American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-07-14
Yoluine v.

OF rich relations alive and the future provided and
fencedi against the intrusion oil any earthly calam-
ties All the woods were ringing with verna' de-
/ light and Joy, and her countenance, whose general
character ives meek and pensiva~ now hinged
With the very light OF gadnessh her steps, usually
so graceful IN their composure, no less so
in the buoyancy Of exhilaration, and without dorg
the slightest violence 10 the native and prevalenr
modesty OF her demeanour, the innocent creatures
perfect happiness enlyened every stilude and every
motion, While not altogether unconscious, perhaps.
OF the power Of her beauty, she stepped over stone
and stalk, their devious hill side track, through
the overhanging trees whose branches sometimes
almost impeded their progress, and touched their
heads with the first odorous buds OF an early spring,
Dovenest and lis gardene lay before lhetn al
sudden bend OF the river. The Cuaha,dove was
sounding his deep song in the pines behind the
low matched roof, and in sont the bright Golden
Oak, whose foliage preceded by at eas, fortnight
that of all other trees, shonr in the setting sun,
T" Will you cross the stepping stcnes MY dear Ag
mes, and see how this spring promises in our gar
IdensP You have not been within our garden gate
once during this finest and most forward 0! all
Aprils, and 10 morrow IS May day Agnes was
glad to comply, and they descended into the channel
OF the river, where, at the head of stream thu:
formed small waterfall. there was a natural ledge
lot rocks, over which, when the water was low it
was easy to cross the Esk. The showery April had,
however, slightly flooded the stream, and while
Agnes was speaking Of going round by the wooden
bridge, Michael Forester took her gently in his
arms, and 10 few moments let her down from his
breast, in all her blushlng beauty the turf Of his
own peternal acres The heart within that manly
breast by habit and duty in general calm, beat
as loudly as If it were the heart OF fear itself in
unexpected peril. Her pure breath had beeD%lcse
to his cheek, closer than il had before been
aimee she child, and he had felt his side the
motion of that virgin bosom, where purity, nno-
cence and layeliness folded up ether in most
beautiful repose. "She is an orphan" thought
Michael-"Oh! that this very blessed day could
win her heart !" and hope came to him from that
unoHended expression OF her dowcast eyes, as they
walked arm in arm towards his house. Few words
were uttered by hIm-and none by Agnes--till
they entered the little white gate, with its arch of
woodbiDe and swce,briar and as it oed behind
them, Michael Forester felt suddenly what he loved
mos; on this earth was now within the boundaries
Of his own dwelling. Deasr was she to him than
all his other best and happest possessons--tasn
all other remembrances-all other hopes--eyen
than his fathers gray bairs. Ye ., the very time
that he thus knew 10 the tGmult of his heart, that
the fair and meek orphan was, and must forever be
to him life itself, and without her life would be to him
as death, yet his other human affections were not
lost swallowed up in that stronger love, but rather
all comprehended within its influence, thar he
loved both father aud brother, and his other friends,
better for the sake of his own Agnes Hey.
With faltering voice, which he in vain tried to
compose, Michael Forester said in greet tenderness,
|" The time INSTRUMENTATION you came almost
every day 20 Dovenest. Then it was only week
after week-now may say it is only mouth after
nonth--and in future perhaps it may be only wear
after year. Yet it might be better for il we're
for Agnes you will be the wife Of another soon,
perhaps--and whenever that happens, may the
blessing of God TALL upon YOU, but from that day
shall l be the most miserable OF men. love you,
| Agnes---bnt know that you cannot love met is
impossible - And The image flhe fair child pas
sed before him, dancing along the very walk where
they now stood. with garands of flowers wresthed
round her small waist and arms, he felt with Pang
that Agnes could not look on him as lover ,
whom she must have so long regarded with such
other feelings, and he remained silent In his dss
pair.
The whole heart OF Agnes Hay seemed to herr
self to have undergone deep change since she had
met Michael only an hour ago; butt in truth, she
had for years loved him in the undlsguised inno-
cence of her gentle nature She had oftener than
she knew, thought of him, certain desponden-
cy would sometimes come her when musinE
on her orphan state and therefore this avowal OF
his love, although wholly unex peeled. did not find
her altogether unprepared The words, heard at
first with delightful doubt OF their meaning reach
ed, before Michael had ceased speaking, the very
core of her heart; and never having had any ar
tachment to any other person, beyond that of mere
ordinary kindness, she felt that she could give him
all that her life had ever contained, without
of one single ransitory feeling. " Impossible to
love Michael Forester !-no-no-ssy not SOL
have loved you ever; and will love you as long az
| know how to love all that is good, worthy, and
most estimable in Christian husband That one
last word was sufficient for Michael Forester's per-
feet happiness, and he folded this beautiful orphan
in as warm and reverenal an embrace as ever
brought woman to mans beating bosom.
| They walked for while silent and composed