, 1842-07-16

1 SNAA NV y
OF the proud, the envy Of the fair,
Sne sa. alone-alone with her two
children, one a lovely girl of sixteen
and the other a smiling boy whose
birth three years before had thrilled
her husbands heart with ecstasy,
= Filled province with ~rejoicings. But
now that husband was away from
her side, that province lay smoking
around her. Her own proud home.
where since her marriage she had
spent the happiest hours of her lie.
had been sacked aud given to the
flames. and she now sat leaning a.
gainSt i shattered parapet, with her
lace buried in her hands, and the bit
Ter tea OF I mothers anguish roll
ing down her cheeks. At her feet,
leaning on her for succor. and clasp
Ing her hands, sat her daughter; while
her boy, too young as yet to be con-
sclous of the misery around him.
smiled as he played with the jewelled
cross depending from his mothers
neck. A broken sword. IA dismount-
ed cannon. the shattered staff of a
lance, at the feet of the group, be-
tokened that the vassais of the count
had not yielded up her house to ra-
pine without a deadly struggle; and
indeed, of the hundreds of hearts
which beat there, but the day before,
only those of the mother and her
two children had escaped captivity or
death. Part of the palace was vet
IN fl Tunes, while, on the plain beyond,
a village threw its Iurid conilagration
across the sky. Desolation and de-
spair sat enlhroncd around. Who
that had seen that mother on her bri-
dal night, could have foretUld thar her
after life would reveal a scene ike
this!
The Polish war for independence
had broken out. Among the fore
most of the patriotic band which peril
led all for their country. was the
Count Restchiiky. His sword had
been unsheathed at the outbreak of.
the conflict, his fortune had been
poured the first into the Golfers of the
state. From his own estates he had
raised and equipped as gallant i band
rs ever followed lord to the tented
field. And Tor Il shor, space the war
seemed - prosper. Bat !hen came
the everse From every quarter
the naughty Catherine poured her
countless 'egioHs. headed by the fierce
Suwlrrow, into Poland, and smoking.
fields and slaughtered armies soon
told that the day of hope for that ILL.,
iated land was over. YETI few no
bic spirits among whom the count
was foremost, still held out for their
country. ightingeverv foot ofground,
and though ~retrea,ing before the
overwhelming forces of the foe, com
PeI'lng him 10 purchase every rood
of land he gained by the lives Of hon,
drcds Of his venli followers. l. was
at this period. and while the count
far from his home. thathis palace
had been attacked, and given TO the
flames. Atar iron succor. uncon-
scIous whether or not her husband
yet lived. and trembling for the lives
of her offspring amid the desolation
which surrounded them. what Won
der that even the proud heart of the
countess gave way, and that she
wept in utter agony over her ruined
country and her dismantled home!
"Oh! MOTHER" said the daughter, "if
we only knew where father was, Or if
he yet lived, we might still be happy.
Wealth is nothing to US, for will we
not still love each other? Dry your
tears, dear mother, for something tells
me that father lives and will yet re-
Join U.s."
At these words of comfort, more
soothing because coming from a quar-
ter SO unexpected, the mother looked
up, and, drawing her daughter to her
bosom, kissed her. saying,
"You are right, my child. W. will
hope for the best. And if your faith
err has indeed fallen, and we are "a.
lone in the world, | will remember
that | have you to comfort me, and
strive-to-be happy" and, in des-
pite of her effort to be calm, the tears
into her ewes at the bare
thought of the possible loss Of her
husband.
But see, MOTHER" suddenly ex.
claimed the daughter. ''see the cloud
of dust across the plaln-can It be-
token the return OF the foe?" and she
drew close to her mothers side.
The mother gazed with eager eyes
across the plain, and her cheek paied
che tbonoht she distinguished the