The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-08-16

Allan and Fanny We're children of poor
parents and when he became bind, they,
indeed all their friends and relations, set
their faces against this marriage. This
ley did in kindness To them both, for pru-
dence is one ofthe hest virtues of the poor,
and TO indulge even the hottest affections of
our nature, seem 10 them 10 be sinful, If au
affection from Gods hand intilnatcs that
such union would lead to sorrow and dis
trcsa. The same thoughts had taken pos
session Of Allan's own soul--and loving
Fanny Raeburn with perfect affection,
why should he wish her in the bright aud
sunny days of her youthful prime, TO be-
come chained 10 Blind Mans steps, kept
in constant poverty and drudgcry for his
sake, and imprisoned in a lonesome hut,
during the frIcdom of her age, and the JOY
tumcss of nature ringing over the earth -
Ii has pleased Cod said the Blind Man
To himself, that our marriage should nat DC,
let Fanny, Il she chooses, some time or o.
ihcr, marry another, and be happy Aud
rs the thought arose, he felt the bitterness
ofthe cup and wished tia, he might soon
be in his grave.
Fanny Raeburn had always been duti-
inl child and she listened To the arguments
of her parents with heavy but composed
heart. She was willing TO obey Thorn IN all
things In which it was her duty Ia obey
but here she knew not what was her duty.
To give up Allan Bruce was a thought far
worse to her than 10 give up life. II was
to suffer her heart strhSs 10 be hourly torn
up by the roots Ii the two were willing
to be married, why should any one else IL
ts,pli 4 .,,Il 1fr 4 u+tt
blindness after their marriage, would any
one have counsclled her 10 leave him ? Or
pited her because she had To live with her
own blind husband? Or would the fear of
poverty have benumhcd her feelings Or
rather, would ii not have given new alacri
~ to her hands, and new courage to her
heart? SO she resolved meckly and calm
ly ~ tell Allan that she would be his wife,
and that she believed that such was, i'll spite
of his infection, the will God.
Allen Bruce did not absent himself IN
his blindness from the House OF God. One
Sabbath, after divine service, Fanny went
up To him in the ehurCh yard, aud putting
her arm in his, they walked away together
seemingly as cheerful as the rest Of the
congregation, only with somewhat slow Or
more cautious steps-They proceeded
along the quiet meadow-iields by the banks
Of the stream, and then across the smooth
green braes, till they gently descended in
10 a holm, and sat down together in d little
green bower, which a few hazcls, minglinS
with one tall weeping birch, had of them
selves iramed-a place where they had
often met before Allan WAS blind, and
where they had first spoken Of wed
| I'll
wept to see the earth, and the sky,
and the whole day, 50 beautiful, now
that Adams eyes were dark but he Whis
pered to her, that The smell of Che budding
trees, and Of the prlmroses that he knew
were near his feet, was pleaaant indeed,
aud that the singing of the little birds made
his heart dance within lim--so Fanny sat
beside her blind lover in serene happiness,
and felt strengthened in her conviction
that it was her duty to become bis wife.
Allan love you so entirri5--that 20
see you happy is all that desire on earth.
Till God made you blind-hllau-~i knew
not how my soul could be kit into yours.
! | knew not the love that MS in my heart
| To sit with you al my Wofk---to led you
out thus Oh pleasant Sahbaths--to takc care
| that you do not sfambr-aHd that nothing
shall ever oGer violence u your flce-to
suffer no solitude 10 surround yog--hut
tnat you may know in yoa. darkness, that
mine eyes, which God still permits to see
are always upon yon--ior these ends, Al
Ian, viii marry thee, my beloved thou
must not say nay--fnr God would not for
give ne i'll becameaot thyNit.' And fell
upon his neck end w2pt
Il
of The yoc"--something in the meek fold
of her Notwithstanding in the long
weep;f,, kiss that she kept breathing ten
dcT!c over his hrow and eyes-that inistl-
Gsl TO the Blind Man, his marriage with
such woman. " Let us ba married,
Fanny, on the day fixed before | lost my
sight I'LL now knew not fUly even your
heart or my own--.ow fear nothing
Would: my best friend. c.uld hut see thy
sweet face for enc single mc'ncnt now
but that can never be ~ All t,l,ncs are
possible to God-aud although to h,nnal
skill your case is hopeess-itis not utterly
50 to my heart--yet if ever il becomes so,
Allan, then will love thee better even than
do now, ii indeed my heart can contain
more affection than tlllt with which il now
oycrilows.
Allan Bruce aud Fanny Rachurn were
married. And although there was felt, by
the most careless heart, 10 be something
sad and solemn in such nuptials, yet Allan
made his marriage day oae fischer cheer
itIlness in his native village. Fanny wore
her white ribbons in the very way that used
to be pleasant to Alan's eyes; and blind
as he now was, these eyes kindled with a
joyful smile, when he turned the clear sight
less orbs towards his bride, he saw her
within his soul, arrayrd in the simple
white dress which he heard all about him
saying so well became her sweet look