h occurred; but it spread through the town, so
that scarcely a family was exempt from its ravages. Several died after a
few days' sickness, and it was said purplish spots appeared after death,
making ghostly contrast with its livid pallor. The alarm and terror of
the community rendered it difficult to obtain nurses for the sick; but,
thanks to the benevolent exertions of Dr. Harlowe, we were never left
alone.

Richard Clyde, too, came every day, and sometimes two or three times a
day to the spring, to know what he could do for us. No brother could be
kinder. Ah! how brightly, how vividly deeds of kindness stand out on the
dark background of sickness and sorrow! I never, never can forget that
era of my existence, when the destroying angel seemed winnowing the
valley with his terrible wings,--when human life was blown away as chaff
before a strong wind. Strange! the sky was as blue and benignant, the
air as soft and serene, as if health and joy were revelling in the
green-wood shade. The gentle rustling of the foliage, the sweet, glad
warbling of the birds, the silver sparkling of the streamlets, and the
calm, deep flowing of the distant river, all seemed in strange
discordance with the throes of agony, the wail of sorrow, and the knell
of death.

It was the first time I had ever been brought face to face with sickness
and pain. The constitutional fainting fits of my mother were indicative
of weakness, and caused momentary terror; but how different to this
mysterious, terrible malady, this direct visitation from the Almighty!
Here we could trace no second causes, no imprudence in diet, no exposure
to the night air, no predisposing influences. It came sudden and
powerful as the bolt of heaven. It came in sunshine and beauty, without
herald and warning, whispering in deep, thrilling accents: "Be still,
and know that I am God."

CHAPTER IX.

I do not wish to dwell too long on this sad page of my young life, but
sad as it is, it is followed by another so dark, I know not whether my
trembling hand should attempt to unfold it. Indeed, I fear I have
commenced a task I had better have left alone. I know, however, I have
scenes to relate full of the wildest romance, and that though what I
have written may be childish and commonplace, I have that to relate
which will interest, if the development of life's deepest passions have
power to do so.

The history of a human heart! a true history of that mystery of
mysteries!