Year: 1873

For she was dead. There, upon hel
little bed she lay at rest. The solemn
stillnes was 30 marvel now.


She was dead. No sleep 30 beautiful
and calm, 30 free from trace OF pain,
80 fair to look upon. She seemed q
creature fresh from the hands Of God,
and waiting for the breath OF life; moi
one who had lived and suffered death.


Her couch was dressed with here and
there some winter berries and green
leaves, gathered in spot where she
had been used to favor.


"When die put near me something
that has loved the light, and had the
sky above it always" These were her
words.


She was dead. Dear, gentle, patient,
noble Nell was dead. Her little bird
"a poor, slight thing the pressure OF q
finger would have crushed, was stirring
nimbly in its cage; and the strong
heart Of its child mistress was mute and
motionless forever.


Where were the traces Of her early
cares, her suferings and fatigue? All
gone. Hers was the true death before
their weeping eyes. Sorrow was dead
indeed in her, but peace and perfect
happiness were born imaged in her
tranquil beauty and profound repose.


And still her former self lay there,
unaltered in this change. Yes. The
old freside had smiled upon that same
sweet face it had passed like dream
through haunts and misery of care ut
the door of the poor schoolmaster on
the summer evening, before the furnace
fire upon the cold, wet night, at the
still bedside of the dying boy, there
had been the same mild, lovely look.
50 shall we know the angels in their
majesty, after death.


The old man held one languid arm in
his, and the small hand tightly folded
to his breast, for warmth. 1t was the
hand she had stretched out to him with
her last smile--the hand that led him on
through his wanderings. Ever and
anon he pressed it to his lips then
hugged it to his breast again; murmur-
ing that it was warmer now -; and as he
said it, he looked in agony to those who
stood around, as if imploring them to
help her.


She was dead and past all help, or
need OF it. The ancient rooms she had
seemed to fill with life, even while her
own was waning fast-the garden she
lad tended-the eyes she had gladden.
ed-the noiseless haunts OF many O
thoughtful hour-the paths she had
trodden as it were but yesterday-could
know her no more.


"It is not" said the schoolmaster, as
he bent down to kiss her on the cheek,
and gave his tears free vent, lit is not
in this world that Heavens justice ends.
Think what it is, compared with the
world to which her young spirit has
winged its flight, and say, if one delib-
crate wish expressed in solemn terms
above this bed could call her back to
life, which of us would utter it ?"
When morning came and they conld
speak more calmly on the subject OF
their grief, they heard how her life had
closed.


She had been dead two days. They
were all about her at the time, knowing
that the end was drawing on. She diea
soon after daybrcak. They had read
and talked to her in the earlier portion
of the night, but as the hours crept on,
she sunk to sleep. They could tell, by
what she family murmured in her
dreams, that they we're of her journey
ings with the old man they were Of no
painful scenes, but of those who had
helped and used them kindly, for she
often said, "God bless you'll" with
great fervor. Waking, she never wan
dered in her mind but once, aud that
was at beautiful music which she said
was in the air. God knows. 1t may
have been.


Opening her eyes at last, from very
quiet sleep, she begged that they would
kiss her once again. That done she
turned to the old man with lovely
smile ur n her face-such, they said, as
they had never seen, and never could
forget-and clung with both her arms
about his neck. They did not know
that she was dead, at first.


And now the bell-the bell she had SO
often heard by night and day, and
listened to with solemn pleasure almost
as living voice-rung Its remorseless
toll for her, so young, so beautiful, SO
good. Decrepid age, and vigorous life,
and blooming youth, and helpless in
fancy, poured forth--on crutches, in
the pride of strengthsand health, in the
full blush of promise, in the mere dawn
of life-to gather round her tomb. Old
men were there whose eyes were dim
and senses failing-grandmothers who
might have died ten years ago and still
been old-the deaf, the blind, the lame,
the palsied, the living dead in many
shapes and forms, to see the closing OF
that early grave. What was the death
it would shut in, to that which still
conld crawl and creep above it
| Along tho crowded path they bore