The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-01-05

on the Sea-Snore. lie turned quick round,
and the beautiful maid of the primrose
stood before him
Blushing deeply, and trembling with
delight, he rose and said, A pleasant
May morning to you, fair maiden Tell
me Your name
With modest and simple frankness, she
replied, Thanks, for this friendly greet
ing. My name is Mary; and my father
is Joseph the miller. You can see our
mill, if you look where the brook goes
rushing down the sides of the noun
tain
Now, this is passing strange thought
he; did not see this very girl rise out
Of primrose, by the side Of the birch
brook P! Is she net, moreover, the very
one whose image tried to kiss in my
fathers mirror!' But he kept these
thoughts TO himself, fearing she would
again disappear. He said aloud, You
are abroad carly this morning, fair maid
en-
She replied, Il came hitler for rare
blue flower, that my little sister dearly
loves. 1t grows only on the mountain
top, as if it liked to live near the sky.
See, my basket is nearly filed with flow
ers; but | have not found our favorite
bluc-eye yet
The youth eagerly inquired Of what
flower she was in search and never was
he so pleased, as when he found group
of them nodding under the warm shelter
of rock. They ramblcd over the noun
tain, till the basket and the maiden's
apron were filed with flowers and then
slowly they went down to the cottage by
the mill. The good mother came to the
door, with clean white cap, and silken
keIchiel folded over her bosom. The
youth saluted her respectfully, and she,
with warm, friendly heart, asked him 10
come in and share their breakfast. AS
lie ate Of their fresh honey and cakes of
sweet meal, it seemed as if he had known
them for years.
Il DO not remember the face Of the old
miller and his wife, said he within him
self; but as for that sweet Mary, with
her large blue eyes and golden hair,
certainly saw her in my fathers mirror
From that day, he went very often 10
the mill by the mountain stream. And,
as he and Mary stood arm in arm, watch
ing the pure white foam, as it went ium-
bling and sprkling over the wheels of the
mill, or looking up, with large still
thoughts, into the silent sky, he was often
puzzled to know whether his companion
was an earthly maiden, an angel, o. u
fairy. Her voice was so like The voices
heard on the sea-shore and she so often
sung snatches Of songs, that seemed like
familiar music long forgotten. Still
more remarkable was the deep expression
Of her gentle eyes, which he said looked
like the tones of his fathers voice. Then
that marvellous vision of the primrose by
the brook and the fair child, with shin
ing wings, who first guided him to his
Mary. Even the blue flower he gathered
on the mountain top perplexed him, like
things seen in dream. And though the
beautiful girl assured him she was Mary
the milers daughter, she al times confess
ed that she, too, seemed to remember a
far-olf radiant home, and, in her dreams,
heard voices singing,
ever toward the rising sun,
Follow, follow, lonely one =
Then, the maiden really seemed TO
have fairy gifts for, in the darkes, night
and the cloudiest day, wheresoevcr the
youth saw her, a warm and mellow CLEAN,
like sunlight, shone all around her. Ever
since he had known her, the stars seem
ed TO look, like mild eyes, into his heart
and when he was thinking Of her, things
inanimale found a voice, and spoke to him
Of that far-oG, glorious home. Once she
plucked rose, and gave it to him (; and
ever after, even when the leaves were
wilhered, whenever he looked at it, a
smiling face came out from the centre,
with gentle, earnest eyes, and golden
hair, and, in soft sweet tones, said, Re
member Mary !
They often talked together of these
things; aud one day the youth said,
What hinders us, dear Mary, that we do
no, set out on pilgrimage in search OF
our lost homeH -a .r..s .....
With a smile, she answered, perhaps
it will be our Fathers will that shall 90
before. IL | do, will you not dream you
hear my voice singing, e..l .
Follow, follow, lonely one! DID,
Her words made the youth sad in his
heart. i should never find the way, with
on, you,' lie said and as he claspcd her
Rand, The warm tears fell on it.
Seven days after that, he wen, to see