Year: 1860

rather l will commence at that point, and
finish the communication, and upon the
subject of which he treats we will never re-
fer hereafter.) "These, my dear friend,
are relics | have preserved since you and
| were boys together. In all my wander
ings, by land and by sea, they have ever
been nearest my heart Her faithlessness
came upon me like thunderbolt How
much L loved her, our heavenly father on
| ly knows. | adortd her. | worshipped
her. love her yet; and gaze upon
these "reminiscences of happier days, in
earlier years, with memory busted in the
recollection Of happy momentsin in her as
soclation, and am sad, sad, and sorrowful
even unto despair Need I say to you |
part with the evidences of my youthful
happiness with bitterness? Yet l feel it
my duty, as I am striving to forget. And,
though the struggle will be tedious, still
will strive to keep up my sinking heart,
and look to that source from which all con-
ISOLATION is derived, and learn, if possible,
to think tits we'll and that in Him are
all things made perfect You will return
these mediums of broken vows and faith
less promises to her. and say forgive her
for the heart she made desolate, and re-
member her only with kindness. Perhaps
you may think it strange; nevertheless,
assure you, in all the long, sad years that
have intervened | have never ceased to
pray for her. May the good God protect
her, for I love her fondly still Through
her my life has been made the scene of
many vicissitudes. I have wandered far {;
yet remembrance is very near, and desola-
tion surrounds my path. My existence
is a burden. I have drained the Coup of
sorrow to its dregs and have found cherish
ed hopes, broken affections, and misery as
mine inheritance. | live in the past
that bright springtime, which once was so
promising to me-and [ compare my par
ticipation IN those happy days and events
as like unto some beautiful flower that has
blossomed in the dry and arid desert,
whose leaves wither as they come forth,
whose fragrance is lost. whose seeds are
scattered by the earliest wind, vainly wish
ing to be deposited in some green and
grassy dell where it might spring up and
blossom among its kindred, making all
things beautiful, and all earth glad. Up
on this theme I might write without ceas-
ing, and had | but the consolation you have,
though you were so terribly afflicted, |
would strive and bear the burden without
a murmur. There is, my dear friend, a
strong sympathy between us. Our affec-
tions were fixed upon creatures of earth,
in our schooldays. How much truth in
the old song Love not the one you love
may change and again, Love not the
one you love may die You will pardon
me, my friend if I bring sadness or sorrow
to your mind, but I cannot help remark
ing how much truthfulness those words
contain. both to you and he. Ny love
was forgotten; another was chosen in my
place another held the hand that once
rested so lovingly in mine and claimed it
as his own. Death claimed victim-a
slnless soul followed an angel away, and
you were left to mourn the lovely being
we buried meath the flowers and iasmins
in the old churchyard How we'll I re-
member the day we were summoned by
the chapel bell to pay last tribute of re-
spect to our mate, whose soul had wander
ed above the clouds. Twas a sad
scene; and tears fell thick and fast, as we
missed her beautiful face in her accustom-
ed seat. And when we strove to sing the
simple hymn our teacher designated, l
thought my heart would break Three
times | strove to sound before my voice
gave utterance, and when at last our chap
ell choir had united, I turned to encourage
the treble (tor it was weak, and lacked
something, [ knew not what;) there was
sudden cessation of sounds, and we all
burst into tears-we missed her voice.
She had led the treble, but she sung not
with us then. Her voice was silent; her
body lay upon the bier before US, and her
soul had fled to the higher country-to
that better land where the wicked cease
from troubling, and the weary are at rest ,
Our teacher tried to address us, but his
utterance was thick; tears flowed fast
down his cheeks he might have said
much, but the only Ineligible sentence /
bear In memory was, May the remem-
brances of this day sink deep into our
hearts, and do rs much good He gazed
flowers, and sunk utterly overcome with
upon the pail We had covered wild with
grief. Yes. all these things I have
a vivid recollection Of, and though the re-
membrace fills me with sadness, I love to
reflect upon them. You remember the
letter size sent you, by me, when the ply
sicians would not admit you, because your
presence agitated her too much. L have
had it written long, long time, she said,


for knew this would come. Do not
give it to him until | am gone When my
spirit sl:all lave crossed the dark river of
life, { trough the valley and shadow of
death, and is away upon the broad ocean
Of eternity, you must cheer him. I know
you are such good friends. Tell him not
to mourn for me-that the world, which is
SO bright and beautiful to many, was dark
and dreary to me, He has others to live
for-others to love. Love all things, yet
love God most, and do good to all man
kind. And this was your beautiful
Alice, the loved and lost, whose grave we
so often visited and strewed with flowers


Forgive me, my friend, if I have caused
you an instant unhappiness but the spell
Of other days was upon me, and / spoke
from the heart. Would it not have been
better had we not loved? May God bless
you. Adieu y


Ny dearest, kindest of Uncles, forgive
me nsx rude and thoupbtless request I