The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-12-31

passed IN less than minute, though II
seemed an hour to me. Just as the girls
turned their heads TO see what could be
staring at, heard Parson Williams's mea-
sured step in the entity. In another min
ute the room was lull-falher and mother,
and all the neighbors. Oh but ill news
does fly apace!
A newspaper had came to town with an
account of a terrible steamboat explosion
OF West, and the name of Mr.. CLARK,
from the East, was among the passengers,
and the owner of it had not been found
alive or dead. OF course the minister
vas called upon to break the dreadful
rvs 10 his poor daughter; as from the
| silence of her father, and the fact that no
letter came, and no more papers from him.,
It wa; concluded at once that he must be
dead.
When Kitty first saw Mr.. Williams,
she looked like to faint-but in an instant
more, she threw her head up erect, and
her eyes, discndcd and CLASSY, rolled from
| person to person. Her bonnet had fallen
back, and Mr.. llllams, who really seem
ed weaker than Kitty, kind of rested on
me with one arm for support, and placed
his right hand upon klllv's head. Wis
shrivelled end lreckIed thin fingers as they
'rcmbled with agitation among her bright
auburn hair, seemed to mock tho unna-
tural compospre of her blanchcd features
while her eyes still rolled in vacuity.
My daughler''-lhe good old man
tremblingl y began-but his tears choked
him. The evening wind threw "a lock Of
her hair across his hand, and he groaned,
shuddercd, and drew the hand suddenly
back. as if corpse had startled him by
showing signs Of life.
"Talnl Of no uscl'' cried Aunt Sally,
''shc can't hear word you say" The
ever-l eldy ha'trhorn was produced, and
fortunately portion of its pungency en-
her eyes. Tears came, the minister seat
ed himself by her side without word
and she clUng to his brcas, and wept
And in silence we all wept too, for many
momcn's. Then he placed her on her
knees with gentle lorce-and kneel be-
side her. I hose outside the housc-for
quite congrt ga.ion had collected-un-
covered their heads, and the reverend
pastor devoutly besought the throne of
grace for comfort to the afflicted.
Kitty was down sick for many days.
She has not slept a night out Of my faith
er's house since that day-and want to
know. TrolIoPe or no 1rollope, Dickens,
Hall, Fiddler and Hamilton to boot, if we
are to call such clip as she is servant?
And now I'm coming to my slory-lor
haven't begun to tell it yet. After that
hour Kitty never seemed like the same
girl, and though wan smile has occa-
s'onally visited her face, it has been like
an accidental peep Of sunlight on a win
ter day Last year of Christmas we
couldn't he boiSerous, we didn't want TO,
and didn't feel like it. This year, father,
and mother, and aun, Sally, and Fanny
and |, have all tried to mike her enjoy
the prospect of the coming holidays, aud
the dear good girl tried her best to cheer
up so as moi to damp all the rest of Us.
But every Kindness that father showed
her. and he's full OF it, onl y seemed TO re-
mind her of tie own father that she had
lost, and she would steal away by her
self to cry at the remembrance.
Mother succeeded no better with her.
and as to Aunt Sally, she's just one Of
Jobs comfor,ers-if there ever was one.
Now Kitty" she says, if the poor girl
happens to be silent moment, ''y2u
shouIdn'Ihe thinking of your loss all the
time, but rccollrct how much better you
, are now, than thousands and thousands"
Like as not the poor sirl wouldn't be
thinking of her father ill Aunt Sally
brought him up, and all she could do
W ould be to almost run away, while her
eyes filled.
Last Thursday we were all talking over
our holiday presents that are. and that
are to be. All were full of life and chat.
and all were aIouing upon happy
Christmas and New Years. except Kit
ty, but even her eyes seemed once i'll a
while TO light in sympathy with the joy
around her. Then again a shade would
pass over her face. as if he in whom her
tender years had trusted for support. could
never be forgotten.
We were all struck up by the entrance
of Parson Williams. What could have
brought him out in the nightl The in
firm old man hardly ever leaves his house
after dark. We looked at his face as hard
US we dared, and certainly quite as hard
as was civil. This GRAND was certainly
not one OF grief.
slave you read the Presidents Mes.
sagc?" he said to father, while his lips
seemed to be playing with him, in the
words they uttered,
"What upon air,h," mu,tercd Aunt Sal,
ly to herself, over her knitting.
"Wcll-yes-parlly," answered my
father, evidently as much astonished a,
Aunt Sally to hear the pars"n preach po'
4 bad, :,