Evans_Inez.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
thrown down, and every
deed and thought stands up boldly for itself. have not served !
oh! would not change places with you, leader, teacher, guide,
consecrated priest, as you are--for you have mocked him! , mocked
him! set aside his written word, and instead of truths you told
me of , and , and ! bade me worship the cross,
and never once mentioned who consecrated it with his agony and
blood! my childhood believed your legends and miracles, and
trusted to such as you to save me. dreadful curse will rest upon
your head, for you came in sheep's clothing, and devoured many
precious souls! , ----" vain she strove to articulate,
further utterance was denied her. ghastly hue of death settled
upon her face. lifted her eyes to heaven as in prayer; vacantly
they wandered to the face of the , now well-nigh as pale as her
own; then slowly closed forever. slight quiver passed over the lips,
a faint moan, and was at rest. long her wearied spirit had
cried "! peace!" and now she laid herself down and slept the
long, unbroken sleep of death.
"! you have yearned for rest,
you find it in the regions of the blest."
she had died without the pale of the church, they refused the
lifeless form a narrow bed in consecrated ground. the ordinary
service for the dead was entirely omitted; and, without a prayer, they
committed her to the silent tomb. kind old dame, remembering her
grief at the secret burial of her noble friend, obtained permission to
lay her by his side, and, with the fierce howlings of the tempest for
her funereal dirge, they consigned --the proud, beautiful, gifted,
yet unfortunate --to rest. , , to thy memory, and may the
sod lie lightly on thy early grave!
.
"'s a bliss beyond all that the minstrel has told,
two, that are linked in one heavenly tie,
heart never changing, and brow never cold,
on through all ills, and love on till they die!"
.
", , put on your bonnet; we land in a few moments," said
. , entering the splendidly furnished saloon of a
steamer, where she sat, book in hand. the young wife, for such
she now was, complied with his request, and taking her husband's arm,
they advanced to the bow of the boat. was a bright, sunny morning
in early , and the balmy breath of the opening summer wafted
gladness to many a weary, aching heart. margin of the river was
fringed with willow, poplar, cotton-wood, and cypress, the delicate
fresh green foliage contrasting beautifully with the deep azure sky,
and the dark whirling waters of the turbid stream. was such a day
as all of us may have known, when nature wore the garb of perfect
beauty, and the soothing influence is felt and acknowledged
gratefully--joyfully acknowledged by every one accustomed from
childhood duly to appreciate, admire, and love the fair and numberless
works of , who,
--" content
every food of life to nourish man.
all nature beauty to his eye
music to his ear."
was gazing intently, as each object receded from her view.
turned an angle in the stream, and drew near a landing, with
only a solitary warehouse visible. started, and her clasped hands,
resting on her husband's arm, pressed heavily. looked down into the
flushed face, and said with a smile:
", , what is it? do you tremble so?"
". , cannot be mistaken: this is my father's old landing!
do you look so strangely? ! if you knew what painful memories
crowd upon my mind, you could not smile so calmly!" and her voice
faltered.
his hand tenderly on hers, he replied:
" once asked me whereabouts on the river my plantation was
situated. evaded your question. are aware that inherited it
from a bachelor uncle. purchased it from your father, and to your
old home, my dear , we have come at last. is yours again,
and should have told you long ago, but feared you might be impatient
of the journey; and then it is pleasant to surprise you."
could speak the mingled emotions of her heart, the boat
stopped, and the jangling bells warned them to lose no time.
. placed her on the bank, and beckoning to a coachman
mounted on a large heavy carriage, opened the door, assisted her
in, and then cordially shaking the outstretched hand of the servant,
inquired if all were well at home?"
" yes, sir! all well except your mother. has had the asthma, but
is better. ain't you going to let me look at your wife? put
her in as if wan't to see my new mistress."
. laughed, and opening the door, bade look out; she
threw back her long mourning veil, and bent forward; their eyes met,
and both started with surprise:
"!"
" ! sure as am alive!" and he grasped the white hand
heartily.
" cannot understand this at all! , how came you here?"
" you see, when the plantation was sold, we were sold with it;
that's how come to be here."
" dear , it is strange, very strange, that never once
thought of your recognizing the servants, though should have known
you could not forget them. what capacity did formerly serve?"
" was always our coachman; and many a ride in childhood owe to his
kindness and wish to make me happy. , am very glad to see you
again." her smile confirmed her words.
. took the seat by her side, and was closing the door, when
the old man interfered.
" , know old master is dead--we heard that sometime ago;
but where is ? that blessed good child, that never gave a
cross word to one on the plantation. didn't she come home with
you?"
could not reply, and the tears rolled silently over her
cheeks.
"," said . , in a low, saddened tone, " has gone to
a brighter home in heaven! is happier far than she could be even
here with us! died about a month ago."
was a pause, and then, wiping his rough sleeve across his eyes,
slowly said--" is dead! , she has gone to
heaven, if ever anybody did! for she was never like common children.
's the time when my poor little was burnt, and like to die,
that child has come by herself of dark nights to bring her a cake, or
something sweet and good! bless her little soul! she always was
an angel!" and again wiping his eyes he mounted the box and drove
homeward.
! gentle ! no sculptured monument marks thy resting-place!
eulogistic sermon, no high-flown panegyric was ever delivered, on
thy life and death! that silent tear of old 's outspoke a
thousand eulogies! told of all thy kindness, charity, love, angelic
purity of heart, and called thee " " of the house of
.
found sitting alone in the parlor of her old and dearly
loved home. apartment was much as she had left it five years
before, and old familiar articles of furniture greeted her on
every side. sat down to the piano, on which in girlhood she had
practised, and gently touched the keys. soft tones, waking the
"slumbering chord of memory," brought most vividly back the scenes of
other days. she stood there an only cherished daughter, and her
father's image, as he used to stand leaning against the mantel-piece,
rose with startling distinctness before her. there, too, stood her
cousin, with the soft blue eyes and golden curls of her girlhood; and
she fancied she heard, once again, the clear, sweet voice, and felt
the fond twining of her arms about her. forgotten circumstances
in primitive freshness rushed upon her mind, and unable to bear the
sad associations which crowded up, turned away from
the instrument, and seating herself on the sofa, gave vent to an
uncontrollable burst of sorrow--
"! what a luxury it is to weep,
find in tears a sad relief!"
calmly wept, not bitterly, for she had had much of sorrow
to bear, and schooled her heart to meet grief and sadness. it was
hard to come back to her cherished home and miss from her side the
gentle playmate of her youth, the parent she had almost idolized, and
feel that she had left them in far distant resting-places. heard
her husband's step along the hall, and saw him enter--she strove to
repress her tears and seem happy, but the quivering lips refused to
smile. sat down, and drawing his arm around her, pressed her face
to his bosom, and tenderly said:
" mother had much to say, after my long absence, and could not
leave her till this moment own heart told me that you suffered, and
longed to come to you and sympathize and cheer."
" not think me weak, . , because you find me weeping. is
seldom give vent to my feelings, but to-night am overwhelmed with
recollections of the past. ! now, for the first time, realize that
has indeed gone forever. ! ! my heart aches already for
you, and your warm unchanging love! ! how can look forward to the
long coming years, and feel that shall never see her again?"
", my own , would not have you repress a single
tear. know how sadly altered all things are, and what a dreary
look your home must bear. ask is, that when you feel lonely and
unhappy, instead of hiding your grief, come to me, lay your weary head
upon my shoulder, and will strive to cheer you my precious wife!
nothing induce you to keep aught from me--let perfect confidence reign
between us: and do not, for a moment, doubt that wish you other
than you are. past is very painful both to you and to me, and the
memory of and constantly saddens my spirit. we will
look forward to a happier future, and strive to guide and cheer each
other." kissed the broad brow as he spoke, and drew tighter the arm
which encircled his wife, as though no danger could assail while he
was near.
" late, . , have wondered much how you ever learned to
love me; for am much changed, and in my girlhood was cold, proud,
and often contemptuous in my manner. , , how different from you!
have higher aims in life, and purer joys, owe it all to her,
for she led me to love the law of , and exemplified in her daily
life the teachings of ! for her, shudder to think what
should now have been! , thank thee that am saved even as a
burning brand from the fire! have hope of happiness on earth, and
at last a joyful reunion with the loved ones that have gone on home
before me. you, my husband, help me to conquer myself to break
down my pride, and to be more like . , forgive my weaknesses,
and ever love me as you now do!"
clasped her to his heart, and whispered--" not, , that
will ever love you less! , too, have faults which you may be called
on to excuse, yet all is bright for us, and trust no common share of
happiness will be our portion through life!"
", sweet reward of danger past!
lovely, through the tears
speak her heart's o'erflowing joy,
young wife's smile appears.
fount of love for her hath gushed,
's shadows all have flown,
, ! thou a heart hast found
to thine own!"