The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-06-29

Mary, and ere it was raised she had
ceased 10 breathe.
After the sad ceremonies for the de-
parted were ended, Henry had another
painful duty TO perform, 10 take his lit
tie sister 10 her new home. How much
did he wish she was to remain with
him, and how sorrowfu and lonely did
he feel, as he saw the preparations for
her departure. On the journey he
found her becoming desrer 10 him than
ever, and he was on y induced TO leave
her with his aunt by the remembrance
of his mothers request. Mary threw
her arms rouud MS neck. and said he
should never leave her; but when the
violence Of her grief overcamc her she
was gently forced away, Henry kissing
her again and again, and telling her that
when she was woman she should come
and keep his house.
Years passed on and The brother al
first wrote frequently aud tenderly TO
his sister, but as the duties of his pro.
lession increased he became so absorbed
by Them, as to become iorgetful of his
sister r,and regardless o! The claims which
society had upon him. He avoided
marriage, and though proverbia for his
Indifference TO female facipations, the
eminent lawyer of Bedford was still re-
garded by the ladies as matrimonial
speculation Of first quality. When his
letter of half dozen lines was sent TO
Mary it still bore the same heading,
. My dear little sister," for in his alb
Straclion he had totally forgotten thai
.he was any thing else; so that he was
reused and somewhat bewildered on
receiving letter from the town where
she lived, stating the sudden decease OF
his aunt, and requesting that he would
immedIately y come TO his sister,who was
overwhelmed with grief at her loss.
His kindly feelings were moved al
Tie mention Of his sisters sorrow, and
he Sc out on the journey with alacrity:
and when he found in that sister, a tai
graceful, handsome girl Of twenty two,
with all The intelligence Of his mother
n her face, he felt like new being and
seemed as if he was once more the
young man leaning again on mothers
counsel and love. In her aunt, Mary
Dorrance found all that she had los; in
her mothers 50 that under her wise. pious
| direction, she was one charming both
n person and mind, free from afiectaion
1f manners. There was now no rela-
tive left to her except her brother. and
under his roof she mrst hencerorth oh
| tain protection. With comfoltab
fortune of her own she was independent
but there she must be, notwithstanding
he bachelor had great many embar-
RAISING thoughts as TO how it would b.
possible for him 10 get along with ore Of
ihdf sex that he had classed as trouble
some and trihing. He did not hesitate,
however TO assure the weeping girl that
he would both protect and love her,wlh
IA brothers lrue affection. He mmedi-
ltely wrote TO a friend to have a house
prepared for his return so that it might
suit "bache lor"and his sister, ,and leav-
ing the arrangement wholly TO his taste
and judgment.
After an absence Of about two weeks
he returned 10 Bedford, and established
Mary as mistress Of his house, and she
had been 10 that Office nearly six months
when the conversation we have related
took place al The breakfast table.
Mary bad felt deeply her aunt's death
and with it the loss of The society of all
hose dear friends among whom she had
lived SO happily The sister o! Mr..
Dorrance did not want for civiliIes OF a.
Aauering character in her new position,
,nd she received and recprocated them
with good breeding and gratitude; bur
still her ahecionate heart missed the old
friends she had been taken from, aud in
the necessary loneliness of bachelors
home, sighed often Cor their pleasant so
ciely, and for none more so than that of
Fanny Thorn. No wonder then that
her JOY was great, 10 learn that it was
now in Fanny's power 10 visit her
They were conSenlal in taste and char
acler, had been companions from child-I
hood, and were friends out of pure es-
TEEN for The worth which each saw the
other to possess. When Mr.. Dorrance
returned 10 dinner. he appeared o have
no collection OF Fanny's intended visit
though Mary asked him many questions
about The weather,the safetyof railroads
and the time of the cars coming in.-I
He answered her, and then said il was