The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-08-07

Gabriel had come, and that her friend was
interceding in her behalf-the poor girl had
arranged her hair in small looking glass
tied it up with riban1 which Gabriel had
given her, and put in the breast Of her gown
little gilt breach that contained locks of
their blended hair. Pale, but beautiful; for
Sarah Pringle was the fairest girl in all the
countryside advanced with fash on that
paleness, OF reviving hope, injured pride, and
love that was ready to forgive all and forget
all, SO that once again she could be restored
to the place in his heart that she had lost
{" What have ever done, Gabriel, that you
should fling me from you May my soul never
live by the atonement of my Saviour, i'll am
not innocent of that sin, yea of all distant
thought of that sin with which you, even you,
have, in your hard-heartedness, charged me.
Look me in the face, Gabriel, and think of all
! have been unto you and if you say that, be-
fore God, and inyour own soul you believe me
guilty, then will go away out in the dark
night, and, long before morning, my troubles
will be at an end"
Truth was not only in her feryent and sim
pie words, but in the tone of her voice, the
colour of her face, and the light of her eyes,
Gabriel had long shut up his heart against her.
At first, he had doubted her virtue, and that
doubt gradually weakened his affection. At
last, he tried TO believe her guilty, or to forget
her altogether, when his heart turned to Mary
Robinson, and he thought of making her his
wife. His injustice-his wicsedness-his base
Dess-which he had so long concealed, in some
measure, from himself, by dim feeling of
wrong done him, now appeared to him as they
were, and without disguise. Mary took Sa-
rah's hand and placed it within that of her
contrite lover, for had the tumult Of conflict
ing passions allowed him to know his own SOUL
such at that moment he surely was--sayng
with loud voice as composed as the eyes
with which she looked upon them, " ] restore
you to each other and already feel the
comfort of being able to do my duty. will
he BRIDES maid. And | now implore the
blessing of God upon your marriage. Gabriel,
your betrothed will sleep this night in my
bosom. We will think of you better, perhaps,
than you deserve. 1t is not for me to tell you
what YOU have to repent Of Let us all three
pray for each other this night and evermore
when we are on our knees before our Maker.
The old people will soon be at home. Good
night, Gabriel" He kissed Sarah-and, Civ
ing Mary look of shame, humility, and rev.
crence, he went home to meditation and re-
pentance.
Ii was now Midsummer and before the
harvest had been gathered in throughout The
higher vallies, or the sheep brought from the
mountain-fold, Gabriel and Sarah were man
and wife. Time past on, and blooming FAM,
lily cheered their board and Preside. Nor did
Mary Robinson, the Flower of the Forest, (for
so the wood-cutter's daughter was often cali
ed pass her life in single bessedness. She
too, became wife and mother and the two
families, who lived at last on adjacent farms,
were remarkable for mutual affection, through
out all the parish and more than one inter-
marriage took place between them, at time
when the worthy parents had almost entirely
forgotten the trying incident of their youth.