36 BERTHA. 



experience again the troubled and vague feelings which had 

 once overpowed her. 



I saw Bertha arrayed as a bride, and I thought I had never 

 seen any thing so graceful, so ethereal in loveliness as the deli- 

 cate and fairy-like creature. The sunniness of innocent girlhood 

 still illumined her face ; and the sweet gravity which settled on 

 her fair open brow, was like the pretty thoughtfulness which 

 dwells for a brief moment on the glad countenance of a child. 



But changes now took place in my own fate, which led me 

 far from my native land, and years elapsed ere I again beheld the 

 friend of my youth. I had never ceased to think of her with 

 affection, however, and on my return, I hastened to visit her in 

 her stately home. How was I startled at the change in her 

 appearance ! Time had not touched her with defacing finger ; 

 she was still beautiful, but a change had come over the charac- 

 ter of her lovelinesss. As delicate and fragile in her propor- 

 tions, as she had been in girlhood, she was now spiritual, not 

 sylphlike. The joyousness of a happy heart no longer lighted 

 up her face ; the ennobling touch of grief had been there. 

 She was no longer a "fairy creature of the elements," but a 

 being who had tasted the cup of human sorrow. Gentle, sweet, 

 but subdued in her demeanor, she was like one whose thoughts 

 dwelt in another sphere. I observed, with deep regret, the 

 weakness of her nerves, the frequent tears that filled her eyes, and 

 the unquiet pain which seemed ever stirring within her bosom. 



I asked her of her greenhouse, and of her love for flowers. 



