Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-05-28
FROM THE VILLAGE RECORD.

he napplesl hours vi NY iiit' Tue uoui'
of infancy and youth, were passed in the
midst of the high hills which frown over
the Wissahickon. The situation was We
ry romantic. My fathers mill, (tor am
the son of a miller stood on the edge OF
(; the stream. The Wagon road which pas
| sed through this secluded spot, separated
it from his humble dwelling. In the rear
! of the house, and almost against its walls
rose huge and rugged hill, and opposite,
on the other side of the stream, another
ridge equally high; from spring on the
top Of which, pure and wholesome stream
OF living water was conducted under the
bed of the creek to the very door. think
can still see all the parts OF the scene,
which is so endeared to my heart by the
remembrance of the happiness | enjoyed
amidst them. In June, when the soft and
tender reign of spring had clothed the hills
with verdure, and yielded TO the more Wig
orous rule of early summer, the scene was
clothed in all its glory. On the edge OF
tie stream was spread soft carpet OF ten
der grass, intermingled with flowers, which
owed their beauty alone to the hand OF ma
ture, while from the foot Of the hills on both
sides rose, stage above stage to their sum-
mits, the delicateIy white, spotted with red
clusters of fragrant laurel blossoms. which
diffused through the valley the perfume OF
this garden Of beauty. Here passed my
earliest hours, free from care, and IN COM
para,Ive solitude. The monotonous dash
ing of the stream which Tell hard by, the
claCk of the mill, the crack OF The farmer s
whip, urging his cattle 10 anu from the mill
and auove all, the singing OF the tealhered
inhabitants of The surrounding hills, are
stIi familiar 10 the ear OF memory. But
there was one object remembered with
tenderer interest. II was Mary The mix
maid.-She was then glr of hIteen, love-
iy, innocent aud artless; the My vi the
valley could boast vi no superiority when
compared " it'll the iaIrne,s OF hei ska, or
the wild rose tlat tiOnri>hed IN un-rbdueN
iuXurianCe around, with the rose OF health
that bOomed on her cheek. ltnou! pos
sess,ng an uncommon regularity OF features,
.lary was OF all tue flowers amlusI which
she hourIsheG, heIset Inc IanesI liower;
and what IS better than thi', she Was as
good as sac vas ,ueautlul. Smile not wise
reader, al my description am moi, nor
was uoi, IN love vita hlay.-ohe was the
nurse whose neck my infant arms have Oh
ten encircled N whose eyes MY smies
were reflected, anu IN whose neart my Joys
were teit--who pressed my lips with kisses
warm and innocent as those OF the western
breeze, which sighed along the How cry
vale al summers tranquil eve.
Poor Mary size @dS she as no more
an inhabitant Of this " Grid. While | was
yet aschool-hoy, she married man who
knew not half her excellence, who nerited
the enjoyment of less than half A short
time they lived happily, blu! that 'bane OF
life the bottle, ruined her husband. Ma
rvs heart sunk beneath the weight of ne
gect, concealed penury and inward gr.ei,
arrayed in outward smiles, until, like the
flower which she resembled. she dropped
and died. ~
It's because she loved me, because
dearly loved her and cherish her memory
with melancholy pleasure, That recoiect
some OF her simple sayings-one OF which
have selected as my motto --'Brindle.
don't kick the milk pal! over, she usually
| SAID to a restless COW she used 10 milk TO
| whom the caution was very necessary, and
might perhaps have been useful, had she
understood it; but though she may not
have pro6ted ~ the injunction, yet have,
and others may.
W hen have seen farmer toiiing thru
1 the heat, and bearing the burthen OF many
summers day in his fields, gathering
their rich produce into his granarles ana
store houses in autumn, and when winter,
! 'ciothed in clouds and storms comes OH,
instead o! enjoying the honest c. mto'is OF
! hi. fire side, and Chs rishing young aad
promising family, seeking in the bar-ioom
for pleasure, am always resdy to say,
| Fri nj, don't kick the mix pail over,
When see a journeyman tradesmanl Ia
boring with might and NAM towards, the
emf OF the week, as think TO earn some
, thing handsop,o IN carry ia his family on