Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-03-23
Now aa. Then.
BY sAMuEL MANHrN.

The following story is condensed from
free sketch of Mr.. Narrcn's last work, which
appears IN the last number Of lockwood.
''Somewhat about hundred years ago
(but IN which of our good kings rcigns, or In
which Of our ssa-cUast counties, Is needless TO
be known) there stood, quite by itself, IN
parish called NlyersiOkc, a cottage Of the bet
ter sort, which no one could have seen, some
few years before that IN which II is presented
To cur notice, without Its suggesting 10 him
that he was looking al a cottage quite OF the
old English kind. II was most snug IN winter,
and in summer very beautiful gllstenlng, as
then II did, in all It's fragrant loyeliness Of es-
sanline, honcy-sucklc, and sweet brer. There,
also, stood beehive, in the centre of the gar
den, which stretching down to the roadside,
which was so filed with flowers, especially roses,
that nothing whatever could be seen of the
ground in which they grew wherefore II
might well be that the busy little personages
who occupied the tiny mansion so situated,
conceived that the lines had fallen to them IN
very pleasant places indeed. The cottage was
built very substantially, though originally
somew hat rudcly, and principally Of saa-shOre
stones II had a thick th1tchcd roof, and the
walls were low. In front there were only two
windows, with diamond shaped panes, one a
bove another, the former much larger than the
latter. the one belonging to Mc room of the
building, the other to what might be called
the chief bedroom for there were three little
domitores-two being small and at the back
of the cottage. Close behind, and somewhat
10 the left stood IN clm-trcc, lis trunk com
plclcly covered with IVY and so chcctually
shehcriug the cottage, and otherwise 80 ma
,crially contributing TO lis snug, picturesque
appearance, that there could be little doubt OF
the trees having reached Ms maturity before
there was any such structure for II to grace
and protect. Beside this tree was Il wicket,
by which was entered "A little slip Of ground,
half garden and half orchard. All the lore
going formed the remnant OF little freehold
property, which had belonged to lis present
owner and to his family before him, for sever
al generations. The initial letter (A) Of their
name, Ayhllc, was rUddcly cut III old English
character in piece of stone forming centre
sort Of facing over the doorway and no one
then living there knew when the letter had
been cut.
Such Is the scene aud such the small house,
in and from which the events cnroNe, and
form The solemn and instructive narrative
The owner of the cot, the foremost though
the humblCst parsonage IN the drama, was
once a substantial, but is now reduced yco-
man, well stricken III years, being, az the
opening of the story, close upon hls sixty
eighth year.
The crown Of his head was bald, and very
finely formed and the little hair that he had
left was of a sIycry color, vergng on white
Ills countcnancc and figure were very striking
to an obsrryant beholdcr, who would have said
at once, That man IS of hrm and ipnC III
character, aud has seen trouble, all winch
WIS indeed distinctly written IN hls open Saxon
features. | Is eye WAS OF clear biae, ana
steadi 5; in Us gaze anl when he spoke, II
was with a certain qualnincss, winch seemed
m keeping with ms simple and stern character.
Yet the last few years OF his lic had been
passed in great trouble. Ten years before had
occurred. IN the loss of his wife, who had
been every way worthy of him, the first great
sorrow or his lifc. After twenty years spent
together IN happiness greater than tongue
could tell. It had pleased God, who had giNcu
her To him, to take her aWay-suddcnly, M
deed, but very gcuiv He woke one morning
when she woke not, but lay swecty sleeping
in death His Sarah WIS gone, and thence
forth hs great hope WAS to follow her, and b'
'wllh her again Ills spirit WIS stunned ior
while, but murmurcd not saying, WIN r,slg
nation, The Lord had given, and the I'of'
bath taken away blessed be the name OF th'
Lord 4 year or two afterwards occurred 'o
him second trouble. great, but Of a dlUcrcn'
kind. lie was suddenly reduced almost 10
bcrgary. To enable the son Of an OLD deceas
ed friend 10 become collector OF pubic rates ~
an adjoining county, Aylllln had unsGspicoGs-
" become his surety. The man, noW''e.
for whom he had done th,s service. irli soon
,r,cr,,arJs into Incorporate aud dissolute hab-
i,s dishonesty. NJ usual, soon followed
and poor Ayldc was horihed one evening by
I",ng called upon, his principal having abb
,condcd. prca, dcfaultcr, to contribute to re-
pair the deficiency to the full ex,en, OF his
bond"
AylGt's property was thus sacrifced-