Year: 1859

my sister rose and came to the child
She pressed her lips on its little hand anG
white forehead; as her hot tears fel
over it, her lost darling raised its arm as
if to touch her face, and smiled


The next morning all was calm and
still in the room. No confusion and dis.
order betokened anxiety. No fire burnt
on the hearth; the sunlight streamed un.
forbidden through all the windows the
couch was smooth, and fresh and white
snowy white was the the form that rested
there. Who could see in the marble
forehead, the hands clasped over the
breast, the ineffably mournful expression
of the mouth, creature once bright,
happy and overfowing with life Were
the sunshine on the fields to grow sud-
denly black, or the rushing wind be in
an instant stilled, or the fOaming torrent
frozen forever, our hearts would be chill
with horror and despair; but what are
these to death ? And though it is before
US constantly, who believes it? Not L,
and never will, not even when | have
passed its portals. For it is but dream,
a Wild imagination the trick of magi-
clan, who snatches away our treasure,
and gives US instead a marble image
As | gazed on the face of what was once
our darling, | could not but think of the
fairy's changeling. l dare not say l
grieved for it; there was one whose pas
sion of sorrow shamed me into Stiffness.
What right have they to weep much, who
have loved littlel Of my sisters grief
| must not speak. In day or so she
grew very restless and impatient to get
home again. Contrary to all persuasion,
she determined to leave US on Thursday,
and take the child with her.


For the last few days, Posey and AL
exis had scarcely spoken to each other
Indeed no opportunity had occurred for
explanation. AT first her manner had
been so reserved as to render it impossi-
BILE; and afterwards the sympathy of
both with their sisters bereavment, the
respect which they felt for the presence
of death, prevented any allusion to their
late quarrel. Ada was very sad, yet
very gentle; the dignity of womanhood
had come over her; the pride and sor-
row of womanhood dwelt in the infinite
depths of her eyes. had scarcely seen
the Jealous, mischief-maker for sometime,
and | felt very little uneasiness about
him. | was very careless about having
fire arms, &c, put out of his reach, and
| am happy to say, no event occurred to
make me regret my heedlessness. On
Wednesday evening l found him sitting
in the parlor by our deserted freSide,
with his face buried in his bands. The
room was only lighted by 'h4 tickle fire.
light.


q am going in the monlng,' he said.


l could only say that l was sincerely
sorry. He C0ntinued:


a. must leave Miss Ada to believe
that / am wretch, ] suppose"


Excuse me, Alexis, / have not time
to talk. Oh the careless child Ada
has left her work scattered over the ia
BILE. / must send her for it.


soon sent her on this important er-
rand. She looked at me with slight Won
der and reproach; why could not have
brought it but said nothing. AS | ex-
pected she did not very soon RETURN
When l saw her next, she was pretend
ing to be asleep; bright bloom was on
her cheek.


On the morrow, cold, cloudy morn
ing, poor Matte hid her pale and fearful
face under her black veil as the carriage
drove off. Alexis last words were TO
Posey about writing. We watched them
until long after they had left US; until
they we're gone-forever! No, in May
Alexis will return to be my Ada's spring
time. and take her away from me-for-
ever. Some who have said farewell on
" to meet in heaven, are not separated
eternally. But those who have loved
once, and change, though they should
clasp each others hands thousand times
sgain, are parted forever.


We are lonely now, the guests who
have gladdened our home are gone
Walter has accompanied them; be is a