Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-11-10

WHICH cteateu strong curiesit,
10 learn the history Of the grave. Al
length deserted q. venerable old lady
Creased in the deepest weeds Of wo,
advancing with slow and silent step
her eyes 90 intently fixed upon the
ground. a. If she saw nothing around
but walked instiac,ively on her patL
|" seemed As if all the world were
within her bosom. and. rs il no exter.
nal object could afford her moments
abstraction. Deep grief was im print.
ed on every feature Of her face-her
pale and haxgard cheek, showed the
.,gns Of sorrowing long and Late
When she had nearly reached me. I
stepped aside, with al the kindnes. OF
feeling, which in lnan is natural for a
fellow beipg in affection. could NO,
disturb her sorrowful meditations.
Slowly she continued to advance, and
when she reached tho enclosed and
hailowed spot. carefully opened 4 lit
tie CRATE and entered. She knelt, and
kissed the green sward I saw the big
tear drops gushing over her pallid
cheek and watering the sweet rose
bush. Now she raised her eyes and
hands to heaven, ~ il in prayer; I
heard not one articulate sound. but
now and then low, but bitter sob,
broke the stiffness Of the scene, and
imagination seemed To tell me. II
sounded Floral" After being awhile
engaged in this pious and sorrowfuI
Office, she retired with the same mourn
foi step, a. she advanced, quite IN
conscious that any eye, save heavens,
had seen her applications.
A thousand thoughts crowded my
mind-of severed maternal Affection
pure, yet hopeless love-withered
hopes-ruined fame, and broken heart.
The sun had now set: twilight threw
her dusky mantle over the scene, and
external nature wore the sombre hue
OF my own mind, which informed me
twas time to return to the village inn.
] found my hostess, like most Of her
calling, q garrulous old woman. and
conversant with all the events Of the
parish for ten miles round; there
fore took favorable opportunity TO in.
quire the history Of the grave which
interested me 50 deeply. At my re-
quest, her eye liz up, and her whole
face beamed with joy, that an oppor-
tunity was afforded her to display her
knowledge and eloquence. Without
prelude, with careless heart and cal
lous tone, With which my feelings and
the occasion i'll comported, she told me
the story. Ii was simple one, and
probably . similar one has come with
in the circle Of each Of my readers
knowledge. | do not offer il as a no.
vel, but merely because il interested
me deeply, and being sketched'in my
port folio, transcribe it here. Ia sub
stance il was as follows:
The grave was Flora Mac Donaid's,
the only child and comfort Of widow
ed mother. She was an innocent and
beautiful girl. loved and respected by
old and young. Her father had bee %
merchant OF commence ia $50 .,
but dying untimely, his affairs were so
carclessly managed. that, although he
considered biinseIf rich, his estate re-
allied so small q pittance, that his wife
and daughter. finding themselves una.
BILE to support the rank in which they
had been accustomed to move, retired
soon after his death to the Clachan.'
for economy. Flora loved, and was
beloved by Young gentleman, whose
name did not learn. ef a poor but no
nourable family. Their marriage was
postponed from time TO time, for he
was unable TO support the style in
which, it married, he would be obliged
to live. A situation Of profit, howe
yer, was offered to him in the West In
dies, by which he had every prospect
of acquiring, in a few years, a hand.
some competency: with the knowledge
and consent Of his love, he accepted Il,
and soon after babe her farewell, with
the strongest professions Of eternal
constancy. He embarked. A Few
months after, Flora received letter
from him, couched in the most afIec.
tioDaae language, announcing his ar.
rival aud Gathering prospects. and
warmly reiters,ing hts promises Of q.
deity. lie continued an attentive
correspondent a few months longer
az length his letters arrived less IRE.
Iqocutly, were shorter, and eouched in
less SIiectionate style. Reports went
abroad. bat Flora put no faith in them
she would not mistrust him, whom shc
loved so dearlyJ her own heart being
loyal, she cOuId not DOUBT his truth
A lsng silence, however, created
strange forebodings in her mind ans
at last, she wrote, entreatibg him ~
a 4 =
plain the cause Of his remissness. l
was such letter as a viGtuous and in
Docent girl would write; IL eoniaine,
; not word Of upbrsiding--it Formed I
Thousand excuses Zoe bis silence