The International Magazine, Volume 4, No. 5, December 1851Various
History
The International Magazine, Volume 4, No. 5, December 1851
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
Ella looked upward--she looked up to God!
That holy name was not a stranger to her lips. It had been once, until
the child of charity had taught the rich man's daughter some little
knowledge of it. But such ideas had never been thoroughly realized by
her mind; and now, when in the extremity of her destitution, she looked
up--when, "out of the depths she cried unto Him,"--alas! He seemed so
far, far off, and her distresses were so terribly near!
Yet even then, imperfect as all was, a beginning was made. The thick
darkness of her soul seemed a little broken,--communion with the
better and higher world was at least begun. There was a light--dim
and shadowy--but still a light. There was a strength, vacillating and
uncertain, but still a strength, coming over her soul.
CHAPTER THE SIXTH.
And now that wretched man, broken with disease and misery, sat there,
with the lady, who, patient and pitying even to the worst of her
fellow-creatures, had been moved by the sincerity of his distress. The
extremity of his misery had raised so much compassion in her heart, as
to overcome the resentment and indignation which she had at first felt,
on recognizing him.
He had entreated her to tell him every thing she knew of the fate of
one whom he had that morning followed to the grave. For wretched as
was his attire, defiled with dirt, and worn with travel, he had left
the house, and had followed, a tearless, but heartbroken mourner, the
simple procession which attended the once lovely and glorious creature
whom he had called daughter to her resting-place.
He had stood by, at her funeral, whilst ill-taught children stared and
scoffed, until the busy mercenaries had pushed and elbowed him aside.
He had seen his best and loveliest one consigned, ashes to ashes, dust
to dust; he had waited quietly until all had dispersed, and every one
was gone home. He had no home--and he yet stood by, and watched the
sexton completing his work and cheerfully whistling as he proceeded
with it.
For it was now a gleaming bright day, and the sun had burst forth,
and beamed upon the lofty tower of the church-steeple. It gilded the
church-vane and weathercock; it sparkled from the windows of the houses
around the graveyard; it glistened on the lowly graves.
Cheerfulness was around him, for the bright sun of heaven cheers and
ennobles every thing upon which his beams fall. And there was a soft
wind, too, which stirred among the leaves of a few poplars, that stood
hard by, whispering sweet secrets of nature, even in that dismal spot.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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