The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-17

cradles over their shoulders to go home the
old man sighed, and, looking on the sparkling
eyes and flushed face of the youth, said
Perhaps we may never reap this field to-
gether again"
Willard had always thought it would make
him very happy to know he should not have
to reap any more but somehow his fathers
words made bis heart heavy and, in spite Of
the fast coming beard, he turned away and
brushed the tears from his Drowned cheek
with the back of his hand He tried to count
the outside passengers of the stage coach "a
it ratified past, filing all the road with clouds
of dust, in van-he was thinking Of some
thing else The old farm, that he bad
sometimes almost hated, looked beautiful now
the ripe standing haryests, and the yellow
stubble fields stretching away toward the wood
land, and the red and orange shadows trem-
bling along the hill sides and among the green
leaves A little and little more he fingered,
till finally where the birds chirped in the
hedge that divided the meadow from the wheat
field, be stopped still Twitters and trills, and
long melancholy cries aud quick gushing
songs ali mingled and blended together, and
the stir of leaves and the whirr of wings
sounded through and over all, The blue morn
ing-glories had puckered up their bells, but
looked pretty yet, and the open trumpet flow
ers hung bright and Haunting everywhere.
Many time he had come out to the hedge
with Linney Carpenter in the summer twi-
lights. Now he might not come any more
and if he went away, she would forget him
perhaps love some one else.
There was crashing and cracking of the
boughs in the hedge, and Brock pressing as
near as he could, leaned his slender head upon
the shoulder of the young man.
"No, no, will not sell you! !" he exclaimed,
parting away the boughs that divided them
"a thousand dollars could not buy you!" and
for a half hour he caressed and talked to the
beautiful animal, as though he had been rea-
soning creature. At the end of that time he
was pretty nearly resolved to think no more
about college and, dismissing the horse with
an abrupt promise to keep him always he bent
his steps hurriedly homeward,
But Brock had either sudden fit of fond
ness, or else some premOnition of the hard
things meditated against himself, and followed
his young master at little distance, dropping
ly and nOiselessly.
He had just reached the boundary of the
cherry orchard, bending YEARLY under his
cradle, and with his face begrimed with dust
and sweat, when wave of sweet perfumes
came against him and looking up, he beheld
in the path directly before him a gentleman
and graduate of the then most celebrated col
lege whereabouts.
preaching, and stripping the kid glove off his
delicate hand.
Willard recognised him at once as former
schoolfellow and playmate, but his greeting
was cold and formal, expressing nothing of the
cordial surprise which sometime absent friend
might have expected
Having addressed him as MIR. Weldon, he
set his cradle on the ground beside him, dashed
back his heavy, wet hair, and seemed to wait
for the young man to make known his errand,
which, however, he did not at once do, but said
instead something about the heat of the day.
81 should scarcely have expected you to
know anything about it" Willard replied,
drily
"Why, have been making hay, and think
should know" answered Weldon "just look
here" and he showed two blisters on the palm
of his hand.
But Willard was in one of those dissatisfied
moods which an angel could not soften, and
simply saying, Is it possible - he took up
the cradle again. He felt as if the blistered
hands had offered terrible insult to his own,
which were too much accustomed to work to
suffer thereby
'Will you 20 to the house, Mr. Welden?n
he said, after he had advanced step or two.
The habtual, or, it may be, well-bred amiabil.
ity of Mr.. Weldon seemed not at all disturb
ed, and, politely asserting, he followed rather
than accompanied the moody Willard TO the
house, replying for the most part to his own
observations.
He accepts my invitation in the hope of
seeing Linney,' thought Willard, "and not
that he cares anything about me )" but, to his
surprise and displeasure, the young man SEEM
ed not to notice Linney at all.
"Perhaps he thinks her beneath his notico,"
said Willard to himself "If he does, he is mis-
taken; she is az good as he, or any one else
like him.
sand so you are going to college," Mr.. We'll
den said, addressing Willard
Gay, indeed am ! 2" he answered petuant-
ly, and without looking up.
"Willard Wllardlp and the exclamation
was accompanied by rcproving look that sent
the blood mantling into the cheek aud fore
head of the young man, for such correction
from his father mpled that he was still boy,
and that it was, joined to the knowledge that
he merited more severe reproof which stung
him so terribly.
But for the coming pride of manhood, he
could have risen from the table for they were
at tea and gone out into the night and cried.
Bat that privilege was denied him and, try
ing to feel that he was the injured and unof-
tending party he sat sullenly silent till the
meal was concluded.
MIR. Weden then said, apologetically-" As
| was passing here, Willard, | CHANGED TO meet
your father, who informed me that you were
going to college; and that having no further
use for him, you would dispose of fine horse
you have"
81 am obliged to you,' was the reply, for
30 politely phrasing my necessities. ] cannot
afford to 90, unless can sell the horse-that
is the amount
"Then there is no obstacle in your way"
Mr.. Weldon said, g for unless your terms are
exorbitant which hope they are not ! can
find purchaser-in fact, ] would like to get
him myself"
In truth, the young man was afraid to say
he wanted the horse, and would have him at
any price.
Weldon as he took leave, after some further
conversation. and then we shall have both
determined what we can afford to do. Good
night!n
"Good night and the devil take you" NUT
tered Willard, and, sitting down against an old
spple-tree, be threw his hat on the grass be-
side him, folded his arms about which hung
gracefully the full shirt sleeves, and gave way
TO the mingled feelings which had been gath
ering in his heart--ieengs which would not
be appeased without shedding some burning
tears
The harvest moon came up round and full,
the dew gathered in the grass and dropped
heavily now and then from the apple-tree
boughs. Fw away the owl hooted and called,
and all beside was still, very still
And here, lost 10 bitter musings, we will
leave the young man for little while, to speak
Of Lnney who does not see the pride and am
biion, that to say the least, darken between
her and her hopes