Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-25
Fyom, ths Ns,e York Morning Courier:

ba,nlet called @rhe Clachan;" it contained
fs,v cn,t,ces. which skirted the shore Vi Lock
Ga;r in ali the simpli ity of unsophisticated ar.
ch;,ecture. On the beach saw number oil
fishermen. repairing their nets aud batting their
"lonp lines" for the next days labo"; high and
dry boats Of various sizes and descriptions lay
around. At the cottage doors, matrons and
maids were engaged in spinningor other do
mestic occupations; none were idle-ail were
Industrious. The loch was waveless; the oiaCk
buoys of the herring nets foated on the waters,
describing many fantastic figures, and seemed
stains upon its bosom, like those made on the
snow white lily, by careless insects, In angry
mood. :, 3
At a short distance isaw the humble spire Oh
the village church, peering above the willow
elm and cypress trees that surround II. haa
always an inward veneration for the "houses OF
God. and de- ire to y lew their site and struc-
ture | therefore went thilher while supper was
being prepared The church was an unostenta-
tious auadraneular building, its walls OF the
rough mountain granite, white washed, and It's
matched roof bad an air of simplicity and de-
yotion, which had often looked for in vain, a.
mong the stately ediices OF rich and populous
citi-s In the burying ground, encircled with
wooden fence, and painted III the usual manner,
discovered a few headstones ofwhite gypsom:
on some were inscribed simple motto, while
many only recorded the 3ame and age, OF the
tenant beneath
In the north corner marked small spoi OF
ground, surrounded by black railing, figured
with viii painted :; airs bones and skulls. No
tombstone was there, but in the centre grew
rose BUSH, on which, only one bud opened It's
white aud delicate AoSer. approached 1t, and
gazed awhile with adeep feeling OF sorrow, add
ed to a strong curiosity 10 learn the history oil
the grave. AZ length, deserted a venerable
old lady dressed in the deepest weeds OF woe,
adj ancing with slow and Silent step; hef eyes
50 in,ently fixed upon the ground, that she "a"
nothing a, ound but walked instlncuvely on her
path; il seemed as ali the wor were within her
b som, and hat no external object could afford
her moments abstraction. Deepest GRIEF wa
Imprinted on every line ofher face. When she
had reached me, stepped aside, not wishingto
disturb her sorrow. Slowly she continued to
ad.asnce, and when she had approached the en-
closed and hallowed ground, carefully opened
a little gate, and entered She kneit and ks.
sed the green sward. saw the big tear drops,
gushing over her pailid checks, and water the
rose bush, now she raised her hands and eyes TO
heaven, as if in suppsioating mood. heard
not one ar,iculate soand, but now and then
loud sob. broke the Stiffness OF the scene, and
mag nation seemed to tell me it sounded "Flo
ra"
After being while engaged in this pious
and sorrowiul Office, she retir' with the same
mourntul and solemn step, as she advanced
"What heart can be so base and cold,
As not to melt when griefistold;"
A thousand thoughts crost my mind; or sew
cred maternal affection; pure yet hopeless
love; ruined fame, broken heart, and withsred
hope.
The sun had now set; twilight threw her dus
XIV mantle over the scene, and external nature
wore the sombre hue Of my own mind, which
informed me that il was time to return to the
village inn.
found my hostess like most Of her craft,
a garrulous woman, s. conversant with all the
events IF the parish for ten miles around 1
took favourable moment to inquire the histo-
nv Of the grave which so interested me- At my
request, her eyes lit up, and her whole face
bearned with Joy, that she had an opportunity to
display her knowledge and eloqaence. With
out prelude, with careless hear: & callous tone
which my feelings and the occasion i'll comport
ed with, she told me this story
It was a simple one anG probably similar
has come within the circle of Teach Of my read
ers, knowledge do no, offer it as novel, but
that ~ has interested me QcSpfN> anu Oelng
ske,ehed in my common place book, trans
cribe it here, II was in substance as follows:-
The grave was Flora M'Donald's the only
child and comfort 81 widowed mother. She
was an innocent and beauifa girl, loved and
respected by young and old Her father had
been me liant o; Some eminence but untimely
dying, his affairs was so carelessly attended to,
that although he considered himself rich, his
estate lief. so small pittance, that his wife &
daughter unable to support the rank in which
they had been accustome;to move, soon after
retired to " The Clachan - for economy Flo.
IA loved and was Beloved by young gentleman
whose name I did not learn. of poor but
family Their marriage was post
poned from tim to time, for h.. was unable to
support the style. if married, in which he had
been accustomed to live. A situation of pro-
81, however, offered in the West Indies, by
which he hoped in few years to amass res
,ectable competency. He accepted it, by the
consent Of his love and soon after babe her fare