The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-03-02
Stltrtr1 Gulrs.
OUR MINISTER'S WIFE.
NJ MARY MAY.

Arrnn = somewhat heightened absence,
Ihave again returned 70 Ashdale.Ar tthou
glad, readsrl Never mind II you're not;
shall write my story all the same, and
thea enly wish had the power Of eem-
pslling you to read it, just to punish your
Indifference. All! see, I'll send it to the
Olive Branch, aud thea my revenge will
b completed, for when one once sees the
Olive Branch, there 10 no getting away
from reading it through. SO now for your
punishment.
Very soon hied me to my favorits re-
treat, 10 our lovely village cemetery, but
how changed it was since my lsst visit
The roses and the delicate fragrant flower.
had disappeared. and the bright green
carpet beneath my feet was u,hered and
dry. The smiles Of June had faded, and
sober autumn was busy at work, striving
in vain to put Mature to death. Steadily
he breaihes upon the surrounding trees,
and yet, while his chill breath Is driving
the lif.-blsod from the veins Of the hutteF-
ing leaves, As IL in pity for their short life,
he paints them with his brightest hues,
and as We gaze upon the dying foliage. we
think il more beautiful in death than wheu
sun,,ncr kissed its emerald brightness.
MANY were the rosy checked apples that
were hanging ON the old apple tree by
Farmer lIardy's grave. 1t was the old
mans whim, to have the tree planted
there, and long ysars had it. sturdy
branches swallowed the graves OF himself
Aad fAssily. 'Tis there shat the village
urehins Sll their pockets with the tempt
ing fruit without fear that trAps or watch
dogs are lyisg in wait.
looked with admiriHg eyes At the
bright clustering berries Of the mountain
ash, and At the gorgeous eolon Of the vine
that wa tvining and climbing around the
widespread oak yonder. paused under
the dropping willow, and seated myself
on the little bench beneath, whilst the
leaves fell gently around me, and covered
the loved mounds At my feet. II our
cemetery is lovely in summer, so too in
autumn it is still beautiful.
As usual when in this quiet spot, the
spirit Of indising falls upon me, and so
busy Vas with my thoughts and pencil
and paper, that heard not the approach
Of any one, until sweet vsice eIclaim.
ed
"Why Mary! is that youi"
Hastily started to my feet, and met
the smiling glance Of "our ministers wife,"
After tho first surprise and salutations
were over, she spologired for interrupting
me, at the same time stopping to pick up
my paper which had uRconsciously
dropped.
"Will you, Mary, permit ns 70 read
the subject Of your thoushtA which ere
here writteni" said she, ~ she seated her
self beside me.
With some confusion assented; in .
few minutes sho looked up with . sigh.
"Ah" said she, show wildly am | ro-
minded Of my own youth, "nen my great
cat enjoyment was in writing down my
passing thoughts: but the greatest contrast
Is bctween US, for you are surrounded by
all the enjoymenA Of home and loving
friends, whilst l was"
Here she paused, her voice ehoked BY
Smotion. I replied
II have understood, Mrs. n,
that you wrote much formerly, and by
means efon Of your articles, YOU frat be-
came acquainted with your husband"
That is true, Mary, and IL some de-
tails Of my hfe would interest you, I will
relate them"
Immediately expressed my desi,s 10
that effect, after short silence she resum-
ed:
vividly remember the brightness ofmy
earliest childhood, the small but lovely
hosse N which dwell the garden in
which tos hours 1 played with my two
l,soshsEs, my senjos, asd my baby sister.
l Fsinensises The bright tempting fruit, that
with shouts Of childish ioy, we received
from the hands Of our in1ulgent father,
and the honey efl,or, from which
our mother, with smiling face, would watch
our happy frolics. Al! The sun Of those
early days seems All the brighter to me,
contrasting With tho dark clouds whicl,
MeFwsTtls ol'scased iss rays.
had boon from home . short time. Wis
isiag friend Of my parents, for whom L
Was named, and returned TO find my mo-
thet With apalc sad face, bending over tho