Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-04-01

day must have its end and a laughing, shout
ing. noisy party they made, when turn in the
road hid the church, the minister, the deacon,,
from sight. N rtv
With long steps, and quick steps, and run
ming, home was soon reached, and the impa-
patience grew the greater, as, every obstacle
overcome, nothing remains but putting nicely
in their places, their best bonnets and caps,
} and waiting the arrival of the guests.
Grandmother, dressed in her deep frilled
cap, white as snow, bound around her head,
with broad black band, the emblem of her
long widOwhood. Her bombazine short gown
and pettlcoat, and her never idle knitting nee
dies, was the very personiGcation of happy,
virtuous old age. And the baby, upon the
!, rocker Of whose cradle her foot never forgot
: task, grown from long use into habit, was,
to strangers eye, an almost grotesque image
| OF herself. The same mild, blue eve the
} same round forehead; the very nose, inclining
to pug even like hers and, to complete the
resemblance, the child was 10 bear her name,
though changed from the old fashioned Betty
TO the more modern Bessie
Soon there began to be number of small
knocks upon the door. The children came
flrst, and II was strange TO see with what
feeling, amounting almost to awe, they looked
around. Familiar as every object was 10
them, Thanksgiving an actual, living
personage-had thrown the mantle of holiday
attire over the well known furniture. Even
the cradle and its little white-robed occupant,
with whom they had often romped, III the full
freedom of childish glee, seemed placed at
distance from them and they sat upon their
foot-stools, around grandmother, and looked
up in her well loved face, with new feeling
f of reverence stealing into their little hearts,
And now came louder and more characteristic
knocks, and soon Joe's, and Henry's, and
Martha's and Betsy's, and James families, all
r were there and all now present but James
city ladies and gentlemen, and Susan, the
, bridegroom, Martha, and James, the boy, who
, was almost an outcast.
grandmother, with her large, warm heart,
was the life of the scene Not child, nor
, grandchid, but she had ready for it kind
word, pleasant, loving word, words which
they remembered, when the next Thanksgiv-
, ing came around. And here, brothers and sis
| tiers, parent and children, between whom rolled
, the waves of Time, ever leaving them farther
and farther apart, met once more, mingled their
! Joys, and their SORROWS, with that unwonted
freeness which such an occasion alone can
give; drank once more of that fonnt of love
, which had opened upon them with their being,
3 and hard, toil-worn men, and care-oppressed
r women, as they, many of them were, not
heart among them all, but into it stole light
ard warmth from the fire on the family altar
Mother! you bear your age well = said her
\ first born. 'See' he continued, as he laid his
t own grey head as he used to when bov, upon
her knee, did you ever expect to see your
E ''litle crow headed Josy," as you used to call
3 me, with such white locks as ,hese1'
] God has been very merciful to me, my son,
! said the old lady with a tremulous voice. He
I has spared me many years, after he has taken
] away my usefulness. But and here she
placed her feeble hand upon his head, He has
( spared me to see you all together once more,
and 10 give you, in His name, my blessing y
And TO hear all arise and call you
] blessed said Hannah, with emotion.
! Amen!' added the minister, who had lust
t entered. Gods blessing attends those whose
lives have been spent in His service
This unexpected new conner produced quite
sensation around the room. Grandmother
, wiped the tears with which her eyes were over
? flowing, and said almost aloud, Il knew 1t ]
] knew something was going to happen but
r where is Martha I and Susan, and there is
James-poor boy! l thought they said he
was to be here But the arrival of the cler-
gyman seemed 10 be only the signal for other
5 unexpected new comers. In a moment very
: merry bells were heard jinsIing up TO the door,
e stylish buffalo, with bright red fringe, was
hastily thrown off, and disclosed to the watch
y ing eyes, Henry Lawson, the young black
smith, known for some time as Susan's ac-
: cepted lover, Susan herself, Martha, and James.
e There was the silent hush of expectation,
D but no one left the room, and there were heard
the low voices of those who had just arrived,
, and after few minutes, evidently of prepara-
iion, the door was swung back, and party,
the bridal character of which there was no mis-
f taking, entered. Quietly and solemnly they
0 arranged themselves before their minister, and
when all was hushed in silence, the short,
I simple ceremony was quickly performed, and a
1 prayer from pious lips invoked heavens bless
ing upon the newly married pair. Susan,
, no longer a homeless orphan, with blush of
r happiness upon her cheek, and tear of joy in
i her eye, claimed in a whisper, that Henry
I should share her place in her grandmother 5
: heart, and be in truth what he would SO love to
be-, real grandchild'
!, But befnre the hustle Of congratulation COM
l., menced, the pastor asked few minutes more
: attention, and the two infants were presented
/ for baptism-a ceremony very seldom per-
formed out of church, but now granted in con-
sequence Of Mrs. Norton's urgent solicitation,
n that the grandmother nigh. be present on an
occasion particularly interesting to her as one
h of the children bore her own, and the other his
:, grandfather's name.
}, 1t can hardly be said which ceremony touched
most nearly the old lady's heart, the bride, en-