The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-12-21
. MISCELLANEOUS.
AleTEaUHe MARION.
BY MRS. CAROLINE GILMAN.

.inS to my finger and pressed his
lips one moment upon its glittcring
surface. There was no need Of
words; heart whispered to heart, and
gently supporting my quivcring form,
lie spoke low and fond words which
wore sweeter to my heart than the
fresh air of heaven to the faint spirit.
Moments passed. away, and then
My .mothcr must see you, Cornclia,'
he said. Il shall feel like miser
until have revealed my treasure to
her, and to sister Ellen, and my fa
4 ther. thank heaven that you will
be appreciated i'll my home
Mach has been said of the manev-
ring of mothers to obtain matches
FOR their daughters; but the class is
infinitely larger Of those parents who
feel as if their girls we're still in child.
& hooI, and who wake up az if from a
dream, on finding that the beings
s who have lain i'll their bosoms, and
walked the path Of opening life, and
surrounded the household hearth,
and been close as the very air they
hreathed, are suddenly wronched
from themby a stronger tic, the love
ofyears torn up by the very roots
and transplan:cI to q strangers
heart.
:, Such was the shock that mamma
received i'll her tranquil routine of
duty. The possibility of my belong,
4 ing to another. was like an earth
!, quake to her. had been cherished
: like a tree of her own planting, be-
meath which she was to reposc; it was
strange to her that other hands
slloullSgat its blossoms and fruits.
My dear mother! she took me in her
arms and wcpt-shc to whcm tears
were so rare All that day she
droone'l III her duties; her brow was
th,uyhtful; she sighed often, and
seemed like one struggling with
burden. But Arthur soon reconcilcl
her to loves destiny by tender asst
duties, and she felt that she had
gained son i'll the partial loss Of
daughter.
She gradually came, however to
l2oE Ii}00HH Try marriage as a matter
fixed upon AMI settled; and an early
day was chosen for my visit to Win
napee, Mr.. Marion's plantation, situa-
ted in o.e Of the eastern districts
My brother accompanied inc. and
Arthur also. Before niyhtfall l was
fnlde in the arms of Arthur's family,
and was welcomed by his sister Ellen
with the sweetest and brightest of
smiles. How quickly young thoughts
lcapto each other! Ellen and |
talked the whole nights almost
through; topics growing as We lifted
the wells of our hearts, and revealed
their fresh hope; I'D memories. We
had marked the same passages in
books; we preferred the same songs;
we walked the piazza with interlaciny
arms, loving the same glow and the
same shade. 1t was sweet to lavish
Inn Ellen the treasures of tenderness
] dared not bestow on her brother
Arthur; to look on her as his scftencd
shge, while turned my eyes from
him, and to hear her unwearied
praises of his goodness and beauty,
each imparting a glory to the other.
Il shall call you my own sister,
soon, said Ellen with whisper that
sent a blush Of joy to my cheeks, as
with embraces, such as dear friends
give, we parted. Arthur accompa-
MED us, telling me he could not be
satisfied if did not permit him to re.
turn me safely to my mothers home.
On reaching the close of our jour.
ney- indeed, we we're almost q: the
house we observed field adjoining
the avenue on fire. This common
and very necessary occurrence i'll
Southern Agriculture did not sur.
prise us; but on entering the avenue
leading up to the dwelling. we were
startled and terrified at finding the
Cherokee rose hedge in flames. In
winter this hedge is very combusti
bic. by the objectionable careless
mess vi the negroes, they had no,
guarded it from the flames at the two
extremities, where it had caught and
vas raging fnriously; thus shutting
them out from all hope Of escape
except through the hedge, which, il
inany parts, was totally inaccessible
AeYe heard their cries for help without
he5power to aid them. Fortunately
for is, our plantation adjoined an
io;h u, the avenue Of which ian par
ullcl Nitli our oNu; tue hedge Oh th,