American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-07-30
From "Lighis and Shadows Of Scottish Life"
PIIND ALLAN

TIE Elders Death Bed, the Snow Storm, &c.
Allan Bruce and Fanny Raeburn were in no res
pect remarkable among the simple inhabitants of
the village in which they were born. They both
bore fair reputation in the parish, and they were
both beloved by their own friends and relations. He
was sober. honest. active, and inAustrious-exem-
plary in the common duties of private life,-pos-
sessed Of The humble virtues becoming his humble
condition, and unstained by any of those gross vices
that sometimes deform the character of the poor.
She was modest, good tempered, contented, and
regous-and much is contained in these four
words. Beauty she was not thought to possess
nor did she attract attention but whatever charm
resides IN pure health, innocence Of heart, and sim
pcity of manners, that belonged to Fanny Raeburn:
white there was nothing either about her face or
figure prevent her seeming even beautiful in the
eyes OF lover.
These two humble and happy persons were be-.
trothed in marriage. Their affection had insensi.
bly, grown without any courtship for they had lived
daily in each Others sight, and undisturbed by
Jealousy or rivalry. by agitating hopes or depres-
sing fears, their hearts had been tendery united
long before their troth was solemnly pledged and
they now looked forward with calm and rational
satisfaction to the happy years, which they humbly
hoped might be stored up for them by bountiful
Providence.-Their love was without romance, but
it was warm, tender, and true, they were prepared
sakes and, had death taken away either of them
before the wedding day, the survivor might not
perhaps have been camorous in grief, visited the
grave oil the departed with nightly lamentations,
but not the less would that grief have been sincere
and not the less faithful would memory have been
to all the images Of the past
Their marriage day was Exed-and allan Bruce
had rented small cottage, with garden soping
down the stream that cheered his native village
her n wo m hS. he In be tic
sweet and afectionate Fanny-she was to work with
her needle as beforehand he in the fields. mol
change TO take place IN their lives, but changed
from contentmeut to happiness and il Cod pro.
longel to them the possession Of health, and bles
sed hem with children. they feared not to bring
them decentty up, and to afford sunshine and shell
ter to the living flowers that might come TO gaden
their house. Such thoughts visited the souls OF the
lovers, and they were becoming dearer and dearer
TO another every hour that brought them closer
TO their marriage day.
Al this time Allan began 10 feel slight dinness
in his sight, OF which he did not take much notice
attrbuting it to indsposition brought on BY i
the severity Of his winters work. For he had toll
ed late and early during all weathers and every kind
Of labor, gain sufficient to furnish respect.
ably his lowy dwelling, and also to array his sweet
bride in wedding clothes oil which she should not
need to be ashamed. The dimness, however, each
succeeding day, darkened and deepened, till even
his Fanny's face was ndistnctly discerned by him,
and he lost altogether the smile which never failed
to brighten 1t whenever she appeared Then he 4
became sad and dsprlted for the fear of blindness
fell upon him, and he thought Of his steps being
led in his helplessness by the hand Of child. He
prayed to God to avert thi. calamity from him but
IL not, to bestow upon him the virtue of re siepaton
He thought Of the different blind men whom he
had known and as far as he knew they all seemed
happy. That belief psciird his soul, when it was
about to give way TO passionate despair; and every
morning at sunrise, when the fast advancing YER
dure OF spring seemed more dim and elimmerinp
beinre his eyes, he felt his soul more and more re-
signed to that hnal extinction Of the days bessed
light. which he knew must be his doom before the
earth covered with the flowers and fragrance of
June.
II was as he had feared; and Allan Bruce was
now stone blind. Fanny's voice had always been
sweet TO his ear, and now it was sweeter still when
he nd in the darkness Sweet had been the kisses
" oh breathed from Fanny lips, while his ewes de.
hshed m their ire 'hness But sweeier were thew
now when they touched his eye-ds, and he felt
upon his cheeks her fast trickng tears. She visited
him IN his fathers house, and led him with her
gently guiding hands into the adjacent fields, and
down along the stream which he said he liked to
hear murmuring by; and then they talked together
about themselves and on their knees prayed to God
to counsel them what to do in their distress. /
These meetings were always happy meetings to
them BOTH notwithstanding the many mournful
thoughts with which they were necessarily atten-
drd; but to Allan Bruce they yielded SUPPORT that
did moi forsake him in his hours Of unaccomnanied
darkness HIS love which had formerly been joyful
in the warmth OF youth and in the near prospect
OF enjoyment, was now chastened by the sad survey
OF his unfortunate condition, and rendered therehv
deep and devout emotion which had its comfort
in its own unwitnessed privacy and imperishable
truth The tones Of Fanny's voice were with him
on his midnight bed, when his affection was like to
overcome his lortitude and to know that he wac
still tenderly beloved by that gentle and innocent,
friend was thought that gave light to darkness,
and suffered sleep to fall balmily on lids that shut