The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-03-25
\ EL b CTED TALES
ANGEL CARRY,
OR TIE
FATE OF A DRUNkARDS CHILD

"My Garry has blue eyes and cherry
lips, and pretty curling hair as any little
g'rl IN the land, know murmurcd fond
mother, as she suspended her sewing and
sat gazing at Il lovely creature full Of wild
gambols, now dancing around the hum
BILE room after the golden sunshine. now
pouring from natures own rich lutte, soft
strains OF music; and smile which made
that poor woman's holy face played around
her own beautiful mouth.
Another moment and Carrv's bright
eyes and winsome face pccped in at the
window, through the climbing rose bush
ana the fresh crimson flowers laid on her
sunny locks, and kissed her cheeks and
flushed her white forehead with pale rose
red, and clang to her little shoulders and
again the mother as she lifted her now
shadowcd brow whispered with fresh
Iovc-bouud at her heart" God bless her"
Then the tiny thing ran and laid down
upon the bank, and the slender wands of
grass. among which sparkled here and
there bright yellow buttercups broidered
her simple linen frock, and Graded her as
lovingly, almost, as the arms of her mott
or. Sometimes the wild bees on ;he wing
came close down, so close that for the
warm, fragrant breath of the sweet infant
they would have kissed her little rosy lips
for no doubt they took them at first for
new ripc blossoms, full Of honey, and so
they were-brt not for the bees. Above
the babe linden tree threw its graceful
follage, and between the delicate leaves,
the blue shining heavens looked down but
never on lovclier sight. One branch as
delicate almost rs n gossamcr spray, swung
dreamily back and forth, rocked by the
weight Of yellow bird, that pouring its
ringing tones upon the still air. sang the
child tc sleep.
Wondering at last why the laugh of her
little one was hushed, the young mother
folded by her work, and FASTENED to the
garden and although no painters eve
was hers, yet rs her vision wandered far
away towards the hills, and gathered in
the broad, intervening fields, with their
serpentine swatls Of uew mown grass, and
the orchard-trees, right and left bending
nnder their precious burdens, and the wee
glinting stream, she felt all the emotions,
that, brcathed out in choice words. stamp
the poet.
The hedge Of sweet briars surrounding
her humble home, was spangled with
clusters Of dried rose berries, the spreading
grape viRe and beds Of sweet thyme, mar
igolds, mignionctte and hearts ease were
glowing under the warm, mellow rays Of
the high sun bnt precious above all these,
was the sight q her dear rttlc daughter,
slumberiDg under the linden tree.
She gazed upon it, strangely enough,
With tears; her soul expanded with the mul-
tpliey other emotious she bent rev erent-
ly down passed her loving arms under
meath the babe and again mumurinp
"God bless her." bore her within the low
1y cottage and laid her in her little cradle.
Just then a wild burst of merriment
broke the drowsy silence; a coarse, gut
teral sound ofmen's harsh voices-in mirth
unnatural and strained the mother lifted
her eyes from the sleeping cherub,
and looking heavenward she mur-
Injured as she clasped her hands till
they grew rigid "oh! how small sa-
sciifco would this life be could it but res
tore him 10 virtue will nothing bring him
back TO my love again Must behold
him come home day after day, with the
maniacs wild eye and the drunkards cursci
And shall my child be branded with his
disgrace 7 my winning, beautiful, delicate
girl almost too gentle and good fol earth,
.as she is, must she he called drunkard's
daughteri God forbidT she continued
while sob after sob shook her whole frame,
.rather take her to Thee, Father, il this
must be, and will strive to smile over
her little body, all cold and shrouded for
the grave, and thank Theo that it is no
worse"
And Emily Alden rose from the side of
her babe, and suppreasing the violence of
her emotious, resumed her sewing.
The cottage room was very neat: rose
vines crePt over the window, and a few
timid buds ventured through. and hung on
the wooden sills. The floor was san3eJ
the pine chairs stood evenly against the
.white-washed wall, q round table shone
In the corner, and over it hung the portrait
OF a venerable Old man, the father of Emi- |
", once the minister Of the parish, whose |
massive brow and deep set black eyes, in !