Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-01-24


Old Mr.. Melwood, or old Zeke, as he
was always called, was one to whose
poverty misfortune had been added
He was cripple and unable TO do little
else than TO ride TO the village and leave
at the doors Of his customers the pro-
ducts Of his little farm. which was his
only means Of support. These were
few, but he always found a ready mar
ket for them, for every one said that
old Zeke's vegetables were the best,
and his eggs the freshest that were
brought TO town, and that the berries
that pretty Rose Melwood sold were the
sweetest that were ever tasted; indeed
everything which Rose Melwood had
or said, or did, was the best in the
world.
Rose lost her mother in very early
childhood and between herself and her
father there existed the greatest fond
ness. She did not love to hear him
called "Old Zeke," for it seemed to
her to give an impression Of unworthi-
ness bu. it was not so, for every one
respected the old man. / do not know
how he came TO receive that cognomen
but | think it was because his infirmities
made him seem much older than he
really was, and il was something of a
feeling Of pity that prompted It. But
Rose did not love 10 hear il; and always
when speaking of her parent, she would
/ call him her "dear, dear father" al
ways was she saying some kind word,
or performing some kind action, ANY
thing TO make her dear father happy
And she was his idol; Rosa. dear" he
always called her, and every one else
came to call her SO, except when some
naughty child at school, who had his
! falsehood exposed by her Underwriting
{ truth, would call her @Old Zeke's
! daughter" But Rose was the name
j that all loved 10 call her by She wa.
the pet Of the village; every one wa.
glad when she came, for she alway,
j brought happy face and heart alons
t with her; aunt Mary used to say she
bFeught whole shower of happiness
J TO sprinkle over everybody.
ii But Rose Melwood had her day o
: sorrow and that was when Julia Wes
E ton refused TO invite her 10 her birthday
D party.
: This party had been The grand subjec
s Of talk. among the school girls, durin,
i recess and whispering-time," 70
t half-a-year. All expected 10 attend
O all knew what they were 70 wear; an
d all hoped most earnestly that it woul
be pleasant day.
ii Rose Melwood knew in her litil
/. heart what she intended 10 do that day
!, but she had told no one, for it would b
t such sweet surprise, she thought, I
/ bring wreath Of flowers in April. e.
cry day, after the snow was off th
ground, she would look By the brook an
in the wood for the first flowers. 10 Sc
how they came on. She knew jus
where the trailing Arbutus hid itsel
and where the first violets would sprin
d up. and she felt quite sure they woul
e be in bloom before Julia's birthday.
+ The morning previous to Julia We'
ofl TOMS birthday, had invited Rose an
d two or three of her companions TO wal
l. with me; and Just as we entered a pat
: which led through the wood, Rosy da
ys ted away, exclaiming. "I am going
e hide from you now, but will be wit
d you SOON" My young friends wandeI
I'll ed off. one by one, in search of fowei
rs and winter-green, and / had just entere
10 the path which led 10 my loved retire.
iIi1 when saw through the trees that
af was already tenanted, and on comm
BIT nearer, discovered Rose Melwood. 81
p was unconscious of my approach, ar
~ | never saw sweeter subject for pal
le than she was at that moment. ST
of was sitting upon the ground, with he
'it lap full or flowers and a half forme
ee wreath lying beside her. Her bonn
Sc had fallen back upon her shoulders, al
her long fair hair was falling in ric
er clusters Upon her neck her small viii
We hands were clasped, and her full hl,
er eyes were turned towards heaven, wi
De an expression Of perfect purity, love al
n holiness. q: Oh, Miss Emily !" she e
w claimed, as soon as she observed m
" "Is not this beautiful3 It seems ju
OK like heaven 10 me"
TO 20, Rosy dear. where did you fl
To- your Aowe rs p exclaimed our compa
:es ions, coming up at this moment IS
here-wiIl not this be beautiful Z" s
tie exclaimed, holding up a half-wov
TO- wreath; g this is for Julia 10 wear
o.; her birthday
in But you are not going 10 her party
n; exclaimed one.
er. u Why. yes, Of course I shall &C" j
he piled Rose, '' know Julia expects /
he to CO."
ID. But she told me yesterday she shot