The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-04

Fourth Of July Oration) that she was the hand
soonest woman that ever set my eyes on, and
have seen few in my dayln
Handsome is that handsome does,n muttered
Dame Alleine, "and guess there are other folks
in the world think 80 too. There is Gervaise
Wylverton-you all remember how she served
him"
"Ah, yes! Gervaise was her sweetheart for
many a long year" replied Master Dmsdale, " and
everybody thought it would be match, until rich
John 'Dalrymple's horse stumbled right before
Widow Goldings door, as he was riding through
the village, and not only broke his leg, but poor
! Gervaise Wylverton's hesrt. Killed two birds
with one stone, you know !" and the simple, good
natured master Of the gsmut marked his appre-
citation Of his own wit with his usual chuckle,
which was suddenly changed into a cackling kind
Of cough at the thought of the place in which he
stood, and the consciousness that the old minister
stood but few PAGES distant.
Broke bis heart, indeed !" was the spirited
response Of a small, round-shouldered woman.
with peering black eyes and face brown, with
cred, and puckered, like sweet apple after the
process Of baking; "a Wylverton's heart is not
80 easily broken, oanetcll you, and for such q
trife as the like or dislike Of any Golding that
ever breathed the breath of life IL that was the
case, do you suppose ne would sit up there" and
she nodded her head energetically in a certain
direction, plying his chise as il nothing at all
| had happened, and she being buried No, no.
Gervaise's heart is hard and whole as one of
his own blocks Of marble before his saw has
touched it. 1t is little he cared for Rose Gold
| ingm
! "And yet the GOldings come Of as good stock
as any in the place returned old Widow AL
| lene; G. but you were a Wylvertou Mrs Glenn
mngs, and, Of course, will stand up for the breed
| remember well-twas the whole town talk
EC0e's giving him the mitten for her rich city
spark 1t must have been rather mortifying-it
aways,is" pursned the old DAME whose eapstie
temper seldom let her pass over sensitive spot in
| friend or foe, without touch, to have every
body talking about you. But then, they all
said Gervaise was quite good enough for her,o
GOOD enough !" and the wide fall of black lace
on the edge Of Mrs Clemmings's close black
satin bonnet was instinct with old family pride,
as she drew herself up, and said sharply, as she
turned away" Well, think as you please, neigh
bors, but grand as she pretended to be- Rose Gold
ing was glad enough TO lay her bones here, it
seemsp
"Aye, wounded bird always futters" re-
marked Dame Alleine as she adjusted her shawl,
and looked after the retreaing form Of her gossip.
1t was always sore spot with the Wylvertons-
Rose Golding's marriage. All but Gervaise,
whom one could never get to say word about it,
any way-and for that matter, little about any
thing ele. He was always mighty sparing of
wordsn
"No gift that way-no gift, Widow Alleine,n
began the old singing master profering his SNIFF
box with selfsatis6ed shipper TO one and an-
other of the group. "They may talk as they
will of their college learning, their rhetoric and
! logic, and what not, but contend that speech is
gift that CONS natural to some folks. Now, !,
| for instance
every like, very like, neighbor Dimsdale," in
terrupted the dame, "but must be jogging, for,
yonder by the scbool-house door, is my grand
daughter Sarahs little Hannah, waiting to go
home with me"
And now | think OF it, | want 10 speak
word with Amos Cople, the shoemaker, so | will
walk along with you. It's right on your way, and
| can explain this matter as we 60. As said be-
fore, contend --- as,,-
y "Ani contend that Geryaise wylvetton knows
more than all Of you put together, gift or nc
gift" muttered old Jasper Wetheral, as he moved
away with a step in wide contrast to that of the
mercurial old singing master-grave and digni
fed--altogether such step as became one who
had been both militia officer and justice in his
| day.
In o short space the spot was deserted; the
street resumed its usual Sabbath-like stiffness
the clouds of dust settled slowly back to earth,
Soiling the white petals Of the Mayweed, and
cngng to the broad leaves Of the elecampane and
mullens that lined the road rs if they, too, must
needs wear the dust of sorrow and repentance
upon their heads the trampled grass In the grave.
yard began to lft itself up again the little birds
returned to their perches on the top Of the old
tombstones pecking fearlessly at the hard seed
pods of the roses which some Borrowing heart bad
planted on the grave beneath thus drawing life
from death; while the long, deep shadows Of the
Lombsrdy poplsrs that, sentinel-like, guarded the
western barrier of the graveyard, Crept slowly
forward toward that new-made grave as If eager
to hide in their embrace the last earthly trace Of
her over whose memory the colder, darker shad-
ows Of oblivion were 70 soon TO fall
CHAPTER II.
And how was IL with Gervaise Wylverton7
Was his heart, indeed, whole and hard as his own