Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-09-24
THE LAST TENANTS OF IVY
COTTAGE.
IF you love not a tale Of sorrow,
I pray We, turn from this"
By CLARA MORETON.

pray We, turn from this"
was but child when the Doug
lass family came to Glenwood, and
took possession of Ivy Cottage; but ]
well remember how every one in the
village was pleased that the house
was again tenanted. 1t had looked
so desolate since the Widow Percy's
death, that it made one sad to look at
it. Its quaint lattices forever barred,
the doorway Melted across with "the
spiders silven web,' and the shrubs
and vines, once so carefully trained,
running to riot in their exuberance.
Once more the windows were
thrown wide open, and snowy muslin
curtains auttered in the morning
breeze; once more the plant vines
wreathed the pillars of the porch,
where of late they had stretched their
arms far out, embracing nothing; and
once again the old elm flung its cool
shadows over gay and graceful chill
dren, who sported on the greensword
at its feet.
A brave old elm was that-in all
the village there was not another SO
noble. For scores of years had it
outstood the blast and the tempest,
yielding not, even to the fiercest light
ming that had twice rent its trunk.
The scanned scars in the gnarled gray
bark, which were the only remaining
traces of the thunderbolts, were now
hidden from sight by the ivy, that fold
upon fold, wrapped itself around the
rugged trunk.
On the meek, pale face of Mrs.
Douglass, the stranger tenant of Ivy
Cottage, there seemed to dwell the
shadow of some terrible grief; but
although the good old pastor of the
church she faithfully attended, strove
with kind words to win her conf
dence, he found his well meaning eff.
forts unavailing; and day by day the
shadow deepened, instead of fading,
as in the usual course of sorrow.
One day, in the solemn, mournful
autumn time, the first autumn of her
residence in Glcnwood, Mrs. Doug
lass left the village suddenly, as she
had done twice before, leaving her
children with the faithful woman who
had been the widow Percy's house
keeper, and who had resumed her
situation at the cottage Immediately
after the arrival of Mrs. Douglas in
the previous spring. By her very
busy hands, the wanton vines had
been trained, the luxurious shrubbery
pruncd with judgment, and the vel
vet turf kept free from weeds and
scattered leaves. In her tender en-
brace, the children would cease to
call after their mother, when hour
after hour would frequently pass, and
from her locked room no sound would
come, save now and then a pleading
tone as of one in prayer, wrestling in
anguish.
The children when questioned by
the curious neighbors, as to the cause
of Their mothers repeated journeys,
replied that this time she had said
she was going for their father, and
perhaps she should find him dead
They were too young to feel anxiety
or grief, and although their faces
heightened as they spoke, their child
ish voices soon resounded in bursts of
merry laughter.
Helen, the eldest of the three, was
seven years old, a fairy-like little
creature, fitting here and there like
a CLEAN of sunshine, and calling forth
kind words and smiles wherever her
winsome face appeared. The twins,
Harold and Herbert, were two years
younger. Noble boys they were; but
how often had their mothers tears
rained heavily upon them! In an
agony of fondness, she would look
upon her children; but never, never
was there glen of maternal pride
and joy in her intense but most
mourntnl gaze.
Mrs. Douglass returned to Ivy Cot
tage, but she came not alone. The
heavy burden which was borne in
through the gate and the doorway
with her was her, confined husband.
Another day, and a plain white
marble slab marked his resting place
in the village churchyard. The mi
tials 81. D. and the age "3l,' was all
that it bore.
The night of the burial, a most
fearful storm swept through the vii
lage. The wind sobbed as it had
never done before around Ivy Cot
tage, the thunder was terrific; but,
through all, motionless as a statue.
stood Mrs. Douglass, leaning against
a window easement in her room, her