The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-02-08
VI v I Love Thee.

No, nor yet Tor thy soft bosom swelling high,
love thee, for the feelings dwelling there.
love thee, not for that soft enchanting grace,
love thee, not for thy kind bewitchiug smile,
Nor do love thee for thy mild bcamng face,
But love thee Tor bosom free from guile.
Nor yet for the soN tint Of roScate hue
Do love thee, tho love 20 sec it glow,
But love thee, for those feelings pure and true,
In the bright tears that fall for others wo.
check,
I'll love thee when gone is thy beauty away,
have built my love on thy virtues meek,
And my love with my life shall only decay.
Month after mouth passed away. Time
indeed, rolled on leaden wheels. Her
eyes were continually turned towards the
Wat,uga, but Walter came not. Several
months have elapsed since the appointed
time, but the person of him she loved was
still absent. Winter with all his dreary
attendants was among them. Snow, sleet,
ice, cold piercing winds all seemed COM
bned to prevent his appearing. She tor
tured herself by imagining he was dead
or at least sick, how could he come. lie
cannot be false, it is impossible; because
| diG not strive to win him, l used no de-
vice to gain his love, it was his own volun-
tary act. but let me reflect awhile"
she continued. "Man is variable as well
as woman, perhaps he has found another
who pleases his fancy more than | do. |
know | am not perfection, or perhaps, oh
torturing thought! he has discovered my
parentage and finds me of mean birth; il
so, can never hope to see him. Price
will smother his affectic, and may droop
like n blasted sun-hower."
Mr.. Holers frequently observed Mettie
in this mood, and he being fearful of her
health becoming impaired, spared no pains
to amuse his adopted sister, yet every art
was Intellectual 10 restore her wonted vi
vacity. Having heard by some means,
that large party Of ladies and gentle
men were TO meet at the Blowing Rock,
a lofty precipice made popular By having
The property ofbIowng ones handkerchief
back after being thrown over, he proposed
to Me,iie that if she were to accompany
him, he would be happy to mingle with
the company that would assembIe there.
Mettie assented to go with him; ;he hope
Of hearing from Walter, made her the
more anxious. She evinced higher flow
of spirits in preparing for this little pleas
ure ride than in anything size had enga-
gcd in for some months previous. The
All Wise Ruler of the Universe often hides
Il blessing beneath the veil of his chasten.
ing hand. At least, Mcttie, while on this
pleasure party, found that in her trouble
she made discovery that was of great
relief 10 her aching heart When they
arrived at the appointed place, number
Of both sexes were already assembied-a
part were from South Carolina and cthers
from The neighboring towns. The day
was passing away with that agreeable
feeling that makes company pleasant. At
the regular time the carriages were un-
loaded; baskets well filled were seen set
ting around everything seemed to indi-
cate that they were preparing to enjoy ar
hour in the destruction of pies, cake, and
other viands that compose picnic din
ner. After taking their repast on the lofty
rugged rock, they collected on its summit
to take a last look from the airy top. The
view from this point is one of the most i'm
pressiye kind. Far off to the southwest,
can be seen the gigantic peak Of the Table
Rock, whose smoke-enveloped summit is
formed similar to bench with its front
turned towards the north, seeming a suit
able place for the Indians deity 10 set and
watch the advent Of Winter, and from bis
sublime station, wave his mighty hand 10
warn them to prepare for the coming
storm. At the base Of the stupeudous
cliff, a gurgling stream winds its way,
sending forth sounds that enchant the ear,
which mingled with the murmurs Of the
breeze, charms the soul ith music. richer
far, than the melody of thousand larps
The dark green foliage Of the surrounding
hills relieves the eye from the expanded
view, which lies before the enraptured OBJ
server.
Persons Of that day, were not very GER
emonious in their social intercourse, and
Mettie did not receive formal introduc-
ton to all Of the company; though mod
est, she was not reserved; she did not at
tempt toavoid any who chose to converse
with her, yet she was net altogether as
lively as her nature allowed her to be. In
the creyices Of the cliff, aquantity of house
leek grows, which ara frequently plucked
bv the volmey via,t,,.s a. ,<S>at 80. A. !. L.