CHAPTER X. Unfortunate Occurrence — Death of Loraine — Shays' Rebellion — Humorous Letter. THE last marriage of Mrs. Nelson was entered into from motives of personal convenience on her part, consequently there was little happiness experienced in this unfortunate union. Year after year glided by, and each revolving season only increased the want of sympathy between the parties. The disparity in their ages became more and more conspicuous as they grew older, and not unfrequently was the pride of the husband wounded by an ill-bred expression of surprise at the manifest difference in the appearance of this couple, made by unthinking yet observing individuals. Mr. Nelson, by degrees, became less solicitous to please his companion, and less careful in respect to wounding her feelings; and not unfrequently would he repeat to her some coarse remark which he had heard made in regard to her, that would greatly irritate his wife, and give rise to many unpleasant words between them. Mrs. Nelson, when too late, realized the fact that in forming this connection she had overlooked the most important of all considerations that of sustaining her dignity in the eyes of those over whom she was called to exert an influence. She wept in secret, yet was too proud to admit that she had been the means of her own unhappi ness. One day, as her husband and herself were seated at the tea-table with the rest of the family, some slight remark was carelessly dropped by Mr. Nelson, which his companion interpreted into a reproach upon herself. Her feelings were irritated, and in presence of the whole family she accused him of unkindness and want of regard for her. He replied by saying, 'I never shall be less unkind than I have heretofore been.' After this exposure of their feelings, they seemed not at all anxious to conceal the fact that there was a want of harmony between them, and they lived along, from month to month, in each other's society, only to cultivate a feeling of aversion to each other. There was not one point upon which their feelings were congenial, except that they were both weary of each other's company, and wished, by some means, to rid themselves of any obligation to preserve inviolate the marriage contract. Mrs. Nelson affirmed that it was harder to live with an unpleasant man who was sober, than with one who was pleasant, even if he might be called a drunkard. Doubtless, in this unhappy affair, blame rested upon both parties; for they were alike destitute of high-toned moral principle. It is needless to enter into a detailed account of all that took place relative to these unfortunate persons. They parted, not with feelings of anger, but with those of mutual distaste for each other's society; and often, in after life, when they met at the homes of her children, a stranger would not even suspect that they had ever been more to each other than formal acquaintances. Soon after the separation of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, this lady was called to mourn over the early and unexpected death of Loraine. When she received the letter that contained the sad intelligence, and gazed a moment upon the black seal, her heart sank within her. Her grief was deep, when, upon perusing it, she learned that Loraine had been removed suddenly by death. Ever after this young gentleman suffered the loss of his arm, he had applied himself assiduously to such business as he could attend to with the greatest ease. He taught school, and was very successful. His scholars regarded him with a feeling of reverential affection that gave him an influence over them which he did not fail to improve, in endeavoring to impress upon their minds a sense of their duties and responsibilities. Loraine never appeared to lose sight of the unpleasant truth that his waywardness in youth, evinced in his disregard of the feelings of a parent, had been made the means of depriving him of a valuable limb; and he desired much that his example might be made the means of great good to others. It is rare to see a person possessed of an ardent temperament like Loraine, whose spirit, in the meridian of life, is so sweetly subdued as was his. He felt the need of vigorous personal effort, to overcome his natural propensities to evil, and this fact led him constantly to energetic resistance of what was wrong in his character. When overtaken by his last sickness, he was not surprised at, or unprepared for the solemn event. Although he was not considered immediately dangerous until the morning on which he died, he felt impressed with the idea that he should not recover; and, consequently, made every necessary arrangement for the comfort of his family. The day previous to his dissolution, he said, while conversing with his wife, that from the nature of his diseasehe thought he was very liable to expire suddenly; ' and,' continued he, 'I trust I shall not be obliged to walk through the valley of the shadow of death alone.' His companion, though she realized not his situation, rejoiced at witnessing the composure of his mind. On the morning of the next day, Loraine arose from his bed and looked out of the window of his sick-room, with feelings of delight, upon the beautiful scenery of nature by which his dwelling was surrounded. As he watched the meandering of a gentle stream that flowed along at the foot of a mountain, the sides of which, at this moment, presented in their fading foliage, for it was autumn, a striking illustration of the frailty of man, he exclaimed, How emblematical is the natural world of the destiny of mortals! I discover in this calm rivulet before me a lovely emblem of the peaceful course of one whose hopes. are fixed above; and in the gorgeous appearance of these faded flowers of earth, I discern an exact resemblance to the fragile glory of man! No wonder that David exclaimed, when contemplating the greatness and goodness of that infinite Being who formed the universe, the humblest parts of which call forth the admiration of the reflecting observer, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him! and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" After looking abroad upon the prospect which he loved to contemplate, until wearied by the exertion, he turned from the window and seated himself in his easy-chair. Soon after he sat down, his friends observed a change in his countenance, and drawing near him, found he was dying. He spoke not, but his features were illumined by a smile that seeemed expressive of the sentiment uttered by Doddridge, in the following beautiful lines: 'When death o'er nature shall prevail, His friends were afflicted by his death, yet wished to die like him. His bereaved companion stated the consolatory truth, in her letter to his mother, that he had given his acquaintances and friends reason to hope he was removed to a sinless world. Poor Mrs. Nelson felt that her sources of earthly comfort were fast passing away; and she was almost inconsolable at the thought, that now she had but one son spared to her, and soon, very soon, she expected to be separated from him also. At this crisis in her history, she was cheered by the unexpected renewal of a close friendship with a sister who had been, in early life, much devoted to her. This sister had spent many years far distant from the home of Mrs. Nelson, and by the providence of God seemed guided to her just at the moment when this oft-afflicted lady stood most in need of her society. Mrs. Coleman, the sister of Mrs. Nelson, was exactly the reverse of herself in disposition and character. She was mild and forgiving, and daily strove to learn of Him who was meek and lowly in heart. |