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

on the sea4shore. He turned quick round
and the beautiful maid of the prim.ost
stood before him
BIushng deeply, and trembling will
delight, he rose and said, A pleasan
May morning to you, fair maiden Tel
me yonr 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 sec 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 ! Is she not, moreover, the very
one whose image | tried to kiss in nv
fathers mirror' But he kept these
thoughts 10 himself fearing she would
again disappear. He said aloud, You
are abroad early 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 skv.
See, my basket is nearly filled with flow
ers; but | have not found our lavori,e
buc-eye yet
The youth eagerly inquired of what
Hover she was in search and never was
he so pleased, as when he found a group
of them nodding under the warm shelter
of rock. They rambled 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
keIchieG folded over her bosom. The
youth salutcd her respectfully, and she,
with warm, friendly heart, asked him to
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 90 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 to
the mill by the mountain stream. And,
as he and Mary stood arm in arm, watch
ing the pure white foam, as it went tum-
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.
larry. Her voice was so like The voices
heard on the sea-shore and she so often
sung snatches Of songs, that seemed like
music long forgotten. Still
more remarkable was the deep expression
Of her gentle eyes, which he said looked
ike 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
Oh the mountain top perplexed him, like !
h'ngs seen in a cream. And though the
beautiful girl assured him she was Mary
he miIlers daughter, she al times confess.
I'd that she, too, seemed to remember a
ar-oa radiant home, and, in her dreams.
leard voices singing,
ever toward the rising sun,
Follow, follow, lonely one =
Then, the maiden really seemed 10
lave fairy gifts for, in the darkest night
md the cloudiest day, wheresoevcr The
youth saw her, warm and mellow CLEAN,
ike sunlight, shone all around her. Ever
since he had known her, the stars seem
I'd to look, like mild eyes, into his heart
md when he was thinking Of her, things
nanlmate found a voice, and spoke to HIM
Of that iar-oli, glorious home. Once she
'lucked rose, and gave it to him and
.ver after, even when the leaves were
whenever he looked at it, \
smiling face came out from the centre,
With gentle, earnest eyes, and golden
iair, and, in soft sweet tones, said, Re
member Mary y
They often talked together of these
hngs; and one day the youth said,
What binders us, dear Mary, that we do
lot set out on a pilgrimage in search of
ur lost home! .g .r.
With smile, she answered, perhaps
will be our Fathers will that shall 90
eiore. If do, will you no. dream YOU
ear my voice singing, ae.s
Follow, follow, lonely one =
Her words made the youth sad in his
cart Il should never find the way, with
III you,' he said and as he claspcd her
and, the warm tears fell on it.
Seven DAYS after that, he went IN soc