Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-11-10
MISCELLANEOUS.
A COUNTRY SCENE IN ENGLAND
-. i...,.T. n :. -. 4 -: st,ntct,oI Il,

a COUNTRY SCENE IN ENGLAND
IL thus beautifully and wildly sketchcd by writer
in Bachwood's Magazine:
Al about ten wards distance from the church, peeped
modes;ly Out from the midst Of stately ems and uxuri
ant cvergrcens, the neat sttc rectory. 1t was con
struccd of the rough grey stone with the church
Long, low, with projecting caves, and easement win
dows facing that large window of the church, still
flaming with the rejecting spcndor OF the setting
Ills orb sinking 10 rest behind the grove half en-,
lowering the small dwelling, which therefore stood in
perfect quictncss Of his shadow, the dark green
masses Of the essa.nnc clustering round its porch and
windows, scarcely revealing, but by their exquisite
odor pure white blossoms that starred 's lovely gloom
But their fragrance oaed the gentle breath Of
ming, mingled with the perfume of mgnionctie, and
the long fingered maryes of Peru, he pale daughters
of twighD and nnumcrahle sweet flowers blooming
their beds Of rich black mould, close under the Int.
tcc windows. These were all flung wide, for the
evening still and suitry, and one opening down 10
tie ground showed the interior of very small paror
plainly and modcstly furnished, but panclled al round
with well filled book cases.
a adys harp stood in one corner and in another two
fine globes and orrery. Some small flower baskcts,
filed with roses, dispersed abont the room and al
u table near the window sat gentleman writing-or
rather leaning over writing desk with pen in his
hand, Cor his eyes directed toward the gravel walk
before the window, where lady-an elegant looking
woman, whose PLAN white robe and dark uncovered
hair well became the sweet maronly expression of her
face and fTurc, anyiousy stretching out her
couragng 10 her little daughter who came laugh
ing and lettering towards her the soft green turf
her ting feet, they cssayed their first independent
steps in the cvcntfu walk of life, twisting and turning
with graceful awkwardness, and unsteady pressure,
under the disproporonae weight Of her far fat per-
SON. 1t sweet, hcartthrlling sound, the Joyous
Growing laugh of that little creature, when with one
last, bod effort she reached the maternal arms, and
caught up 10 the maternal bosom, and half dcvour
ed with Kisses in ecsacy of unspeakable love As
if provoked 10 cmulous loudness by that mrtu out
cry and impatient 10 mngle its clear notes with that
young, innocent voice, Glackbird, embowered in a
tall ncighhorIng bay tree, poured forth with such
flood of full rich melody as stcd the baby's laugh,
and for moment arrested its observant ear.
When the mother Withdrew with her little one
and then Tie curtain fell, and still ngercd-fo after
the interval of few minutes, sweet sounds arrested
my departing onstcps-a few notes of the harp, low
prelude, stole swcetly out-a voice still sweeter
mingling its tones with simple quiet accompaniment,
swced out gradually into strain of sacred harmony,
and the words of The evening hymn were waited to-
ward the house of prayer.-Ihcn all was still in the
cottage, and the deepening shadow brought to my
mind more orcbly the laeness of the hour and warned
me 10 turn my face homewards. So moved few
steps, and yet again fingered fingered STILL for the
moon rising, and the stars shining cut in the
clear cloudless heaven and the bright reflection Of
danced and glittered like liquid fire. fly, the ripple
Of the stream, just when it gidcd into darker deeper
pool beneath little rustic iootbridge, which led from
the churchyard into a Shady green lane, communca-
! ting with the ncighboring hamlet. On that bridge
stopped minute longer and yet another minute, Tor
listened the voice of the running water and me-
thought it yet more mellfuous, soothing
more eloquent, nj That STILL shadowy hour when only
that little star looked down upon il, with tremuoua
BEAM than when it danced and glittered in the warm
glow of sunshine There hearts like that sream
and they will understand the metaphor. The unutter
able things felt and heard in that mysterious music
every became absorbed in that OF hearing, and
spel!-bonnd | might have s.aid that very spot till
midnight, nay, till the stars pacd before the morning
Ia,Vp - fhn ,f fl.1 Ia Ill,
clock had not broken in my dream of profound ub
sraction, and started awake with half incrcduous
surprise, as its iron tongue proclaimed, stroke upon
stroke, the tenth hour Of the night
4 But for moment. The kindred natures burst out
into full chorus: the baby clapped her hands and
laughed aloud, and after her fashion Knocked the I'M
seen songstrcss The bird redoubled her tuneful eff.
FORTS and still the baby laughed, and still the bird
jsiced and both together raised such melodious din
that the echoes of the old church rang again: and
YER since the contest of the nightingale with her hus-
band rival, was heard such an cmnous conflict Of
seal skill c7uld have laughed for company, from
my unseen lurking place. within the dark shadow Of
the church buttresscs. 1t altogether such scene
us shall never forget: from which could hardly
tear myself away. Nay, did not. | stood motion
less statue in my dark niche, till the objects be-
fore me became indstlnct in twilight; till the last slant
ing sunbeams had Withdrawn from the highest pancs
OF the church window, till the blackbrds song
hushcd and the bahy's voice still, and the mother
ard her nurselng had retreaed into their quiet dwell
ing, and the evening taper cleaned throug the fallen
white curtain and still open window.
But yet before the curtain fell, another act Of The
beautiful panomimc had passed in review before me-
The mother with her infant in her arms had seated
herself in low chair within the little parlor. She
tied the frock strings drew off that and the second
under garment dextcrously, and nj intervals, as
the restless frocs of the still unwearicd babe af.
ftrded opportunty-and then it in lis little coat
and stay, the fat, white shoulders shrugged up antc
msrriment, far above the slackcncd shouldersraps.
Taus the mothers hand slipped off red shoe, and
having done so, her lips were pressed, almost, rs It
seemed Involuntary, TO the naked foot she still held
The other, as if in promo love of liberty, had spurned
oil 10 distance the fellow shoe, and.now the darling
dsarraycd for lis innocent slumbers was hushed and
queted but not yet to rest the night dress was still to
be put and the little crib not hcre-not yet 10
rcsbut to the nightly duty already required of young
christians And in 4 moment it was hushed and in
moment the small hands were pressed together between
the mothers hands, and the sweet, serious eyes were
raised and fixed upon the mothers eyes, (therc heam
ed as yet the infants heayen) and one that il
lsping out its unconscious praycr-unconscious not
surely unacccpcd. kiss from the maternal lips
the token Ct God appro, al and then she rose and ga
thcrcd the scattered garments in the clasp with
the half naked babe she held it smiling to its father
and the expression of his face, he uprais
ed it. after having imprinted kiss on that of his child
one saw in all the holy ervor OF father blessing
I ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE
romantic incident has just occurred in the Nlaryle-
bone Inirmary. Ann Dempsey, young aud interest
ing GIRL who had been The support of all aged mother
had gone into the inmary for the purpose of under
going operation for The removal of dropsical
plant, which had assumed the form of large tumour
She was warned of the painful and perilous
.ure Of the operaton but she expressed her resolution
submit TO il, owing to the ardent wish that her life
might be spared for her mothers sake The operation
accordingly performed in the presence of her
ther and several eminent medical men, Ii lasted Two
hours and forty minutes and the magnitude of the
mour taken from her may be imagined when it
tanei no less than two gallons and half of water.
Notwithstanding the long and painful operation, singu
lar to relate this heroic girl never uttered single cry:
but at the conclusion observed rolling down
her cheeks and being desired not to shed hcm she
piled that they tears of joy at her freedom from
the incubus which had SO long afflicted her"
As she appeared to be in sinking condition. the me-
deal gentlemen, upon a consultation, deemed fresh
infusion of blood into her veins absolutely necessary
On making inquiries as to whom they could procure to