Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-09-24

elle0 down ncr Wnlle ulSnt RODE, nef
fair bosom barred, and her arms ex-
tended to the heavens, as if tempting
the tightening to her embrace.
The storm gradually died away; the !
atmosphere, which had been exccs
sively sultry for autumn, was cooled
and purified. Over the bilowy noun
ta;ns that skirted the eastern part
of the valley, the morning dawned;
the violet clouds were melted into
gold and crimson; the thick vapors
which for days had hung over the
valley had all dispersed, save where
the river glided through the woods
and meadows, and where the little
lake lay embosomed in green pines
and the messy rocks that spread down
from the mountain gorge.
There was scarce a trace of the
tempest Of the previous night. What
said |? The inmates of Ivy Cottage
looked out upon their once noble elm,
now Shattered and blasted forever!
On it, the scathing tightening had
done its worst-the tempest had
spent its fury. Prostrate lay the
majestic branches, still clad in the
glorious hues Of waning autumn; from
the topmost bough to the very roots,
the bark had been shivered into frag-
ments, and lay scattered, rods around.
The thick clinging ivy had been
wrenched from its hold, and the two
old scars of the now thrice stricken
tree lay open to view.
Ten years passed over the inmates
of Ivy Cottage-ten long years-and
still the widows garb remained un-
changed Throughout this weary
time, her seat within the church had
been unoccupied; for, never yet had
her feet passed beyond the wicker
gate, since the day of her husbands
funeral. So secluded did she live
that very few amongst the villagers
had an opportunity of remarking how
like marble had become her rigid fea
lures, and how cold the eyes that now
seemed ever fearless.
Those who saw this change, whis-
pered amongst themselves that she
was not a religious woman-that
there was no resignation in her sor-
row. They said Alright. Since the
hour she had bent above her husbands
corpse the holy name of God had
never passed from her lips. She
who in prosperity had been over
mindful of his goodness, seemed har-
dened to stone at the first touch of
his Christening. 1t was strange;
for, more usually, the Father whom
we forgot in prosperity we cease to
call upon when adversely overtakes
us. u 81
1t was winter time, and the ground
was covered with thick, crisp snow.
The trunk of the tightening scathed
elm still stood erect. One by one, the
strong blast had wrenched from it
the branches which the Tightening
spared; and now only a single limb
remained, which ratified dismally as
its dry twigs were swayed to and fro
by the winter winds.
"The old tree creal1s like a gal
lows said Heraldo to his mother, one
night, as they sat in the cheerful fire.
light. She cast one sharp glance at
him, and then shuddering as he had
never seen her before, she rose and
left the room.
elbow strangely mother acts about
that tree he continued; & wonder
that she will not give her consent to
its beingcu down. Mr.. Harris says
its already quite dangerous and even
if it were not so, its old blasted trunk
spoils the beauty of every thing
around it.
81 heard your mother say inter
rupted the housekeeper, 'that she
dreamed one night that the tree was
gone, and she was childless.'
'Pish! who believes in dreams? |
don't. But there is nothing more
likely than it will be SO, if she lets it
stand, for the old thing will crush US
all some day; and Heraldo, whistl-
ing, arose and went to the window.
4 The night was clear and frosty
the moon was high in the glittering
heavens, and it glistened down upon
the white fields, silverlake, and thick
trimmed river, which reflected back
light almost as vivid as that of day,
but Invested of its painful glare
There were shouts and merry voices
in the streets, and Harry saw party
of boys going down to the lake with
their sleds and skates. He and
Herbert seized their own, and follow
ed them! The housekeeper left the
room, and Helen sat alone by the fire.
She had become thoughtful girl
The grief SO sternly imprinted on her
mothers face had at length cast its
shadow upon her own. Not forgot
ten were her early teachings, and
though it was long since her early
teachings, and though it was long
since Mrs. Douglass had ceased to
speak to her child of religious things
Helen faithfully read her little Bible
to her brothers, and never failed at
morn and even tide, to kneel with
them at prayers, as years ago she
had been wont to do at her mothers
side.
At church, when bat a child, her
large blue eyes were ever thoughtful
ly raised to the pastors face, and the
words she could not comprehend in
his discourse, he .joyfully explained
to her, when after the service he war;
dered with her through the grave