The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-08-28


How cold, how dreary the dav was
The,wiRd, sounded serely as it moanec
among the bare branches of the trees
and'dled away IN distant mnrmurs.
white frost had fallen the night before
and nipped5 leaf and foweret.. The SKY
looked like lead, and now and then :
cloud, ffeecy and white, as If laden with
snow, drifted in mid-air.. Blue lipped
shivering little children. with satchels
and books, hurried by TO school or STOP
ped for few moments at the street
corners.
| had taken my drawing pencils and
portfolio, and seated myself before the
blazing fire. When the wind ratified
the easement, | drew my risette closer
about me and thanked God for a com
Portable shelter from the inclemency of
the northern blast. A piece of Bristol
board was beneath my pencil Scene
after scene grew beneath its touches,
But all was dreaFy. "A frozen mill. an
lce-bound tree, a snow storm. man
strlvlngefo hold his cloak on in the blast
these were the prominent features ia
my pencil sketches. | could not be
cheerful. doswhat Knight could not
forget the dseary aspect Of nature with
ont.
| threw aside the pencil, and wheeled
y my chair neareF the fire. The Goals
giowed almost .tercely IN the crate.
and began TO trace pictures and
images aHleng them.
The dopr4opened, and strong blast
swept through. looked up and saw a
cloaked figure-a tall. noble and com.
mandlHg person. He threw aside his
travelling cap, unclasped the buckles
conflnlng his mantle in 'front.' and Uncle
Roger satdown beside me, to thaw out
before the genial blaze his stiffenedj-
fingers. ~
As he sat there fis deep olive CON-
plexlon became almost scarlet in hue.
HIS Keen black eve rested musinal on {
the 1--we Goals Was he. too. tracing j
imagery among them? 1t might be, $
but 1t was not probable MY uncle had /
little imagination. and was never TO nv f
knowledge fanciful. Ii was more pro- F
eable that he wasweie hing In his mindl 4
some East India. speculation, for all his f
latter life had been spent there. II ;
was TO Its torrid climate that he owed ii
ms olive complexian quick flashing b
eye and susceptibility 10 cold. The
fire WAS peeali".ly s9reeahle to him :,
When he went into the fFigid atmos- al
phere without, his broad stout person d,
shook like an aspen, aud he clasped "
and drew his cloak closer and still
closer about him. He was bachelor to
one nearly fifty years old. His hair "
was sprlnkled with grey but it looked 10
handsome nevertheless: indeed all who bt
looked upon my uncle called him. even
al that age, a fine looking man. | had BY
often puzzled my brain 10 discover why | he
ne had remained all his life matchIess ST
why one, with his love of social life, fe
atteciionate disposition and domestic oh
tastes. had lived without enjoying life's
great charm-a home. M
Bnt mysteries are curious. things. and M
this fact remained mystery in spite of sh
all my speculatiens. | could not fattom W.
1t; but nova Stronger desire seized me foI
than ever before to know why he had
never married. y she sat in the light We
of the CRATE lie. looked so stately. ce
genial and handsome; the mystery
grew greater TO my. mind than ever. en-
and determined by direct questioning
10 find ont the secref.r ~. m1
A cold day, unele.vd said by way bre
,f introduetion-"a cold day3 and /
imagine yon feel it sensibly it is not pas
much Ike the East india climate.n yot
No, nsaid he abruptly, and.relapssd fell
'aek 9nto.the dreamy state he had sat tiol
n before. I
You do not like this climate, i'm wit
IgiDe :" continued. q
Not naeh,n was the laconic answer full
vrung from him again. too
But you did at bne time, like to live me
n your native land, nsT said. ".Whv. ret
i'd you go in the first place 10 the East mo
ndies, uncle ar ~ "A
To trade" said he-a to buy and 81
ell and get gain That is what all the
ne world lives for Gold is the lever and
lat moves the world.' clos
" True" said: but you have won 7
old. Yon are what, the world calls he'll
ch-aFe you happgr sati
His brow contracted. aHappier than trim
should have been without wealth. hav
resume said he. :: But perfect hap of t
mess is not the lot of man.o N
You never had family, uncle,n saw
syod have lived alone all at t
1uF hle. why did syon never marry ofte
d yoa never love 2D'- com
a deeper shadow stole TO his cheek. 8"
saw that had touched upon tender said
'irt. He did net reply Immediately. this
It sat- imagined, half moodily before e
g fire as still as statue. AT length used
! turned abruptly towards me. it WI
. Yes, ! have loved.n he said, .but il beat
as long YeaEsAg The romance of part
g is over with me now. The fame with
$ gone out that passion kindled: part
ere can scarcely be found one smol- grea
ring ember than has survived the / mu
ecks Of time and ITS accompanying bear
rows thing
Tell me al bout IL uueie,n said whol
ziously. where was it that you Al Nj
md your bsest sdeuza aWhere did Won gala