The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-10-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE ORPHAN.

sight more novel in the little hamlet Of
Thorndean, than silk gowns in country church
es, during the maidenhood of our great grand
mothers, and, as one drew up at the only pub
lie house in the village, the inhabitants young
and old, startled by the unusual and merry
sound Of its wheels, hurried to the street. The
landlady, on the first notice of its approach,
had hastily bestowed upon her goody person
the additional recommendation OF clean cap
and apron; and, still tying the apron strings,
ran bursting TO the door, smiling, coloring
and courtesying, and courtesying and coloring
again, to the yet unopened chase. Poor soul
she knew not well how to behave--it was an
epoch in her annals Of innkeeping. Atleng,h
the coachman, opening the door, handed out
lady in widows weeds; beautiful, golden
haired child, apparently not exceeding five
years Of age, sprang to the ground without
assistance, and grasped her extended hand.
"What an image O. beautym exclaimed some
half dozen bystanders, as the fair child Lifted
her lovely face Of smiles to the eyes Of her
mother The lady stepped feebly towards the
inn, and though the landlady's heart continued
to practise sort of fluttsring motion, which
communicated portion its agitation to her
hands, she waited upon her unexpected and
unusual guests with kindness and humility
that fully recompensed for the expertness Of
practised waiter. About half an hour after
the arrival of her visitors, she was seen bust
ling from the door--her face, as the villagers
said bursting with Importance. They were
still in groups about their doors, and in the
middle Of the little street discussing the mys-
FERROUS arrival and, as she fastened on her
mission, she was assailed with dozen such
questions as these" Wat we wha she is I"
lis she ony great body 7" Haze ye ony
guess what brought her here 7" " Is yon
bonny creature her BARN 7" But to these and
sundry other interrogatories, the important
hostess gave for answer" Hoot, haze nae
time to haver the moo" She stopped at a
small, but certainly the most genteel house in
the village, occupied by Mrs. Douglas,
who, in the country phrase, was very douce,
decent sort Of an old body, and the widow
of Cameronian minister. In the summer
season, Mrs. Douglas let out her little parlor
to dodgers, who visited the village to seek
health, or for few weeks retirement. She
was compelled to do this from the narrowness
of her circumstances for, though she was
",clever handed woman" as her neighbors
said, "she had sair fecht to keep up an ap-
pearance anyway like the thing ava" In a
few minutes, Mrs. Douglas, in clean cap,
muslin kerchief round her neck, a quilted
black bombazeen gown, and snow white
apron, followed the landlady up to the inn.
In short time she returned, the stranger
lady leaning upon her arm, and the lovely
child leaping like young lamb before them.
Days and weeks passed away, and the good
people Of Thorndean, notwithstanding all
their surmses and inquiries, were no wiser
regarding their new visiter; all they could
learn was, that sho was the widow of young
officer, who was one of the first that fell
when Britain inierfered with the French
Revolution and the mother and her child be-
came known in the village by the designation
Of MRS. Douglas twa pictures" an appella-
ton bestowed on them in reference to their
beauty
The beautiful destroyer, however, lay in
the mothers heart, now paling her checks
like the early lily, and again scattering over
them the rose and the rainbow. Still dream
ing Of recovery, about eight months after
her arrival in Thorndean, death stole ,over
like sweet sleep. 1t was only few mo-
ments before the angel hurled the fatal shaft,
that the truth fell upon her soul. She was
stretching forth her hand to her work basket,
her lovely child prattling by her knee, and
Mrs. Douglas smiling like parent upon
both, striving to conceal tear while she
smiled, when the breathing Of her fair guest
became difficult, and the rosc which mo-
ment before bloomed upon her countenance,
vanished in ftful streak. She flung her
feeble arms around the neck Of the child, who
now wept upon her bosom, and exclaimed
"Oh! my Elizabeth, who will protect you
now-my poor, poor orphan !" Mrs. Doug
las sprang 10 her assistance. She said she
had much to tell, and endeavored to speak
but gurging sound only was heard in her
throat; she painted for breath; the rosy
streaks, deepening into blue, came and went
upon her cheeks like the midnight dances Of
the northern lights her eyes flashing with
a momentary brightness more than mortal,
and ,ho sr;r;t noJ T'ha fair orrban e,,tI