THE BRADFORD REPORTER. OIE DOLLAR PER ANNUM INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE. TOAVANDA: Thursday Morning, September 15, 1859. Sflerftb |!oetnr. THE SLEEPERS. They are sleeping. Who are sleeping ? Children wearied with tbelr play ; For the stars of night are peeping, And the sun has sunk away. As the dew upon the blossoms Bow on their slender stem, So, as light as their own bosom, Balmy sleep hath conquered them. They are sleeping. Who are sleeping ? Mortals, compassed round with wo : Eyelids wearied out with weeping. Close for very weakness now : And that short relief from sorrow. Harassed nature shall sustain, Till tbey wake again to-morrow. Strengthened to contend with pain. They are sleeping. Who are sleeping ? Captives in their gloomy cells ; Yet sweet dreams are o'er them creeping, With their many colored spells: All they love—again they clasp them ; Feel again their long lost joys; But the haste with which they grasp them. Every fairy form destroys. They are sleeping. Who are sleeping? Misers, by their hoarded gold ; And in fancy now are heaping Gems and pearls of price untold ; Golden chains their limbs encumber, Diamonds seem before them strewn ; But they waken from their slumber, And the splendid dreaai is fiowu. They are sleeping. Who are sleeping ? Pause a moment, softly tread : Anxious friends are fondly keeping Vigils by the sleeper's bed : Others hopes have all forsaken ; One remains, that slumber kaeo : Speak not, lest the slumberer waken From that sweet, that saving sleep. They are sleeping. Who are sleeping ? Thousands who have passed away, From a world of wo and weeping. To the regions of decay. Safe they rest, the green turf under ; Sighing breeze, or music breath. Winter's wind, or summer's thunder. Cannot break the sleep of death. 5 11C Ct f b £3I f. THE MIST OF THE VALLEY. "My wife was dead. I bud never loved her—l may as well speak plain—never lovtd ter ; and yet for her sake I cast away the one priceless pearl of my life I think every human existence has its moments of fate—its moments when the golden apple of the Hes pendes hangs ready upon the boucb—how is it that so few of us are wise enough to pluck it ? The deeisiou of a siugle honr may ojeu to us the gate of the enchanted gardens, where are flowers and sunshine, and air purer than any breeze of earth ; or may condemn us, Tantalus-like, to rech ever more alter some far off,unattainable pood—make us slaves of the lamp forever and forever. And yet we seek no counsel. We stretch torth onr hand aud grasp blindly at the future, forgetting that we have only ourselves io blame when we draw them back pierced sorely with thorns. My life, like all others, had its hour of des tiny ; and it is of that hour, its perils, its temptations, its sin, that I am about to tell you. I had knjwn Bertha Payson from my in fancy. She was only a year yonnger than I I can remember her face, far away among the raisty visions of my boyhood. It looked then, as it does now, pure and pale, yet proud Her eyes were calm as a full lake underneath the summer moon, deep as the sea—a clear, un troubled gray. Her hair was soft and smooth, and daik She wore it plainly banded away from her large, thoughtful forehead The pure, yet healthful white of her complexion contrasted only with her eyes, her hair, her clearly defiued, arching eye brows, aud one line of red narking the thin, flexile lips. It was relieved by no other trace of color, even ia the cheeks. I have not painted for yon a beauty, and yet now I think that Bertha Payson had the noblest female face that my eyes ever rested on. Her figure was tall and slender ; her voice clear, low and musical. From my earliest lioyhood she had seemed to me like some guar dian saint, pure enough for worship, but, for a long time, I had not thought warm enough for lore s>he was twenty before I began to under stand her better I bad ja-t graduated at Harvard, and I came home—perhaps a little less dogmatic and conceited than the majority of new fledged A B's—full of lofty aspira tions, generous purposes, and romantic dreams I was prepared to fall in k>ve. Vint 1 had nevtr thought of loving quiet Bertha Payson. my my next neighbor's daughter. The ideal lady of my fancy was far prettier—a fairy creature, with the golden hair and starry eyes of Ten nyson's dream—an Airy, fairy Lillian, Ftnuag, lairy Lil.iaa. And yet in the meantime. I looked forward with pleasure to Bertha's companionship. To taik with her always broognt out " ibe most of Heaveu I had in B<* There was uothing in art or nature so gioricos that it did not uke new glory wheo glauces of ber eye kin dled over it. My nnod never scaled any height of lofty parpose or heroic thought which her far reacmng soul had not couqnered before me. aud so the beat purposes of cay life grew better and stronger .u UM atreat atmos phere of ber approval. Thus it came aboot that we were daily to gether. Long betora I though: of looking at the pale prwid face with a lover's passion. 1 *.D"ts ] batl thooght, what other *ste"pre?A'.ion PUBLISHED EVERY" THURSDAY AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA GOODRICH. could a womau so pure, so single-hearted, so true, have put upon the eagerness with which I continually sought her society ? I passed the largest portion of every day in her pres ence. She was an early riser, and often, even before the summer sunrise I went through the narrow path and little wicket gate which di vided our garden from hers, to persuade her to join uie in a ramble in the delicious morning twilight. There was OLe Bcene of which we never tired ; I have never seen it anywhere but in Ryefields. In the Valley of Quinebang, the mist rises so blue and dense that from a hill overtopping it at a mile's distance it looks like some strange inland sea, w hereupon, perchance, Curtis' Hying Dutchman might take his long and wonderful cruise, or a phautoiu Maid of the Mut, sailing at dawn out ot some silent cove might cut the phantom sea with her phan tom keel, and go back with the sunrise into silence and shadows. On one of those over- topping hills Bertha and I watched the slow coming of many a summer morning. It was in one of those enchanted hours that I first learned that a woman's heart, strong and pas sionate as it was pure, slumbered beueath the calm reticence of her external life. We had been watching as usual, the sea of mist, and speculating idly about the phantom bark and its strange crew. Then we stood silent for a moment, Bertha looking out over the mist, and I looking at her dilating eves, growing so large, so solemn, so full of thought. At last, she turutd with a quick aud sudden motion— " Who would think, Frank, toseethis pros pect now, that underneath this seeming sea lay smiling the greenest and loveliest valley in Connecticut ? I was thiukinghow like it was to some human existence—men and women whose outward life is a vail, denser aud more impenetrable than the mist over the valley, screening the throbbing. passionate, yet silent heart from human vision. And ret there comes a time when the vailed heart will assert itself See. the sun is rising now- ; the mist look- like a soundless sea no longer ; it is be ginning to cnrl away in golden wreaths ; soon we shall see the fair valley with its three white houses ; its waving trees, its little becks of bright waters. Sometimes, even thus, from all proud hearts, the mist will roil goldenly away, and we shall see as we are seeu, and know as we are known—if not he-re, there." She paused, aud I looked at her inspired face I did not wish to break the i-ilence which followed her words. I started, and led the way down the steep hill. After a little, I looked round to see if the same morning sun rise lingered in her eyes. I caught my foot in the same incautious step, against the roots of a tree from which the spring rains had washed away the earth. I was throwu headlong and violently to the ground. I was stouued for a moment. My first sensation of returning consciousness was a jlea.-ant one. I felt Bertha's old Land upon my forehead. She had run swiftly to a neighboring spring, and, with quick presence of mind bad saturated her handkerchief and mine, and she now was bathing my brow with the water. I did not open my eyes at first.— It was so pleasaut to lie there and receive her Dlea>ant oiinistraicns. At length I felt her ear close to my lips. By a resolute effort I held my breath. I wished to try her. She thought I was dead. She did not shriek or moan ; only as if against her wiil, a cry, low and sorrow fu! escaped— " Oh, Frank, darling, darling !" I slowly opened my eyes and met hers There was a look in them 1 have never seen in any other woman's before or since. Then I knew Bertha Paysoneould love ; that she loved me with a 1 ive that not cue womau ui tea thousand could even understand. I saw that underneath the marble heart her passionate woman's heart was flame, but it was n flame as pure as the heaven kimi|cd fires on the altar of the God of the Hebrews. I knew she loved me, and in the same momeut. that with all the might of my heart I loved her— that she alone was the woman to whom mind and soul coo Id do homage, and say, " I have found my Queen." But I did not speak of lore then. I knew she must have read my glance as I had read hers, but she only said very quietly. " Thank God that you are aiive. I must leave yon now to see about gett.ng some oue to take you home " No, I can walk if you will help me." I made the effort but could not rise. The least attempt to move caused me such exquis ite pain that I began to think my i; juries mast be severe. I "said reluctautly, "I am very sorry Bctha. I shall have to let you go. I see it is inijiossibie tor me to walk." She drew a light summer ire of triumph. And yet her dominion over the senses was absolute. I was born a worshipper of beauty. I could not help admiring the airy grace of movement, the sparkling change of her faPe, and ttie smiles that hovered so archly about her lips. Days passed and no fly was entan gled ever more in a spider's nei, than I in the meshes of her golden hair. At first I could see Bertha was simply incredulous and u-toD ished, then aw ild trouble began to darken the clear gray of her eyes. All this time 1 loved her. A single tone of her voice had more power over uiv highest nature than ail tiie en chantments of the others ; and yet I could not break away from t'e fata!spell that bound me. My sen-e were intoxicated—steeped in delirium by the Circe. Can you comprehend the enigma ? Its solution involves the history of mauy a man's marriage besides his own. Just at the right time. Miss Iretou brought a new competitor in the field. In a young law s'udent visiting the place I fouud a rival. Nellie wis a good tactician She played us off against ea h other most adroitly, until we were inspired with all a gamester's eagerness to win. Bertha had now withdrawn herf!f from my society almost a'- together. Indeed. I seldom visited her; but whea 1 did i only saw her in the presence of her mother. Every evening 1 pi-sed at Dr. Green's. At la*:, in one fata! hour, I found Mi-'.* Ireton alone. 1 proposed an i was ac cepted far had my madn-> Listed : but when I heard her faltering yes ; when the golden head sank with fully a-, much triumph as tei.derr.ess upOO my shmilder ; when I Au'il have pressed the k -s of betrothal uj on her lip*, a co'd shudder ran through my veins. I closed my eyes for a moment, in the struggle to rega n my clf command, and there before my closed eyes. I saw Bertha stand as she had stood that rnorirng. 1 saw her pale rapt face, her eyes d.'ated with thought, fixed on thi mis: over the valley. I heard her inspired voice— "Some time, even thn, from a!! proud hearts the mist will roll suddenly away and we shall see as we are seen, and kuow 'as we are known." Ala! in vain had the mr-t rolled aw.iv frotn '.hut proud heari of Bertha Payson. show ing me its hidden ftWMWtt. I h.ui rejected the golden fruit of U**per;de£, lured by t!i fair aetming apple of Sodom - and now 1 tun-' wait vainly at the closed gates of Eden. We have but one birth and one death, and the charmed boor of fate comes but once to life. My betrothed was speaking ; I roused mv self to listen. "I I ked you the very first time I saw TOO. Mr Osborne : and I meant to make you like me. You see I though; it would be more lidSeuit, for Dr. Green told me that yon were half in IOTC with that proad Berths Parson, and I meant to s e if I couidn t make voa fancy me in spite of all." You succeeded only too well, little char mer" There was a iuoun r ul truth in mv answer, which her light heart did not pene trate. Ido think Nellie loved me. or assne -aid l.ked uie, as she was capable of lik.i g Her freely expressed preference was sincere. I should have a true wife, as tae world reck or.s truth ; and yet in God's s ght, I should be unmarried still. We two could never be made one. 1 made haste to announce my engagement. I hurried the preparations for uiy nuptials.— I felt that ray only safety would i.e in leaving HycSeldas soon as possible. Now that the eicttetnent of tr.e ioverdriise wis over, and the young law sta ;ent had saos-.ded into the quiet fnecd of my affianced I could uot conceal trom myself that I had set the seal on my own mad foliT and condemned myse!f to an eternal yet unavailing despair. I earefullj avoided any opportunity at seeing Bertha 1 would not have dared to trust myaeit in her presence. It was the day before my br.dal. So far had I traversed my path of thorns. I rose rarij aud went out of door*. One more walk I wtmld ia*Te to toe hill where the knowledge of Bering's iova had come to me—down whose slopes i had t eea borne with her hand in ra.ne. It was September, but it had been a cool dark summer, and the verdure aoag the h.ii side was still fresh as Jane. Ic! mbed it rapidly When I was wuiuo a few rods of its sammi: 1 loosed up A tail si ght tgsre was cloar'v defined against the sky. Should Igoou ? j Dared I meet Bertha then and there ? I an swered these questions to myself l>y climbing j on quietly and quickly. I could not help it. In live minutes I stood hv Bertha's side. She ! had not heard my approach. Froud woman ' as she was, she had not been too proud to weep. The tears glittered heavily upon her , long lashes. She made no vain attempt to ; conceal them. She met my glance steadfast ly, '• Bertha," I said in a choking voice, " I did not think to find you here." i "Or I you,"she answered. "See, the mist lies as heavily over the valley as when we stood j here last. How little the scene is changed !" 1 " And how much everything else ! " I inter rupted her wildly. " Bertha, it may be mad- j ness or sin, but I must speak. I love you bet ter than my soul. I always did love you but • not with such passion, such despair as now. Is j l it too late ? Must it be too late ? " She 'looked ut me a moment in wonder, in sorrow, tier dark, searching eyes questioned me. Then her lip curled. Would yon be twice a traitor, Frank Os ' borne ?" "No !" I answered impetuously. " I would not but return to my true allegiance. Nellie's ! pride would be wounded, but her heart would j I not suffer much Aud you oh ! Bertha, you did leve me—you do love me. Do not wreck your life and mine." ' frank," said she quietly, yet earnestly, " this is worse than folly, it is sin To-morrow you will be the husband of another. What right hare you to speak to me of love ? True I did love once, but that dream is past. If you w ere fret to-day I could not trust my hap pmess to your keeping. Forget me, or think of me only as a kind, well wi>hing friend." " Is there no hope, Bertha?" But I could not so give her up. The hour had come I had dreamed of through my long convalescence. I stood with Bertha again up ou that Hill-top where I had meart to tell her my love. I must plead with her a little longer. Scarcely knowing what I said, I a-sailed her with prayers. I poured out my very soul at her feet But she only looked at me with her dark, wistful eyes, and returned the same firm reproachful No. At last I was silent. J saw it was of no use. I had myself cast awav my pearl of great price. I must he contented hereafter with the glitter of my lost brilliant. " ell," I saiii, humbly and sorrowfullv enough, 4 1 do not deserve you. You are right, Bertha. But give me your hand once more, as y>u must think such thoughts no longer. Frank, happiness only comes to us in the right. Your duty is to Miss Ireton.— Fulfill it I conjure yon. You have a woman's happiness iu your hand. Yon muotd see her no wn.g.r, And tbea I turned ai d looked moodi ly over the vailey. Already the mist had . parted, and !>efore the sun's fiery eye the val-1 • v lay onshrooded. andttguised, a? our so I'S I :n ist -*and -ome day before llis eye. at whose , word the first sun rose and the last * aid have it. I knelt upon the hill sue. I oared my forehead to the cool breeze of the S ptcro ber morning. I cried oat to heaven for strength. T think ray prayer wis heard. The nut day 1 W3> married. We left Rye fieKl at once, and for three years I did not re turn there. I do believe—thank God for this gleam of comfort—that I made Nellie happy. Io her i own way she was fond of me. She loved socie ty, mirth and fashion—she had them all. I placed no restraint upon ber pleasures, tliough I never accompanied ner Often she has re turned from some gay party late at night, and found roe sitting iu my study. She woald boot 1 into my lap. at tiams, *'h ?. r fine clu d like abandon, tell me what a fine time she bad ; who bad talked to and complimented her, and then aa r of se.f it>fact;ots, if I was no: proauv* suei. a hand some little wife. You know I am handsome. you provnk'-