The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1850-10-24

materially affect your happiness in after
years, when shall be as thing that
has been and is not"
dearest grandmother cried Amy,
kissing her venerable cheek, "don't
grieve me with the thought of losing
you. have no mother, hardly know
my father, and without you what would
become of mep
@These sayings do not hasten DEATH"
my dear child, Sand the reflection
comes as naturally as to say yonder
sun will set My only desire is to
make you better acquainted with your
father, that is all :" and she wiped
away the tears that stole down the
rosy cheek of the graceful little crea-
ture who had thrown her arms around
her "Your father" she continued,
"has peouliaitses and strong prejudi-
ces. which sometimes dim his better
feelings. know it affords him no plea
sure to hear of those with whom he is
at variance, and hcstilities have long
existed between him and the De Greys
of Tavistock, of whom you say much
in your letter; and though cannot ap-
prove these animosities, | would prefer
you should tell him Of his friends, and
not those whom no deems enemies, for
| fear that unhappy breach will never
be closeda
Not long after this conversation, Amy
was among her flowers one afternoon.
As she twined the eglautine and sweet
peas through the trellis of her rustic
arbor she sweetly sang
'The heath this night must be my bed,
The bracken curtain for my head;
Ny lullaby, the warder's tread,
Far, far from love and thee, Mary"
Amy paused and murmured to her.
self. "How beautifully Heron repeats
Scott's poetry p' when a rustling in the
little thicket behind caused her to turn,
and the person in question stood before
her. Amy had frequently met this
gentleman at Clareinnis, the country
seat Of his aunt, who was very init.
! mate friend of Mrs. Maitland. At this
last recontre she blushed deeply, but
she never looked awkward, and shaking
back her raven tresses, for she was
without any hat, she accosted Mr. De
Grey, by asking if he were looking fol
any one.
IL find all I came to SEEK said he,
"a fay in fairy land.''
"You come to fairy land, do you 2?
replied Amy, "and do you not know
that mo shape profane dares tread
these sacred pathsn Must | call my
goblinsin she continued, laughing, a.
She stood in the gateway Of her little
garden. "Here, Spright! Here, Cob
webb Two beautiful spaniels came
bounding at her call.
"Your goblins are not very grim
fair Amy, but l shall not dispute theil
abilities to render aid, since they give
me so kind a reception"
| Chatting merrily, they walked vi
the brae-side, and entering the large
flower garden, found Mrs. Maitland
and with her friend and poet whom
Scotia will long remember. 1t wa
Hector Macneil. who lived sometimes
uear the village of ST. Ninians. H.
was an old man with a few scattered
gray locks, a pale, emaciated face
whose deep furrows marked life
which to him had been cold, hard ant
cherries: rather above the middle
height, and slightly bent from diseas'
and poverty, his countenance wore tha
touching expression of those who mus,
alone in melancholy abstraction.
The poet was . welcome guest a
Daisy Down, and now Amy was calle,
to pull the finest gooseberries whicl
she would willingly have turned I
gold. As the thought occurred to heI
she turned to De Grey, saying, "lf / b
fairy, why cannot my touch turn thi
fruit to gold p'
! Because he replied, I" it is hearts
i. not gooseberries, which Miss Dougla
may touch and turn as she will.n
aHere, Mr.. Macneil-here are ye
low and green; the deep red goose
J berries, which have been in perfection
are all gone into jam, and if you stay
tea, you may perchance sing its praise
Gfnever sang in my life" replie
the poet, with perfect gravity.
: "You failed that time, Miss Amy,
said Heron in low voice. Bette
! listen to my plain prose, than atteml
. to bring down the old sky.lark.
i s'Tis only mounting that he sing
I not when he is masticating gooseberI
] jam. Pm surprised that with yol
: sense, you talk so much nonsense t
I. night,n he added ironically
> Amy remembered the hint Of h
{ grandmother, and intended to act
! It, but the temptation to retort was
: resistible, and casting one ofsher b
I witching glances, bright and piqual
: they were, she said, Nwho likes II
p nonsense better than Mr.. De Greyo
4 After the departure of the pcst CO
Q versatiop turned on his misfortunes.-
aI should like to see the original " Ma
of Castle Cary" said De Grey. :.
aDont conjure up any poetic visio
| pray" said Mrs. Maitland, laughin
: "for she is eighty now, and old age h
|. cast his misty powder in her dark ro