American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-09-08

ter grated harshly upon her ear. She retreat
ed hastily, and kneeling on the grass, leaned
her head against the moss-grown stem OF an
old tree. The gay sunshine fell upon her,
flowers were above and around her; but her
fair young face was bathed in bitter tears, and
her heart sank with sense of utter dcsolatIon
st is all beautiful, u she murmured, -"heau-
tiful and happy. hear gay ones speaking to
each othcy as they go 30 their homes. Mothers,
children, sisters, friends all meet at cheerful
fitesides Tonight, and kind words will be said,
and beasts that have been soTrowlul cased OF
their pain. Those that age weary and travel
worn N the rough ways of life will gather
comtcrt in the sweet sanctuary ofho;ne, and go
forth again strengthened and refreshed. The
very poorest have something to hope, but J,
God help me, what homc!"
Shuddering, she rose from her knees, and
walked hastily up and down the orchard path.
"Why is It thus?-what have done that
should share in no Joys like tl4ese!' she eX-
claimed at last. "Why was not a senseless
clod, if was to live as live aow? Evil words
are spoken in my ears-evil deeds done and
not hidden from me; every womanly and holy
, feeling strampled on and dcspsed; every warm
| affection that would have chung to all that YVES
good and pure turns to gall and bitterness, cor
roding my very heart. What have done to
deserve thisI'
! Again she threw herself on the ground, and
| lay there like crushed flower, whose sweet
/ life of 10Y, sunshine cannot recall. AT this
moment two children passed down the lane
and in the stiffness, Annie heard the words
they spoke,
/ child ''and that there IVES no comfort for such
as she was"
'sAnd what did he tell her" inquired the Sc
cond child.
ale said he would not comfort her with his
own words, so he took the Bible and read
| Whom the Lord oveth, he chastenGth;' and
then, Blessed are they that mourn, for they
shall be comtored'"
The young voices died away in the distance,
but their words were as a message from Hea-
ven to Annes dcsolate heart. She repeated
again and again, " Blessed are they that mourn"
not blessed are the gay, and the loved, and
happy" but blessed are they that mourn"
There is hope, there is comfort for me-"
From the happier train Of thought into
which she had fallen, she was reused by loud
voice.
"Annie. where are you: Never at your
post, lazy one"'
Other and harsher words followed, but An
ME bore them in silence She flew to prepare
wait upon her father, once more repeating to
herself those words that were for her SO full Of
encouragement. Her greeting to her brother
was answered, as usual, coarsoly and unkindly
but his rudeness was far less disagreeable to
her than the attempted civility of third per-
son; whom her father had brought as guest
Annie had seen this man before, and her pure
and sensitive nature had from the FIRST instinc-
lively shrunk from him. Now, however, en-
boldened, as it seemed, by Mr. Carr's encour-
agement he ventureG to address Annie i'll a
tone of familiarity that shocked and disgusted
her He drew fiom his bosom a handsome
gold chain of foreign workmanship, and en-
deavored to clasp il round her neck, saying, as
he did SOL
"Thero, my fair one! it Is for such as you
that these things are made. You'll wear ii
for my sakc-won't you, my dcar?"
Annie pushed back the gift.
"Nay, my sweet one" he continued, cts
not often that gold is flung back to the givcg
so scornfnlly. You may take it from mo
from me, you know, my dazzling"
loud laugh from young Carr greeted this
sacech, and Annie turned trembling to her ia.
ther to whom she had a right to look for pro-
lection from insult. But he answered hcy
humble appeal with a trown.
! 1'IlStG0 10 me, HlEI, liC Sa'u llGlCClS' JdIlcs
Brice has, but few days ago, saved your faith
er's life, and | have sworn you shall be his
wife. Let us have no more toolery OF thi.
sort-do YOU hear? My words have seldom
been wasted, and recommend you to change
, vour tone at once, unless"
The rest Of the sentence was indistinct, but
! Annie thought her mothers name was men
| toned accompanied with ominous threats
While her father spoke, the poor girl submit
ted in silence to have the cham clasped round
her neck.
: "There. that's well, - ne continued. "Dont
fancy, because yon were dantily brought up
that III allow any of your fine lady airs here
) Come boys, fill your gias .es, and we'll drink to
the health of the future Mrs. Brice"
Annie grew very pale, and for moment, hen
senses reeled hut she recovered herself suifi
ciently to feel how important it was to her to
preserve her sefpossession. Her father called
tor more to drink, and she placed the usual
supply of spirits on the table, and then glldoc
from TIE room. Hurryislg to her own little
chamber, she cast from her the hateful cham
, and tried to collect her thoughts. 1t was moi
long before the increasing loudness of the
voices bo!ow attracted her attention, and, &c
her horror, she heard plan arranged for hel
marriage on the following day.
Il wen pt'uS ner GOWN, SAID ner lattier, 'ant
tell her how a;cely we've settled it all. Annie
my girl, come here"
Finding the terrified girl made no answer, hi
began climbing the staircase in search of her
but Annie's resolution was soon taken. Sh,
threw open the easement and leapt into tn,
orchard, alighting in safety on grassy mound
When Carr, having in his impotence burs
open the door, entered the room, Annie wa.
beyond his reach.
That night Charles Gardner and his mother
sat late, talking of their young neighbor-and
Mrs. Gardner won from her son a confession
that he loved the poor desolate Annie Carr
They we're still in earnest converse ton, when
L tLay .soro h.r Lou. Lr1.nL nj thx, L,.,as