Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1842-02-24

now the door was opened, and an elderly woman
appeared on the threshold, peering into the dusk
to discover who it might be tlat had intruded on
her premises, and was standing in The shadow Of
her tree. It was Ralph Crandelds mother
Pass we over their greeting and leave the one to
her 10y and the other to his rest-if qaiet rest he
found.
But when the morning broke, he arose with
troubled brow for his sleep and his waketuiness
had alike beea full ofdreams. AIltle isryor was
rekindled with which he had been burst Of yore 10
unrayel the threetod mystery ofhls fate. The
crowd of his early VISIONS seemed TO have awaited
hi beneath his mothers rooE and thronged
around to welcome his return. In the well re-
membered chameleon the pillow where his IN
fancy had slumbered, lie had passed wilder nght
than ever in an Arab tent, or when he had reposed
his head in the CHASTITY shades Of haunted forest
A shadowy maid had stolen 10 his bedside and
laid her finger on the scnt,llating heart; hand Of
flame had glowed amid the Darkness pointing
downward to mystery within the earth; hoars
sage had waved his prophetic wand,and beckoned
the dreamer on to Il chair Of state. The same
phantoms, though fainter in the day light, still
nilleu ABOUT the CDltd8cs ant ldlilGA dAlplg TIE
crowd Of familiar flses that were dawn thither
by the news of Ralph Craniield's return, to bid
him welcome for his mother sake. There they
found him, tall, dark, stately man. of foreign
aspect courteous in demeanor and mid Of speech,
yet with an distracted eye which seemed often
to snatch glance at the invisible.
Meantime the widow Cranfed went bustnq
4h, ell ,F 30, oh,
somebody to love. aud be careful Of, and for whom
she might yex and tease herself with the petty
troubles Of daily life. II was nearly noon, when
she locked forth from the door and deserted three
personages Of note coming along the street.
through the hot sunshine and the masses Of elm.
tree shade. At length they reached her gate, and
undd the latch.
See Ralph : exclaimed she, with maternal
pride, Squire Hardwood and the two other Sc.
lectmen, coming on purpose to you Now
do tell them good long story about what you
have seen in foreign parts
The foremost OF the three visitors, Squire
Hardwood, was very pomplous, but excellent
old gentleman, the head and prime mover in all
the affairs of the village, and universally acknowl-
wore, according TO the fashion even then becom.
ing antiquated, three corner.d hat,and carried a
headed cane, the use of W hich seemed TO be
rather for hourshing in the air than for assisting
the progress of hia legs. His two companions
Were elderly and respectable yeoman, who, retain
ing an anti-revolutonary reverence for rank and
hereditary wealth, kept little in the Squire |
rear. sthey approached along the pathway,
Ralph Cranfe;d sat in an oaken ebow-char, half
ulconsciously gazing at the three visters and
envelopng their homely figures in the misty ro-
nance that pervaded his mental world
Here thought he smiling at the conceit, here
comes three elderly personages, and the first of
the three is venerable sage with a staff What |
if this embassy should bring me the message of
my fate p
While Squire Hawkwood and his colleagues
entered, Ralph arose from his seat and advanced I
a few steps to receive them and his stately fg
ure and dark countenance, as he bent courteousy |
toward his guests, had natural dignity, contras-
ting well with the bustling Importance of the
Squire. The old gentleman according to an
invarable custom, gave elaborate preliminary
flourish with his in the air, then removing
his threecornered hat in order to wipe his brow,
and finally proceeded to make known his efrand.
My colleagues and myself, began The Squire,
are' burthened with momentous duties, being join
ty seectmen ofthjs village. Our minds, for the
space of three days past, have been lab1riously
bent the selection of suitable person to fill
most important Office, and take upon himself
charge and rule, which, wisely considered may
be ranked no lower than those Of kings and pot
entates. And whereas you, native towns
man, are of good natural intellect and well cult
waited by foreign travel, and that certain yagaries
and fantasies of your youth doubtless long AFRO
taking all these matters, | say,
into due consideration, of opinion that
Providence has you hitler, at this juneture,
for our very purpose.
During this harangue, Cranfeld gazed fxedy
At the speaker, if he beheld something myster-
ous and unearthly in his pomp!ou5 little figure,
and as if the Squire had the flowing robes
Of ancient sage, instead ofa square ak rted coat,
tapped waiscoat, velvet brooches, and silk stock
ngs. Nor was his wonder without sufficient
cause for the flourish OF the Squire cane, mar
vellous to relate, had described precisely the sig
nal in the air which was to ratify the message Of
he prophetic Sage, whom CranfeId had sought