The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-02-01
From the Edinburgh Journal.
Its ONLY A DROPw

thc cottage where Ellen ana hllcnael, the
two surviving children of old Ben Muir
ply lived, was always neat and comforta-
bic, sill! there was cloud over the brow
Of both brother and sister, as they sat be-
fore the cheerful fire; it had obviously
been spread not by anger, but by sorrow.
Tnc silence lad continued long, though it
was not bitter. AT last Michael drew a.
way from his sisters eyes the checked a
prom she had applied 10 them, and taking
her hand atiectionatcIy within his own,
said, 1T isn't ior my own sake, Ellen,
though the Lord knows I shall be lonesome
enough the long wintcrnights and the long
summer days without your wise saying,
and your sweet song, and your merry
laugh, that | can SO well rememhcr-ay,
since the time when our poor mother used
to seat lis on the new rick, and then: in the
innocent pliJc of her heart, call our father
to look at us, and preach to us against be-
ing ccnceited, at the very time she was ma
king us proud as pcacocks by calling us
lie: blossoms of beauty, and her hearts
blood, and her king and queen"
"Cod ard the blessed virgin make her
bed in heaven now AID foreyermorc, g.
mcn." sid Ellen, at the same time draw
lug Out her beads, and repeating all ave
with inconcriva;,'o ra2idity. "Ah, Mike" !"
s!le added " tIla! rra$ The mot]lcr, and the
father TOO. fali OF grace OF godIincss."
"Truc &c, ye, Ellen: but that's not what
I'm atsher row, as You well know, YOU
blushng Little roo:le of the world; and
:oira a word I'll say against it in the end,
though lis lonesome I'll be on my own
llcartE-stonc, with no one to keep me COM
pany but tile ouid black cat, that can'tsee,
let alone hear the craythurp
Nov" said Ellen, wiping her eyes,
and smiling ilcr own BRIG ght smile, lave
off; yc'rc Just like all the men, purtcnding
to one thing, wliin they mane another !;
there's dale Of dcsatc about them-all-
evcrr one of them-aad SO my mother Of
ten said. Now, you'd better have done,
Or maybe III say something that will bring
if not the colour 10 your brown check, a
dale more warmth to yer warm heart,
tllaA would be convanient, Just by the men,
ton of one Mary-Niary! what purity
name Mary is, is'lit it its common
name too, and yet you like it none the
worse for that. DO YOU mind the ould
rhyme? .
MARY, Mary, quite contrary"
We'll, I'm not going to saw she is contrary
I'm sure she's any thing but Mat to you,
any way, brother Mike. Can't you sit still,
and don't be pulling the hairs out of
Pushccn cats tail, it isn't many there's in
it; and I'd thank you not to unravel the
beautiful English cotton stocking I'm knit
ting; lave off your tricks, or I'll make
common talk Of it, Twill, and be more than
even with you, my fine fellow! Indeed,
poor ould Pushccn," she continued, ad-
dressing the Cat with great gravity, "never
heed what he says to you; he has no no
ton to make you either head or tail to the
house, not he: he wont let you be without
a m;sthrcss to give you sup of milk, Or
yer bit Of sop; he wont let you be lone
SolilC, my Ipol i'uSS ilI S'lu oiouSh w
swop an Ellen for Mary, so he is; but
that's sacret, avourneen; don't tell it to
any one"
"Any tlling for your happiness" replied
the brother somewhat sulkily; "but your
bachelor has worse fault than ever I had,
notwithstanding all tie jecturing you kept
Oil to me: he has a turn for the drop, e.
len, you know he has"
"iiow apj'2fulIy You said that" replied
Ellen; and It isn't generous to spake Of
it wnen he's not here to defend himself"
you'll not let word 60 against him."
said Michael.
mo-" she said, II will never let i'll be
spoken of all absent friend. know he
has turn for the drop, but I'll cure him."
"Afler he's married. observed Michael,
not very good-naturedIy.
"No," she answered, "before. I think
a girls chance of happiness is not worth
much who trusts to atter-marriage refor-
nation. I acont. Didn't l reform you,
Mike, of the shockin' habit you had of
putting every thing off to the last and af-
fer reforming a brother, who knows what