The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-04-03

fFrom the loador Ffeadshp.s uiiriing
TIE Lash OF TIE FAMILY
nv " H. HAfrtsoN. Ia.

rom tire lnHHNE 2 p AirfHp 4 'ifNlAHE ]
THE LAS1 OF TIE FAMILY
BY " II. H,frisoV. EsQ.
Twas ON dnc elunaszs morning, in the sum
n.er thai had stfolled 10 the extremity of a
Ii,tle enclosed eopse. when | observed a girl,
~rha small baskei lined with vine-leayes, col.
iec,ur Wild straabcrriet that grew. in great
rlenty and lurnnaucr, upon the hank which
formed the outer hase of the enclosure. She
was the daughter "a woman in the neighbour
hood. who, diving IN impoverished eircunsian.
ees had len his sianw with So slender pioyl-
sion for heiselfnnd her child, that She was o.
hieeh 10 increase her scnn,y income, by letting
mart Of her COTTAGE IN some OF the many who
resortcd 10 that part OF the country, for the
benefit of its peculiarly salubrlons air Her
dwelling had the advantage OF helng al some
distance non. the village, and N one OF the
most delighnaly retired situations which can
b imagined
had frequently seen Mary Wildng at onr
village church, where the punciualt'y of her AT
Tendance and the singular devotion and pro.
pr.cty with which she condsrted herself within
is sacred walls. FIRST engaged my attention
She had some advantages IN point OF cducd-
,ion, not usually possessed by young persons in
Iur rank of life aud Nature, who makes not
I'll her beauties fnr Nmarlts OF the Opera, had
dispensed her ftvors 10 her with no sparns
band | know mol - what order Of forms she
belonged for twould seem that there ate ordcts
"a elias AZ veil rs in,stonc but sine was surpass-
Ingly bcautinnl anu, n the period of Which |
an now writing she had scarcely attained her
eightrcpth ytnr. when the freshness aud Al J..
neas ofY0uih were delightfully."- blended nth the
ripper grlces and more perfect symmetry Of the
seomln III true, the roses we're not layishng-
" strcsn upon her checks but their blush
slight rs il was, was ihro"nnto relief by the IN
s.hei farness uf one ofthe most polished and
benusitiil 1reheads IN he world, The yes Of
4 beauty. VI hath been settled, should be one of
two coaurs ,--hersA were neither: nav, start
not gentle reader, they were grey !; bat ma
nv - fslr propritrrss Of black and HUE eyes
might cJvg ,be expression N which those OF the
unpreteuding Vary wcfe urrayed
Had hcr eyebrows been submitted 10 the nv
perrrii'r ~ beaaty, he might probably, with his
pencil. have given them more mathematical
curve, but he could not have impaired 10 them
deeper shade and would have utterly mlrred
the drlicacv with which those beautiful lines
were traced by the hand of Nature. The ra
ven's wing ives many shades darker than her
hair, hnt II WIS more glossy aud though her
eurs werenot arranged with the tnytc, nor de.
coracd with The expense, which distinguish
the ballroom, Nature had compensated for the
neglect Of art by making them perpetual. aud
jmparting 10 Them tie clustering uxnrianer Of
the grape, in tie vintage timc.-Her ankle was
not clathed wth silk, nor was her foot compress.
cd in satin; such adornments could not have nd.
dod to the ,ymmetry which he cotton.hoSc. and
somewhat homely shoe, were not able to CON
ccal. aud her fingers. as they pucbed the straw.
berries from thcir green bank, were OF the fair
ness aud delicacy OF the lily. There was no
bracelet on her arm, II use the singular for
those decorations are now worn on one " fist on.
~, like q hsudruh. 1T had indeed been piiy 10
have Intercepted that beautiful outline which
marked the finely moulded ann of the rustic
naden
There was nothing uncommon in the circum.
stance of village girl gat1o,ing the wild straw.
berry and, bet for It's frequent recurrence. il
~oaid not have excited my particular attention.
Observing her however, u the same spot and
al the same employment, for many successive
dass, 'entaled, upon une occasion, 10 enquire
her motive Ton an occupation whence she could
derive llule profit and which must necessarily
interfere with Der domestic duties. She replieI
witirsome hesitation, that she gathered them
for sick person. who could scarcely relish a.
ny taidg else adding, that she feared She
should collect bnt few more rs she had nearly
exhausted tae crop which grew upon the bank
told her, that she would hnd abundance within
IN enclosure; aud, presenting her with the
Key OF Il iihlc wicket, which opened into the
copse, bade her avail herself of the SUNNY
IL afforded, whenever she had occasion. She
Received the permission, (which. although not
the proprietor, was authorised to graptA with
exprs scions Of gratitude altogether dispropfo-
slonde 10 TIE iayeur conferred, for il would
have been readily conceded. to any well or
defed person, vino had chosen 10 solicit IT, I
H.. Il.
irequepnv observed her aVaihng herself of the
opportunity thus afforded TO her on sumo &C.
casions. could perceive her couatenance lii
up >yihe md cations ofhope and Confidence
while at other times, ii was pale. anxious and
-s,elocted; but, whatever were her feelings she
did rot relax IL the diligence with which he,
cha table occupation was diurnally resumed.
II 1ace happened, that | mad extended INV
walk beyond ats usual limits. Il was hirh
nooni but refreshing breeze had sprunq M
aud sensIhiy abaed the sulriness of the dav =
The place in which was WALKING was wb,t i
termed greea lane in other words n bro
Eoad, through which there were SO few nass,,-
gers, that 1t was oyorgrOnn with grass and al.
snost as even as ineatOw The hedge an 81.
sher side, was hlgh being composed of the ma.
pie tree, lhiersps'sed, ingreat abundance with
tue honeySucAia ahd the Wild rose which load.
cd with delightful fragrance thn gaI.. a..
swept along the green avenue The sonna ar
voices, induced me to look up, and | hehcId
somewhat 10 my surprise, the fair straebc,, ~
gatherer with gentleman, wi,oiwas eleeantl,
nj not fashionabiy, attired, aud who arpear,.J
10 be leaning Familiarity, on the arm Of Ia bean.
siful companion. - the Instant that i ahsery-
cd them, they stopped, as if hesiiating whether
to proceed or TO return. On approaching them
nearer, perceived that he was very yo,nr
ssan, evidently in extremely i'll health. and lean.
ing, in state of great debility and exhaustion.
ppon poor Mary, who, greatly alarmed and d !
~fe-s-d. sas altogether unequal to the bur,hen