Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-12-31

should have fallen. She had been the
gaycsf, the faircst of all the pet aud
pride of the whole house. All had mar
veled at her becoming the choice of a
minister of peculiarly grave and silent
manners, and had wondered still more that
she had returned his love. But they had
been very happy tog .lsr, though sorrows
came upon them in rapid succession. Their
oldest child was a sickly boy; two babes
were taken from them almost as soon as
given; and ere the mother had recovered
from her second loss, the hacking cough,
the fevcr-hush, the increasing fecblcness
Of step and motion, told her too plainly
that her husband must follow their !i;tls
ones. A few short months, and all wa.
over. Her dying husband had committed
his broken hearted parents to her care he
VAS the last prop Of their declining years
She promised to be to them daughter,
and she had kept her word.
The evening wore happily away; the
children were sent early to bed, that they
might bercfreshed for the important duties
Of the morrow There was plenty Of fun
in disposing Of them all for the night
Such an iuroad Of guests would have dis
mayed any less experienced and well-pro-
vided hou,e-kecpcr than Grandnama Bur
ton. Such piles Of coniortsrs and snowy
blankets, and such fcathcr-be,ls Of her ow n
MAXIM, and sheets woven and hlcachCl
hv her own hands There were apart
u.eu:s enough for the .ccond generation,
all III The incest o!lcr. ieIdy for their 70
ception; with cribs and cradles for the
younger members Of the thirl-whilc the
older children had, in the broad upper hall
and ir some biz closet opening thcrofrom
such " shako-doans" as left them nothing
to wish There was 10 he heard for q
while, shouts Of laughter and various Jokes
passing from one to another OF these
tmprompl" dormitOries, but finally these
died away, and all was silent shove stairs.
Later in the evening 4 quick step re-
sounded in the hail. the door orcncd, and
Frank, the sea captain, so bronzed and
wcathcr-bcat as hardly to be recognized
as one Of them, appeared. But his mother
was not for one moment in doubt as 70 the
identity of her boy, and the greetings
which followed her glad welcome were
VAIN and loud The venerable father
srasped his sons hand, and with tears in
his eyes said, Thank God for this. /"
Franks story engrosscd the rest Of the
evening. lie had just returned from a
three years voyage, and had received but
few Of the letters sent in pursuit Of him.
consequently there was much to be told,
and many questions TO be asked and an
swered. At last he rose, said lie had a
call to make at one of the ncighbors. and
with unwontcd hesitancy asked permission
to invite friend to the dinner next day.
"If you mean sweet Emlna Burns, by
all mcsns," said the father "And," ad-
deI Mrs B. "cive her my love, and beg her
to come. She was to he here in the evening
on James account"
"Ah. Jenny, that reminds me-" said
Frank, "your letter reached mo in Val
paraiso on my return voyage. Quite lucky
YOU wrote, | should never have thsught
of your being old enough for the knic-
knackerics women like So well, if you
hadn't confessed to being on the way to
matrimony. See if this will DO to wear
on the awful occasion" Saying which,
he thrust little parcel into her hands,
and was gone without more adicu,
The present was pin and bracelet OF
great value AMI of beautiful workmanship,
which, with the reckless Gberality of the
sailor, who earns SO hardly and spends 50
freely, be had thought hone too rich for
his darling sister.
The long expected DAY lawnel clear aud
cloudless After the morning devotions,
which the patriarch led with the grave and
simple earncstncss his children 50 well
remembered, and a breakfast such as is
rarely seen except upon 4 New England
farmers table, the party separated to pre-
pare fer church and for the subsequent
duties of the day NIr. Burton especially
claimed his wifo's company when the bell
should ring for divine service, overruling
all her objections by delegating her duties
as bousekeerer to Jane. Johns wife PRO-
missed her assistance, aud Mr. 3. hoped
that all the rest would join in the public
thanksgiving. His word was always law
in household over which, lie ruled with
such loving sway that all delighted to
do his bidding, AMI to anticipate his Slight
est wish. The arrangements being thus
satisfactorily completed, be led the way to
his barns, followed by his two elder sons,
John and George, to both Of whom he
wished to show his improvements. These