waves goes up to the home Of the angels


The next morning seemed moekingly beauti-
ful, and, as ] looked out on the sweet dew-ladeu
flowers, 1 remembered what my little brother used
to say Sissy, the flowers been cryin last night
and then my proud heart bowed before the sweet
influence of natures beauties / was humbled
The fountain Of affection gushed forth anew il
my heart and beheld Gods chastening hand
in this great bereavement. Feeling there wert
new ties in heaven for me, | was able, with q
stronger trust to return TO life and its duties
toilsome though they were.


Months dragged by with steady steps The
summer, with its long dry days, had passed
and as we sat before the bright, blazing FIRE, one
cold October evening, my father surprised me BY
seying that he had made arrangements for ne tC
euter the tall tern OF the institns in the city;
would start, he said, in few weeks. Madame
Roland would attend to any changes necessary
to be made in my wardrobe.


] knew him too well TO object to anything he
might suggest But / was rather pleased thar
otherwise, for longed to mingle with the out
ward world, Of which ! had yet learned so little
and ! was growing weary of my solitary life
Home was no longer sweet to ne, now that
those ysho made it dear were gone. | need moi
tell you of the parting from Tie scenes endeareC
to me by memories Of the happy past nor that
had never known how very dear TO me was al
connected with my childhood, nor how JuliaI
aud fingered by the grave on the waters brink
until the stars twinkled in the sky above US (t0l
he had always been to NE a brOther,) and how
promised never to forget, though years shoulc
separate us.


Il was almost night when father and stepped
from the lost, and hurried through the crowded
city to the institute; aud when Miss Andrews
bid me to my seat at supper, and so many
strange faces looked up to mine, a sickenine
caIpe over me, and my portion of the bread aud
butter was left untouched When my father lef
TIE, bidding me cheer up AMI be happy, ieI
my last friend was gone, and mis- last Injunction
TOO hard to obey. For the first time in my life
realized what so many girls nave cried over
the home=siok feeling had laughed at a;
Absurd.


When we went to bed, Kate put her arm.
around me, and said she knew I'd ike them all
The teachers were 50 kind She talked to me o.
pIeassnt hours we would spend together, anC
her sweet, loving words did not fall on listlesi
ears. but with the key of sympathy she had open
ed my heart so long locked against the presenc,
of aught, save my own ungoyeIned passions.
knew that at her touch new feelings were spring
ING up within me, and soon l fell asleep, t,
drcain Of bright things in the future. Kat
Swanton was my rOo4l mate, sNeet young
creature, with soft blue eyes, too clear TO shelter
tears beneath the happy laugh that shone through
them, adding lustTe to their matchless light
Her home was ia our summer land, among th'
blooming flowers; and her puTe young hear