The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828, 1828-03-29

'N' $3.50 =
age OF =, that swept away many, both
old and young. to their graves. Maria Merton
was not without her fears and Oft did She offer
up her prayer thAt her father ms Lt bc spared
TO her. But the ways of Providence are mystic
rious and nscrutablc, and it is not for vain man
TO murmur or replnc at them, ont 10 bow his
head in all humility, well 5norln% ,tlat "nhat-
ever Is, is right"
II was one calm evening, when they were sit
ting. as they were wont, on bench before the
front Of the cottage, that she thous hi her father
looked low and lrjected. She observed thi, to
hun, but he laughed it away, saying that it was
only slight head ache and sickness that he felt,
and that it would 90 off before mprnns This
did not satisfy Der anxious doubts, and She re
solved, IT he was no better, to procure medical
assistance Morning came, and with it contir-
nation Of all her fears her father as in a high
fever, and on the point of being leIrlouS Now
it was that she proved her affection: She was,
indeed, his lninisterng ausel Night and day
did She watch by his bedside medical aid was
procured. hit all would Tot d. For three DAYS
he lay deirlous; on the eNehln. Of the fourth
he recoSr ,~'i his senses; an;I, prfceiyin5 his
daughter, he called her to him. Maria SAID
he, | am about to quit this world forever: if
there is any thing that makes me wish to 1--we,
or that renders this hoGr bitter TO ne, ii is the
thought OF leaving thee. ;,lonc and unprotected,
70 meet the storms and insults of an unfeelinq
world. | have not, however, m ,dt bad use OF
the time have been allow ed and it is one con
ISOLATION that thou wilt not want !or the neccssa
ries Of thi, life. In thy motlor's closet. thou
witt find sufficient, honestly procured. for thy
future maintenance. Place il in tie sqnires
hands, and tell him that it was nv dyin. wish
that thou shouldst continue to i've in this cot
tage, where thou vast born, and perhaps where
thou mayst die Now 1T nc hA e tie last kiss
these lips shall take: farewell! 90 10 meet
thy mother: may God above iiicss thee, and
watch over thee for eood!' H. pressed her
hand LAID his head back on the Pillow, gave an
expiring sigh, and his SOU! quilted its earthly
tabernacle
Tine fled Maria Merton bad seen her ia
thcr deposited In the grave by The side of her
mother; the first burst Of gsiHf vas over and
her mind had sunk INTO a settled meianchov-
She had. according to her fathers wish, placed
all her money IN the squires hands, who not On
ly granted her wish TO remain in the cottage
but offered an asy lum in his own house. This
however, for sundry reasons, she refused; and
she therefore took up her abode with the new
gardener and his wife, who had lately come to
the cottage.
twas on bright and brcezeless eve, in the
month of September-the sun was just sinking
beneath the horizon, and gliding. with his part
ing rays, both hill and vallcy--thc birds were
flying to their leafy habtation, and all Nature
seemed sinking to repose-"hen Maria Merton
was seated In her favcurlte bower in the garden,
enjoying the cool of the evening, and looking
with softencd feelings on the scene before her
The sound Of the village bell srnote upon her