Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-01-29
.gnisnHautous.
PROM THE TRENTON EMPORIUM.
LAUREL HILL.
"The bird. within it. silver cage
.Dies while it sings -

me UidrlldgC supper was epiCdu
in the large rsom of the fine mansion
of the De Bcrgs on Laurel Hill, and
amid the hustle Of the guests, the mer-
ry glee which swelled around the
smoking feast, The halfh wins
pers of the well paired guests, full OF
jocularity, and blended winks and
mods and smiles, and the fishing OF
sparkling eyes, and the high beating
ofmerry hearts, giving promiseof fu-
turc festivals of like occasions, with
the confusion ofanxious servants and
the loud command Of the gleeiul host,
who had Just accomplished a union
long planned and cherished in his pa
ternal bosom, between his son Ed
ward and the rich ard beautiful
Laura Clifford; amid this scene, l say,
small space was left for sober contem
plation or speculative dreaming Blu,
the eye that wandered to the new
made bride, might thro' all the, pornp
of outward gaiety, even then, in that
moment OF consummated destiny, have
discovered secret On her brow, that
told of something ubrevealed in the
deep rcccsscs OF the unfathoned mind ,
aud might have discovered it with
less than common powers of penetra.
ton. A something indefinable, that
would bring to mind the tales Of
blighted love, and the hearts indola.
trous affections sacrificed, on the heart.
less altar of his worlds idol, gold.
But the hours passed rapidly, and
long ere the midnight moon came up
ON the sylvan scenery, or the last flag
ging dance had cnded-the bride aud
the bridegroom had vanished from
the gay circle, and as the last glass
was emptied to their happiness, 81
lence came over the scene, and hush
ed all to repose once morc Some
retired to dream over rev affections,
and future hopes some to coont the
tokens of appreciation they had gather
ed from their loves that evening, some
to lay their heads upon the charmed
pound cake, and some to contemplate
the whole that had passed before
them; as they moved through the
ceremonies, calm spectators Of the
scene. 1t was for these last to re-
view the circumstances which were
connected with the past event. and
contrast them with what they saw,
and from their own opinions. Ed
ward De Berg had gust rctarned
from his travels in the east, and
LAURA from the boarding school
In Philadelphia, they were both
young, and, butt farms were united
in the union, and, but that Laura
calm and pensive air awakened doubt,
it might have been deemed happy
nlatch-it was so, in all that related to
outward interests, but the inward
heart moved in another sphere, and
is in youth, often controlled by other
laws.
That Laura was unhappy, was
soon written in characters too legible
to be mistaken OH her once blooming
cheek; but that she was kiTdand con
scientious in her duties to her husband;
that she laborcd day by day TO make
him happy was perceptible to all. She
strove TO smother her sorrows with
the same care that she labored to
smooth his brow from all disqIietude
Her heart was too gentle, too full OF
tenderness TO allow her to be, even
the innocent cause of pain to others,
and she would have buried her griefs
for ever if she had the power; she
tried to be happy, not for her own
sake but for his whose peace she prIz-
ed. Blu. who can pluck the canker
that preys on the bosom's Utmost -care
or stay the departing lustre Of the
cheek, when the heart supplies it no
longer with health and animation. She
fdcd-and the aged and experienced,
said her sun was destined to go down
bsfore its meridian.
Her life, in one great leading point
ofview had already been unfortunate,
but it was destined to be filed up
with misfortunes of still deeper ro-
mantle cast. Edward engaged in
business that required the assistance of
clerk; young gentleman, vino, it
was said had arrived recently in the
neighborhood from Virginia, was re-
commended to him and he took him
into his employ: He was a pretty
delicate youth, but about seventeen,
and Of a serious and pensive dispos!-