Year: 1873




For she was dead. There, upon her
little he'd she lay at rest. The solemn
stiffness was no marvel now.


She was dead. No sleep so beautiful
and calm, SO free from trace of pain, so
fair to look upon. She seemed crea-
ture fresh frcm the hands of God, and
waiting for the breath of life; not one
who had lived and suffered death.


Her couch was dressed with here and
there some winter berries a1d 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 we're her words.


She was dead Dear, gentle, patient,
noble Nell was dead. Her little bird
poor, slight thing the pressure of a
finger would have crushed, was stirring
nimbly in its cage and the strong heart
of its child mistress was mute and mo-
tionless forever.


Where were the traces of her early
cares, her sufferings and fatigue? All
gone Hers was the true death before
their weeping eyes. Sorrow was dead
indeed to 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; at
the door of the poor schoolmaster on the
summer evening, before the furnace fire
upon the cold, wet night, at the still be-
side of the dying boy, there had been
the same mild, lovely look. So shall we
know the angels in their majesty, after
DEATH


The old man held one languid arrs 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 Rugged it
to his breast again; murmuring 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
had tended-the eyes she had gladdened
the noiseless haunts of many a
thoughtful hour-the paths she had
trodden as it were but yesterday could
know her no more.


at is not" said the schoolmaster, as
he bent down to kiss her on the cheek,
and gave his tears free vent, " it 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 deliber-
ate 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 could
speak more calmly ON the subject of
their grief, they heard how her life had
closed.


She had been dead two days. They
we're all about her at the time, knowing
that the end was drawing N. She died
soon after dsybreak. 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 journeyings
with the old man; they were of no pain
full scenes, but of those who had helped
and used them kindly, for she often said,
"God bless you with great fervor. Wax
ing, she never wandered in her mind but
once, and that was at beautiful music
which she said was in the air. God knows.
1t may have been.