Page:Tragical history of Crazy Jane, and young Henry.pdf/19

This page has been validated.
CRAZY JANE.
19

in her person. She was now reduced to a mere shadow of her former self; her eyes no longer sparkled with their former brilliaccy; her lips were robbed of their coral hue, and her cheeks assumed an ashey pale. Though death might have been a consummation almost to be wished, that might translate the sufferer from this world to a state of eternal bliss, yet her parents could not endure the thought of parting with their dear, their youngest child; still more dear to their heart by her sufferings. Her sisters also felt a keen anguish; but not so much as the gentle Rosetta who was now the mother of two lovely infants. She never beheld Jane but she thought of Henry as her murderer; and the idea conveyed pangs of unutterable anguish to her feeling heart.

One morning, instead of laying till a late hour which for some months back had been her custom, and then repairing with her solitary meal to the grove, she joined her family at their breakfast table, and conversed on several subjects more rationally than she had done from the first day of her derangement. As soon as their repast was ended, Jane arose, and affectionately embraced every individual of the family, particularly her mother and Rosetta.

They were extremely affected, and prayed with fervour, that heaven would be pleased to restore the senses of their fair maniac. They then separated, to perform their several domestic duties; and Jane hastened to her usual haunts,