tIE - X TDB E S
• By O. V. CUTTER.
Soul' of the Workltthe Piess the Pram!
What Wonders bast thou wrought i
Thou rainbow realm of mental bliss, -
Thou starry sky of tbougbt t -
As dew upon the thirsty flowers;
As the blessed light - of heaven;
And widely as the summer showers,
Thy silent aid is giveit. •
Yet and thou flame upon' the - earth,
Likeths - dread volcano's plow ;-
And tyrants trembled'at thy birth, •
AO at the earthquake's Mil*. -
Hest Ilion not lit the darkest land, -
And broke the fellest chain
• The despot's red *merged. bask
Shall never , forge,agaill-.
Anoiber Sun I thy brightness ion -
O'er the dark benighted world.,
'Artd on thy panic-stricken fries •
-Thy lightning fisshes herr& . • -
Dark_superstition eronelid where 4 er • - ,
Thy thunder seething fell,
And murderous bigots quaked with fear,
As at the tismns of hell.
. . .
And priestly craft and kingly power
Have striven to bind thee down :
But sh i how low beneath tiles cower
the mitre and the crown!
Thy nod can lop the proudest head;
The world thy siepter owns :
The path thou dost to glory tread,
That pith is paved with throne,.
Yet thou art gentle as the breeze- - -
srbe latest breath of day ;
But chaisless as the mighty seas, .
In thy resistless sway. --
At thy command the seals were broke
That boned the silent deep, .
And liberty and truth awoke -
• Prm _cm:ant:les of sleep.
Then first to every "sinful shore,
That man in darkness trod,
The brigbi - and speedy pinions bore •
The beacon words of God. -
The sage; limps the muses' Iyre •
Thou broughest o'er ocean's foam ;
Th - e tEellar light of vestal fire;
The cliknen& of Rome.
Then music rose in Ramie chimes
And the idles of barbarous seas
First beard Athepia's wordi snblitne—
. Thy-words, Demosthenes!
And plate's lore and Sappho 's lay,
O'er other lands were borne, •
Where late was heard the wilti foray,
The savagthunter's horn. ' •
JThou-flag . of troth ! . tby folds here streaUted
_ get Jimmy a field Of blood; : ._
An I o'er the wreck of empires gleamed,
Like the rainbow o'er the flood ;
-The patriots eye still turns to thee,
And bails thee from afar, ' :'
_.: As the wanderer on the trackless sea ' .
.. . liali hailed his guiding star. , -
Thou toseh of hope, thy blaze shall Imma
Veen:111110ns yet to be, •
And llama above the Nom! urn
*Of - crimson monarchy"! .- •
The world already hails thy light,
As the Chaldeana of old, • -
When flashing o'er the clouds of night
The star of Bethlehem rolled. ,
Like letters on the Persiin's wall, , •
But plainer to be read,
Is thy over bright and burning scroll,
That tyrants mark with dread.
O'er scepter, throne and disdim, •
• Hangs thy portentous glire—
the sword o'er last Jerusalem,
Buipendedin the air.-
While to the hearthstone ofthe
And - to the - cottage hearth,
Thou brinest a daily festival _
Of namelesi, priceless worth,
Thou lightest rip the pallid cheek
Of the -deserted poor,
And to the captive, worn sod weak,
Openets.the prison doer, - '
0! o'er in tliy columns bright,
Let truth and virtue blend !
Be ever, ever in the right! ,
Be ever labor's friend.
Hir strong and honest arm shall lie
Thy bulwark in distress ;
God bless the land of liberty !
God guide our country's Press !
JOE CHICKWEED'S COURTSHIP,
• AID
How He was Cat Out.
BY Loris S. BVADICIC.
"I vow r said Joe Cpickwee3. as he stood
before the , parloirnirror,patting the last touch
to his well oiled hair, "if' tet-this night pass
withoutinding just bow 1 stand with Melin
da Martin, then I'm a Cow. The critter's al,
waysacted so pesky skittish that there's been
no getting around her. _ I 1114 her, and she
knows it, and 'm incliuird'Ut think she likes
me; but she likes more than one string to
her bow, and I ain't sure but she'd ship me
"any minute if she could make sa better bar
gain. Maybe I'm doing her an injustice, and
I hope . Pam-; but she acts - same:times 'tartiid
ly like areal coquette, nd I dont know what .
to make of her. But to-night,' he -added,
fitting an immensely high and an immensely
wide-brimmed_ hat upon' his shining bead.
tomight Z9l settlethe matter—l'll cross the
• Rubicon, if I get my boots full of water.—
Melinda ain't-a bad spec, and I might *do
worse most anywhere else.'
Do tell it , it's- come to that P exclaimed
old Mrs: Chickweed, who had entered
_the
room, 'unacitiied by her soo, in tima to'hear
leis last sentence—' well, I've all along bad a
notion that you was iimiein that-'ere
direc
tion.:. .
- .
Joe turbed red from his eye-whikers to his
ankles. and looked very Sheepish. He worked
very busily ; too for a few eeoonils, with brush
ing some imaginary dust fro - m_ a place be
lateen the shbulders of his i coat, which be
coukin't reach, but said nothing. .
There ain't nothio' tribe ashamed on, Joe;
tontianed s aeiona old lady, llPPPerent
-4 rattly , at the discovery sbe bad
**de,' you spoke gospel troth when you
said you might do worse silseabere. -*Ho
des a nice gal' - -
Welk' said Joe, gaining some coon%
from his mother's manner, '"l'm glad you
think so, for hm botitd to make her my, wife,
It what t. asked the oldlady.
Well, if everything's favorable.'
Don't you fear anything's& Agin it.. You
just do your 'duty, Joe, and Melinda's yourn.
Rerneinber the farm. •
`lt is a fine—firM, no ni!staker said the
yousig man, earnestly.' -
'No better farm •of its size in the whole
country than the . Widder Martin's
Chickweed in an emphatic tone. - •"
'No, P think not'
And then see how it's stocked : two yoke
of the best steers in all these parts, besides her
two, hossaii, Sayin' whin' about the rest of
the critters. . And,-- of course, they'll go with
Melinda when the +kidder's dead, and before,
top, roy•-you•wiii go right onto the farm as
soon aspen marry, and take charge ottivery
thing.' • • 1 •
go6d opening, that's a' Cad,' - said
Joe; but I put' a higher-value on. Melinda
than on all the other property.' .
And well you should; though the , farm
and fixin's ain't to be despised'
Oh I ain't one- to despise 'em 1'
•
Joe laughed and left the room, and soon
after Ire feft the house, and made his way as
expeditels as the, gloom Of evening -would
permit toward the residence of the Widow
Martin. A light was burning in the front
room, bin the window-curtains• were closely
drawn, so that he could not get a viw into
the apartment as he passed along the yard.—
Ele knocked at the door, and _was mitnitted
by the widow in person, who,,after inquiring
benevolently after his health, usherkd
to-the larlor.
rt was already occupied by two person—+
,Melinda and Retil*n Sparks,' he latter a young
snarl who had recently returned to Spring
rifle from California, and who was looked
upon with special disfavor by tire young fir
mer.
Joe mitts welecmed by the young lady, but
not so cordially as formerly; and by no means
so cordially as Joe: thought his dire. lie was
greeted by Mr Sparks in a sort of jaking,con
de-cending way that raised his ire inwardly.,
however, the conversation that followed was
apparently agreeable to all par*s„ and the
evening wore away till the - %low retired,
When Mr. Sparks intimated theft was per-_
heist time for him to be ,rettirni g, as it was
quite a little walk to the village': Melinda at
once asserted that, it. was veryearly indeed,
and-he
-should not think of lea ng so soon ;
is
whereupon Mr. - Sparks was induced to remain
a while lo er, end Mr. Chickweed was se-
creilr ea rn e d mei Melinda should' be so talc
'en up ividie company of the young sprig.
California became - the topic of conyersa
tion,land Iteuben Sparks shone brilliantly in
his deK,riptive accounts of the country, and
what-rh, e bad done there.'
'Then you went into the diggin's inquir
ed Joe, in response to something his, rival
had uttered.
'By no maw' replied Sparks, loftily. 'I
let digging to thOse that were Used• to it; , I
hadn't* taste that way.
'Oh, then you stopped in town
Certainly.
'twines.% I s'pose,,first rate there.' •
'Yeq. A young man 'of tat - eat -will soon
engage himself in. profitable-employment.'
'Then l's'l:eet you must have done extra
-ordinary well l' said Joe, in a tone he intend
ed should be sarcastic. '
`Oh !' replied. the other -laughing in a
meaning was, and winking with one eve at
the young liZtly, who appeared to 'take,' and
enjoyed it accordingly—' as for that matter
,I can't complain. • I think I improved my
chances—l rather think I did. I dont com
plain,by no means.'
• hen why didn't you stay Ringer t You
weren't gone but a short time ; you should
have:Stayed a year or two more, and made
yourself independent.'
Perhaps am independent already; I Say
perhaps.
.Of courts I can't tell you the ex
act amount I made—l think that is quite
unnecessasy.
• 'Oh, quite.'
And perhaps, too, there 'were attractions
in this part of the_world,as alluring as gold.'
He looked knowingly at Mrlinda a.s' he
spoke, and gave her another wink which that
young lady seemed to relish, though she
blushed and appeared wonderfully embsrass
ed for a moment.- Joe noticed what occur
red, and didn't at all fancy the course affairs
seemed to be setting. He knew that be sho'd
feel and appear peculiarly savage, if be re
mained- much longer, so he hinted that it was
about time for him , to be going—and what
Served to enrage him more than aught else,
Melinda-appeared to be of the same mind, for
she made no objection., So be took his hat
and departed, with firmness in his step and
bitterness in his heart.
'I don't like the looks of things at all,' he
muttered to himself, as he walked on through
the dark; 'she's alt9frether -too tender wrrh
that chap to be agreeable to me.. If Ile bias
not turned her head, then there's a mistake
somewhere. I dont believe he has brought
money enough from Californy to buy a rope
to bang him sith - 2_ He's after the widder's
farm, now, to make it up, bet my hat.—
Yes, sir, he means to catch Melinda, and I've
been fool enough to wait till this time before
coming to a final point. But perhaps it ain't
too late yet!' he added after a few inornents
reflection; maybe she'll consent to have me
yet. if I like no time in asking her., I'll try
it, I vow I will. go over again te.mor
row.-and have the thing settled.
_ .
And having come to this conlnsion, he
hurried forward, and soon after was -dreaming
of Melinda . Martin, the widow. himself,and
an infinite number of Reuben Sparkses, who
wee all endeavoring to chase him up a steep
bill, and 'beat his brains out with bars of
California gold.
'. Mrs. -Chickweed was most - anxious nest
morping to learn from her son Abe result - of
his mission to the widow's', but Joe was
silent and pensive, avoiding bis_rnother!s eye,
and keeping away from the house as much
as possible. • *Lati in the evening he carefully
dressed himself in his best suit, and with a
look . of determination - stamped ',u - pon his
features, be once more_set out to visit the
fickle Melinda.
He found her at borne, and alone. -
'Hope you spent an agreeable evening'
yesterday,' remarked Joe, after be had tamed
the meal compliments, and seated himself.
near the yonn lady.' .
'ob; yea, r did, I m ' mute you was Ito
rept
-*,etr. sparks, : ,
aboold say, is a vary ants?.
taining - young luau •
Toe din't think JIIICI•ChT4'. of tbo kit: ! !.l,' bet
quit* tbiett
. 0 WE ARE ALL EQUAL BEFORE 001)011) TITS CONSTITV - TlOrt...Jazites Buctaana n.
ottrose, 2 , usotitannie - ttogntg,
'Be indeed,' respondedlfelinda.
Joe looked anything -but pleased at this en
comium on his rival, and sat for-some mo•
ments in 'utter silence. At length ha turned
to the yonng lady and spoke:
' came here•lastevening; he sail:4loth the
intention of speaking to you on a particular
subject, but I found you so engaged that I
determinedio call again to-night, and so—
so—,
Sere yon are, said Winds, smiling at Ms
embarrassment.
!Yes, here lam. And,' now that rm beta,
I'll tell you at once what I has's come for.
You know I love you; I've told you as mach
naore'n once, end I've flattered myself that I
weren't indifferent_to you. But now I wish
you to tell tam if , yon really love me in ettern,
and ifit may 'hope- to make you my %viral
Will you marry me I'
- roe, hiving arrived' at this important 'quest=
ion, looked tenderly and appealingly into her
faciand breathlessly awaited the reply. She
colored slightly and bent her eyes to the
ground. -
'You are quite right, she said, - 'in supposing
that iron are not indifferent to me, for I-re
gard\you very - highly.'
'Then all my fears have been groundless 1'
uttered Joe, exultingly.
,"But,' continued the lady, "I cannot tier) ,
well grancyour wish regarding—'
'What cried Joe, his countenance sudden
ly changing.
'I cannot very well marry von r
'And wity- can't - you f I'd like to know
what's to hinder you marrying if you think
enough of me.'
. 'There is one reason in particular'
'What is it I'
Tin engaged to another
Joe turned pale.
'Spears I' he cried. 'tell me, is it Sparks I'
'Well, and if it is:
'I know it ! Blast him, I knew what he
was Vier V
. 'I don't know that Mr. Sparks has timed in
any way as he should not!' remarked the
young lady, waimly.
'He is'a cheatin' villain !' replied Joe ; in
dignantly..
the
kind.'
don't know Win; he's nothing of the
kind.'
'ICA..you that don't know ; but you
wilt before long. I've been deceived, and I
ain't afraid to say Sn I's cimtinued he, snatch
ing. up his hat ; 'its the money he pretends
to have that's lost me a wife; but when you
want. t(4: 'Quell it just as like as not you
won't be
He rushed from the" hence as he uttered
those words, and- hurried homeward. He
foUnd his mother still up, and was eagerly in
terrogated by her as to the luck he bad met
with. He told her all,• and little condolence
was she enabled, to offer him in return.
For two or three days following,Joe Chick
weed raid verylittle, but thotight
One morning be met ills mother with
ing face and a sort of triumph in his look.
The old lady was somewhat surprised at this
certain change in her son's en - saner.
'Why, what on girth's the matter now,
Joe V said she ; 'hope you ain't goiO' to go
crazy' _
'got by a long shot,' replied Joe, ain't
quiteso big a fool as that.'
• 'Than what ails you I'
I've got it all arranged at last—l've
got 'em now."
'Who I What I'
'Why, TAlelinda, and that vagabond Rent).
Sparks—hall. ha I I'll surprise him.'
'Wen, 1164y0u goin' to do it
'Oh, it's all ,- right4 said Joe, laughing slyly
do it, darn'd if I don't. ni get the
aneakin' critter -
'But how—bow, Joe 1' Can't you speak
oskt 1 What's got into the boy 'l' asked the
old lady, dying with curiosity to know what
was his plan.
'Weil, now, tell you all'about it,' began
Joe, assu ming a more sober tone.
'Well; I just wish you would'
'You know the wilder has always favored
my keeping company with Melinda.
• 'Well I'
=`And I do believe sbe's desp'rate down
on that . feller, Sparks,. coming into her
family'
les.'
'ln that MO she wouldn't very willingly.
let her property' go into his hand'
'But, cording to the will of old Mr. Martin,
the property ain't to go out of her hands till"
she's dead.
'Jut so—but Sparks would hire all the
benefit. And now I'm coming to the p'int—
it's just there Pro going to floor Reuben
Sparks!'
'Well, !et us bear
'The widder Martin herself ain't n bad
looking woman !' Joe remarked, in asort of a
mysterious tone of voice, glancing tip sudden
ly into his mother's face.
'No— but what's that got to do. with the
matter replied the old lady, impatiently.
'And she ain't -Very old, neither,' continued
he. with the same air.
'Why, - sbe,can't. be more'n forty.'
'So I should think ; and she has &good
chance of living. forty mote.' '
- 'Weil, and what of it -
'Just this;' raid Joe, leaning , over to
reach his mother's ear-11/ many the wid
der P
• Mrs. Chickweed, expecting as she was,
something startling, was nt prepared for this.
She uttered an exclamation of unbounded
surprise, started upward from-her seat, and
then sank back - and fixed her eyes with a va
cant
cant stare upon_her son's far;e.
•Well,' said Joe,q ho'e you don't see any
thing times agin it'
'Yo—no stammered hir: mother, recover
ing somewhat from the shock she bad re- i
ceived ; 'hut are you really in airnest, Joe—
will you marry the widder
`To-be sure I will, and that's the whole of
it.' .I'm going up to see her this very day.
I'll marry her if she'll have me, and be - fe•
venged on Melinda for ct.tting we as she has
for that Wasted Sparks.'"l'll teach 'em what's
what I' - -
Joe was as good as his word. Ho sought
the widow and.made his proposal... She das .
more astonished -than Abe knew how to ex
press, but .she Was more 'gratified than she
was astonished. Fresh and fair as she was,
coasideritio bar years, - sbe bad Lever given
over the idea Of winning another , husband
- but it bad.never entered her bead that she
could possible Seam so young . 1)11 estimable
a prite rsab* : ahloksieed ,
4 0 0 proviso bls . propor•
W," t,hat'thsty be otailied pr iv#tely
.
the day helot% die Marriage of Sparks with
the widow's daughter, and that it should be
kept a secret *Mil that wedding had taken
place. To this tint wide* readily agreed, al
though it was a held task sometimwt for her
to restrain' the enjoyment - she experienced,
and prevent the secret being discovered. -
The evening Wore the nuptials of,Sparks
and Melimly at length arrived, and.all the
prepanitions for Vie ceremony on the ensuing.
day were cempl4ted. When daritnes bad
fairly set in, whirl Melinda was so occupied
with the compaiv and conversation of her
soon-to-be bust:mid as. to be completely ob-,
livious to all elsei Mrs. Martin cantioutiy left
the house, and . Meeting Joe near at hand,
she hastened wi l l him to the residence of the
Chickweed.. minister, 'who bad beep.
duty achnonishech to secrecy, was in attend
ance; and in lewhhan half an hour - thereafter
Joe was a tnaviied man, and the-no:tenger
widow was on hat way back to her home
partiug from Joe with a single but very enor
mous kiss, with which he was content. to sat
isfy himself, considering what *as to follow
from,so doing on the morrow.
The wedding passed off next day to the en
tire satisfaction of all parties. The affair took
phice in the morning, at the residence of the
bride, and at the hour of noon all the guests,
with the exception, of Joe Chickweed, who
had been formally invited, had departed.—
Why he remained - so long it pulled the new-.
ly-married pair to surmise, as they had not
supposed 'be would be present at all. Joe
took it very 'easily, however, : and seemed
Anne unembarrassed by the occasional ban
tering% of the happy Sparks.
'1 s'pose, said Joe, addressing himself to
the newly-made husband, as they were all as.
semhled in the parlor together—' s'pe . te
you'll take up your _residence in, the village
right away—buy you a nice house and live
fashionably I'
Ob, no,' replied Mr. Sparks—' dou't know
as Isbell.' •
What ! ,Well, now, I cal - elate you don't
have any idear of settling on a farm , ?—you
ain't used to that work, you know'
' Don't know 'but 1 . may,' said Sparks, as•
suming a .carcless air and tone; ' coining on
hot weather, you know, and living in town is
a bore in summer. Yes, think I shall try
country life for a while; I ain't in the best of
health, and a farm life may improve me.' •
Well,' responded Joe, deliberately, ' can't
say that I'm sorry you're going to stay with
-.l..tlaielc• = g ra 41mt iv-would be - to - your
benefit to work on a farm fora while; and
we'll try to make it as comfortable for you_rts
we' oak r
Mr. Sparks looked at him, and Mrs. Sparks
looked at him ; then they looked at one an
other and laughed.
No doubt,' remarked Mr. Sparks, you'll
make a very agreieable neighbor—very agree=
able indeed. .
• Oh, imillegt AltikwymAaLkemora , g ood
right—of 'course we will,' said Joe giant:log
with a look of intelligence toward the former
widow.
Again Mr. and Mrs. Sparta glanced at one
another, but this time they didn't, laugh.
What do you mean 1' they asked simul
taneously.
`Oh, excuse rue;, 7 (not that you didn't
know what* has transpired. The fact i the
widow, here, and myself, taking a mutual
liking to each other, were married list night !
We should have invited you to the wedding,
but we knew you were so engaged—'
What I—mirried l' cried Mr. Sparks,
springing to his feet, while a look of horror
overspread his features. His wife sat pale as
a gliost;,utterlY unable to speak a word.
' Certainly, married,' said Joe, coolly.
,` Is this sot" be inquired, turning to the
late widow.
' You noarieir upon all be sap,' she re
plied.
' Then I have been swindled--imposed
upon—deceived ! And you knew of this also,
and led me on I' be continued in a violent
tone, addresing his wife. You worked to
get me, while this infernal cheat gets all the
property 1' ,
`No—it's not so; exclaimed Melinda, burst
ing into' tears ; I knew nothing of it. And
I thought you married me for mysilf, and
not for money, you pretended to have enough
of that - yourself r
Reuben Sparks smiled a sickly and a scorn
fulsmile.
' It's even as I tbouglit; his money's so
deep in bank that ho never:llle able to dig
ii out,' remarked Joe.
' You scheming rascal gasped Sparks.
looking as if it would be the height of pleas
ure to eat him entirely up, body and bones.
Oh, fire away I it don't hurt any ; and
I've got a long lease of the farm—' •
' You scoundiel !'
' And the horses,"and the steers- 1
' Qh ! you miserable cheat !'
‘-And the firia's genaratly—'
Fool-!'
'And moreover, continued Jce, assuming
a more sober and. sterner tone, and grasping
Sparks firmly by the collar as he spoke—
' among -other things I've . got a word or two
of advice for von. You married Melinda in
the expectation of stepping into snug proper
t. v, palming yourself off as a man of means to
your'end.., You are the real
schemer, !mica part of your scheme has failed.
Take my advice and it will.-be well with you ;
use your wife as Vou know yon should—go_
to work like a man—and strive to be an hon
est one: And finally, don't let the hear you
make 'use of .%any more such expressions as
you just now bestowed upon me, or I'll thrash
you within an inch of your life I Remember,'
added Joe,_giving .him a shake, as a terrier
would a rat, you're mrson ‘ now, 'cording to
law, and you must have a slight *bow of re
spect. for your father r
Reuben' Sparks seemed to come tit once to
his senses, and-after a little reflection conclu
ded that the advice be bad-received wag, upon
the whole, the 660 , hp-could not upon; and
for many a yewr thereafter Joe Chickweed
looked' upon,bim as a moat valuable assis
tant..
:Sr A nnbleman having siivan a grand
party, his tailor was ansooff: the company,
and was thus addressed by ht lordship:
'.:My dear sir, I r'etuernbafyonr catie,-but I
forkat your . name: .
• . .
Th e oiler whispered, ‘. zaula your I)=4.
ales." • ' •
The uottlensno taking him by tha hand,
OActitifried; - "lfiicr gr 4303 / 311 ;! I ° l . leflo/4"
p 7 to see yon !" , '
UNCLE fitAlann; STORY•
. .A
FROM THE RECORDS OF A LIFE.
-0~-- -
Br ITILLIS E. PAWL
am waiting fur the story, I saidlo Uncle
Martin, as I sat, cosily,: wrappe4in dressing
gown and slippiirs, facing an uncle who, for .
forty rears, bad let a single life, and who
bid fair to continue a bachelor "unto they
eye- ,
`What story r he asked, pawing a mo.:
meet in , his devotions to theaontents of a
pipe that had traveled Com Stambout to
Ametica via Catfoivin. '
'The story you promised= .to Wine long,,
beg" The reason why you are a bull ,
Blot if I must be more explicit,' stoswered.
and, wherefore I Let me see; 'be
question embraces - an extent of twenty yeas
—almost your lifetime, is it nOt
'Within a lustrum of it.
'Well, it seems to me that I recollect some
thing about this promise to you, and I may
as well fulfill it now; and be done with, it.
But do you know what you will hear
'No, I do not; except that it will. be inter
esting romantic, and—
I paused.
'Something, bow'
'And true,' I added.
totnething more still'
'Then tell me, for were I to guess fiom
now till the rising sun wakens Cherry and
Blossom, and recalls them from a canary's
dream-land, I could not guess right,'
'You will hear what no other person Las
heard ; you will see what•no other person has
seen, except the one that gave it tri
long ago.
As - my uncle spoke, he laid away his pipe,
and, drawing up a alehder gold chain that
hung about his neck'(one day of my first re
collection is that chain. When I was a
child, and was dandled upon his knee, it was
my delight 'to clasp it in my tiny fingers, and
try—all vainly—to get it entirely in my pos
session), revealed a locket attached to the
end. i looked up at him, and though there
was no traces of a struggle going on within,
I felt-sure that rnemory was busy at,his heart.
strings, and that, a picture of other days was
before him..
have not opened this since this day last
year. It the anniversary of a day of sor
row ,to-me n and..-..tiosoclated` as it - ter with 'this
piciture and the story I am about to relate;---
41tis seems a most appropriate time.'
Ile paused:
. hardly knowing how to answer him, I did
the next best thing—remained silent, waiting
for him to continue. Nay, as I saw him at
tempt to open the locket, and then pause, as
if ashamed it, might cause emotions which
would unman him, I turned my eves from
him -for :a moment. When next : My ; glance
rested upon him. the incket was open. -
'Look at it, Willie.'
I took it, and glanced at the'face that met
my view. It was a face which, at first sight,
did not seem very beautiful ; there was noth
ing glorious in the beauty of the pictured
fatte. Mit the more you gazed, the more you
became impressed—were you looking --with
the sweetness that shone, like linsper's light,
from her dark-browed eyes. A light scarf
was thrown carelessly, yet gricefultv, over
her shoulder; a lace collar rcated-upon-ber
neck, and her lips - seemed just on the eve of
the parting, as if to utter some !tweet ukaur
ance of affection "to one beloved."
'What do yqu think of the picture 1 )
`The more I look, the more I like it. She
teems m if AbbOt to speak to me.' _
'Shall I tell you what she spoke to me sr
'Yes, please.'
Uncle Martin took the locket, and, touch
ing another spring, showed a " recess back of
the portrait, from which he took a strip of
paper. It was yellow with age, and crump
led, as though tears had fallen upon it. Ido
not doubt but that tears had dropped upon it
in the years gone by.
'How does it read I' he asked, as, be bindid
the slip of paper to me.
, I looked at it and then at Mtn. Then I
had :
there . needlt
eircs: was the low response.
'Thine nom; thine ever !'
The words fell slowly. from my lips. I
knew how the sound of them would affect
him, and was not surprised to'see him bury
his face in his hands, and give - evidence of
deep emotion. 'Surely,' I thought,,as I look
ed at the - face and the motto, 'surely it.may
have been more than a alight cause that
brought about dissension among ,Hearts that
love as my uncle must have loved ; fnearly a
score of years have passed away, and. yet the.
wound has not wholly healed.
'Yes,' he at last said, 'that is the Way it
reads, or did read, once. No*, I read it
Botnew bat different.'
'How, uncle r
`Thine no ! Thine I never 1'
I could not. comment upon the construc
tion. I felt that it was a true rendering
now, though once it might have - been, dif
ferent.
'This is its meaning now,' added my uncle,
its if divining my thoughts. 'The last time
I looked at .this strip a paper, the words
seemed placed to read so; hence my desire
that you should read Them. It.'was an Op
tical delusion, but the sense of the sentenee is
as I have rendered it. She is wit mine ; she
never will be mine.
`Slip back the paper in its hiding-plaee ' he
added, after a moment's pause. 'Slip it hack,
and close the locket. I aiustAtiook on
that face again, until a trielmonth hes
rolled around; until there comas a summons
for me to join that caravan, of which the
p oe t tells us. You remember the passage, do
you not. If so, repeat it' , ,
In a Jow voice 'complied with his request,
and the noble thought of Bryant, In his
•Thanatopsis,' fell upon his ear : ,
4 , ,50 live, that when the summons comes tojoiti
The itmpmerable maven, which moves
To that mysterious realm,.iithers eaeh ahall take
His chamber in iho slept halls of death; '
Then gp not—liko the quarry slave . at night,
Foourgbd to his dungeon—hut* sustained and
soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave,
lAke one who amps the drapery of.hbs couch
About - him, and lies demi to phassaut, dawns."
41 iVilan tbit 80;101011 601b011: ha opetinued,
ee lb* mond of my wit's died'sw*y, bops
to beiefileiently bible to be able to bold
the ploture:of Nellie
.Grey ..in my band, and
look one hut look at his sweet face: . I have
always loiedlter, - thcaigb she Veiled a dagger
its roses, and thea'sheatbed it in my heart.
The odor remains, though. the blood has been
wailed away by the years whose swift tide
hatirolled over it, carrying-drop by drop to
mingle in the ocean of the plait. But if I Rio
tell you the story, it is timeto begin -Lower
the curtain, and put out the light.
_lt is a
story fit , only for the fire-lightsto ehine upon,
and the ashes beneath • the glowing coals are
a fit type of a heart above, 'which colt the
coals.of Memory
glow. -
I consplied with his wishes, and in
snhstanee, he legated what follows t
"Nellie Grey and• t were near neighbors.
The • farms . kif our respective parents Joined
each other, or, rather,• we-Were only separated
- by a row of willows: In those- day; peaCe
And amity reigned to such an -extent, that
there was• no need 'of fences to= .mark the
boundaries of property. •The _laws of Aram
Ind Teum were as unknown as that principle
in mechanics (so long as sought for, and
whin& will never be found) La which perpe,
teal - n"4011 is to be established. Nellie was
a year or yOunger than myself, and though
not absolut,ty a beauty, yet had sufficient
loveliness to urn the heads and win the
hearts of nearly.a th e f arm e r youths- within
a circuit of ten *Ales: But none of 'them
were received with he favor with which she
looked upon me, and7radually it grew to be
a settled,f.act that her ire f arenee was immov
able fixed, and, one by 'cc, suitors dropped
away, discouraged at - the trasp that hung, so
temptingly beyond their mph, leaving me,
sole master-of the field. Somshow or other,
I did not glory in this. I felt c.nscious that
I loved Nellie Grey, with a 10ve 55 deep as
the ocean's depth, and-as changels., as d m
immutable bills that have stood the w ar and
tear of centuries, - and on which the..egsl
mo - od . looking now, sees no altera: on
since its beams first fell upon them, on
night after the ark rested on Arar.it. Ana
Nellie was 'conscious of Ibis, and returned the
affection I had for her,
with all the ardor and
the impulse of yout h. I credit her with
sincerity during the happy period of our lives.
In the quiet afternoons we would walk under
the willows, and , watch the sun sink behind
the western hills, and, as mfartn twined a•
round her yielding form, end my eves met
her, as I made this_saeet confession—'Nellie,
I love you, I never failed to get the answer I
expected. Her brown ayes would look up to
mine, and her lips would say; `And I love
you,' and then—how could we help it -- 1 Our
lips would meet, and we would sent the mu•
teal confession with a kiss. Ali I those by
gone hours beneath the willows I They mark
a bright era in the history of my life, and—
alas I that it should be so—serve also to
re
real the greater, deeper darkness of the da3s
that followed after. Willie, I have watched
the sun rise and kiss the bps of stony Memnon
on: his , ancient throne; I have floated south
ward down the tide of the . (3.2lidakieiver,
'through the sunny valleys of smiling Spain ;
I have stood in the shadow Of Saint Peter, in ,
the city upon the seven .Hills ; I have stood
where the three hundred fell at Thertnopyle ;
I have bathed my face with the water drawn
from the wells at Elim; and cooled my brow
beneath the shadow .oast by its seventy palm
trees; I have battled With desert sands, and
with ocean's storm; I have watched the sun
sink behind western prairies-
and, from the
shore of the Pacific, saw it dip its crimson
di-c in the cooling wave ; I have been temp
est tossed, and a prisoner ; I have lingered in
the vales of Arcady, and suffered uflder the
froxen Pole ; but there never came a day, or
an hour, when the memory of those sweet
seasot a of solitary communion was effaces
from my mind.
.But I weary you, and will hasten on.
All through the summer in whiehabe reach
ed her eighteenth birthday, our companion
ship was one sweet—tender and uncontrolled.
Our parents were - well pleased with the drift
of our affections, and,
_I ticlubt, not, often
Wired over the apparently-approaching
nuptials. And we 1 One day 'I asked her to
fix thelirne when a husband's right to guard
and to oherish her would be given me. She
said tbit, on the day 'appointed by the
Governor of the State as a day s tf general
thanksgiving, there would be special cause
for kin our homes. Boit was agreed between
us, and the months that _intervened seemed
to dwindle down to days as I looked hope
fully forward.
'About two months previous to the lime
we supposed our nuptials would take place,
it became necessary for me to visit a town in
a distant state; on business connected with
our family estate. I had a long . ioterview
with Nellie ere I started. An artist named.
Sylvanus Osborne bad been staying in Abe'
vicinity, and her • father had taken the
opportunity to seoure a portrait of his
daughter. This picture—you are holding it
now in your hand—Nellie gave me at that
parting interview. With it was the slip of
paper, with the. motto you_ have read. I
comforted her' as well as (could, and assured
her that absence would butt , strengthen my
affection for her. Sheseemed - distressed be.
yond measure at the thought of separating
from me for the three weeks Lwonld proba
bly be absent. and wept, long and bitterly, as
my lips met hers for the last time. until I
retyprd.
-Mre'iny uncle p . rauved.. I handed him a
glass of water; he just-wet his bps with the
liquid, and then continued :
'I went away, carrying with me the pic
ture and the sweet assurance of Nellie's love.
I left Sylvanipt Osborne behind . me; ind when
I returned home—after a stay,prolonged
two weeks beyondwhat !originally intended
—I found that he had—'
I started to my feet at the thought of what
was.coming. Could it be possible,
'Nay,' he continued, after pausing ‘a mo
ment, bxiking, at tile astonishment depicted
upon my countenance, 'do not wonder; ,
my absence ibe, bad found a consoler.—
She bad listened to °that words of lore, and,
tinder the willows, bud made anew confess
sion: She bad giver( use the picture the ar
tist paintod,'and had 'given herself to. the ar
tist..
1 will not tell you of the hours immediately
succeeding the disexwerypf dog
mit. I will not undertake to deserib'ethe
anguish in which 1 wee plunged as .1 listened
to the fstory of her betrothal, and the ap
preachiug bridal. I esked-if it was sanotioned
by Farmer Prey, and was anewered int the
ifflrMative: question - id ng fUrther in the•
matter, thringb' my brother—yoqr father,
lirgli e —.4 ave me _what iefonnatiott - ba bad
end darn my atom* 14411144. *it
• liatzt!itt XittinEtr
. . . .
If . 11; Osborne witi.ieriwealthyr, and. that Jill
appearance. as an arti4 was a freak of , fancy..
Ille Ltd 'strolled into! our - vininity, and tliii
sr.zeet face and engaging manners, of Nell's!,
had captiVated him, 1 For this.:- Coild . not
blame Min. Had net. others knelt •at her
feet I litia he knoll of any Orin, envie
ment, his conduct mit have been different,.
for he seemed tc is -be reaci,of honor and , in r
t
tegrity. re ribs'en ' ' hid hot e v en harried il
his proposal: Be ,k w only whit boniMoir
repbrt said, and when he confesaid his love
to Nellie (Irby; do found that rather bad--an
usual—played.lnns false, for. sill's, '11C11;ed
sweetly upon him, and ,sent him away with.'
a happy, heart.. I tee'e often svonderedif, '-
at that hour, any thoight of 'me crowed her
mind. 'Pub.* her.itliver'W wealth dazzled, '
her eyea,`lsiptt ao ca ptivated he heart ,thak
she thottght only 'till the futnre, anteirwi
nething_tor.the past.l . Perhaps—but Conjec
ture is nieleas. ' Let me return to actuality.
' They 'were inarriel ; but. I dill not stay
to witness the cerestuitty:
. '1 - left /setae and 'country , and becaMe a
' , Wanderer upon the face of the'eartle.
,I carried
with me wherever I Went, this -picture and the .
promise-of the falselellie Grey. ...I schooled, -
my heart to hate her bat it wouldltot learn.
the lesson. • Neither deiddl forget her. Hes
image was before rq, night and '.day, what
ever situation I was r i n.. - In my dreamt, her
face came to me, shd since More I walked _
under the willows,lan i ll , 'made a sweet smarts. ,
viva ; once morn I \ raid, Eliellid, I love you, '
but I ever awoke befdre she gave the answer.
Was it not singular' I Just , as I bent my
head to listenmy dream would end; and the
darkness and the oekaitity of _despair made
my heart ache. - 1
'So the years passed4-fire, -tin, fifteen "
1 years. Then I returned home to find you a
youth, verging on manhood, and—something
more—a grave in tile churchyard, on which .
was inscribed—Nellie-Linton . P •
Once again l' started to My feet,-saying-=
Yeilie Linton P i .. .
' Yes, replied my uncle. 'Let me drcip.
the .4ine of Osborne now, for the disguise is
no loner needed. ' Do not blush *hen I tell
Yee that'-. know ydur secret; 'big I believe
that Alice is g olik e iher mother in one thing
at least. She will Ikeep the troth she has
plighted to you; i k now sh e will.
' And - now I flak told you my atory.-
Thiy ear that Nellie .7.e e d happily with her
husband:: I have diet Mdi several tithes
since I havebeen here, and what little! know
cf him confirms melin believing that she did.
' What else I Nething, except that Nellie's
daughter_ will be to my nephew What Name
was not to me— faithful and tritei as becomes
a. woman.' - J 1 . '
-- - :
In Islay_ there ill to ho a Bridal.:' Need I
tell you whose!' 'I As We_ pass through the
ixikals of the chetah, after the rhiaister his
joined o ur hands, We will go Icy a graire, mar
which themyrtles' blossom-4EO: we will
pause a moment, and, if Uncle Martin drops
a tear there, who is therathaterill chide him I
'
A WEtritttn tz4 MUCANAAII.-••A recent
writer relates a sce n e which took place at
the pastor's house. 1 The young - parson hay.
ing arranged the folks, commerical . .
`John Sutter, do sou take, Melindk Woods.
in. the presence of-th=e wit nesses,' tQ ba. your
laafal wedded wifc;fi
'That's coot.here for,' answered Mr.
Sutter, cramming Ins hinds into his brapehes
pockets.
Ton will please answer yeai or no!
'Yes or no, •proMptly returned . the,gentio ,
man. .
`No, no say yes '
Y-a-a-s, then 1'
'mond him. ,
Windy 'Food
Y-a.a.5 r _
Wait a momen
do you take Job
of these witnesses;
husband r
t
' Then in On presence of the oikteases
en of, I declare 'Oil Into raid Tif), toordiu to
She lava of Arkanliaa. and the t, %mil; and
wot's dine jived , Itno tun ph sin sunder.'
4ir
Jr4r Is Miss itlinkinP at home'l' naked
Mr: Saunders of thP Irish girl who - answered
the rind at the doer. ' Yes I blare ebe
sir," Is she engaged '.An' is it engaged,
you say I Pais, air' I can't tell you, sir, but
she' kissed Mr Vincient last evening as if she
had never teen thei liken itv Ida, kn.' les en
gaged I Vita they are, sir.' ,
les 4P , if.
t
r A young and pretty girl steppedinto
a litten.dr..pes sl4. whete a spruce young
man ; who had been long enamorsed, ',brit dare
not speak, stood behind the counter. , In order
to tern:tin as long as possible, she cheapened
everything. At the last she said, believe
you think -I am chiiating yoe.e . 'Oh, no,' said
the young man, 'tb me you are always-fair.'
'Well: whispered the lady, blushing as she
laid the emphasis an the sword,
,'I would not
stay -to long bargiiining if, you were not no
dear.
jar "Well e sAJ7ttatua,' said a grocer to
hie apprenticit, ' y 45; have beau apprenticed
now three ninntfiN and save seen several de
pßrtmelits our tirade. • I wish to give , you
a choice of occupation." Thank'ea
Well, now, whatitrart of the htisineatida.yott
like _best, - A ugnstdA Shuttin i up, - sir.
•
A' Goon Jottc.--A coMpany was playing_
Othello recently, rind - when OthellO demanded
of Dud e mona " the bancikerchlef I the hand
kerchief_!" a greertl'un called out impatiently :
'• Never mind the handkerchief, doah.wait for
that ; blow your hose with your fingers, and
go ahead r
Arer 4 ' Little boy, can I ; go throe this
this
gate to the river I; politely inquired a fashion
ably dressed lady' P'rhaps so ; load of
hay went_ through. this morning,' was the
horrid re .Ir..
tar ,„
Two Doya ' were - twitting a few days
- A g o whei a gentkmart, seeing the largo 008
pummelling thelotber severely, seized him
and pulled him
. to his store . The - boy in
blubbering tone " Look be has given
meta blacik.eye,r and 'fluted to te•attack hint
" Stop , laid . the - gentleman, de.aining him.
4 tkm't von brio* we are commanded bY the
Scriptures, : wheal smitten on olio "cheek to
turn, tbe other lw Yee:* riplied
still blubbering. "that would - be . a pretty
note ; thee rd 115913 Lira 'Ol4 errs,-
_L~
=IEEE=
*siting a dioopiiill look
please. 3 lintlp iroodi
Sutter, in the Ominous
to helont lawful wedda4