Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-07-04

to sec how the rose bushes fourished. They've
got mother lying there TOO, Mary, and they're
so fororn like, it made my heart ache to see 'em.
Look here, wife, don't these eyes make you think
on some that'll never see the daylight again %
and the great fingers drew away Maggie's hair
from her blue eyes. eyes, they do Tom. Poor
little tired critter," and with tears swimming in
her eyes, the sailors wife drew little Maggie into
her lap, and the brown head was laid against the
heart where three months agonc another had slum-
bered.
swell keep them, Tom," she said, simply
| in place Of them that's in heaven"
Twenty years have passed. How swiftly our
pen records it! but all, me! reader, they have
done much work, those twenty years They have
painted sweet pictures in the meadows, and drawn
over the mountains their togas of green, and
their shrouds of white, and they have laid their
sad autograph on young brows, and scanned bright
tresses with silver, but their darkest chirography
lies where no eyes but Gods can read it, in the
hearts Of men!
| 1t was a cosey room, such as would have done
your heart good to see, reader. The astral rays
| fell softly among the rich flowers of the Turkey
carpet and plated the carved chairs in the drawing
room with silver.
''And so Paul you have bought the house p
Now if you only had some pretty birdie to put in
| to it''
81 should have had one Maggie darling if
certain delinquent you well wot of had not stolen
you from me-" and the gentleman lifted his fine
| eyes with a roguish smile, which brought the
blood into the cheek of the fair girl woman by
his side. IS But what in the world brother put it
| into your Uranium to buy that house? You are
| to live with us you know, and l can't imagine
what you wanted of it,
81 bought it, Maggie, because looking down the
reach Of score of years, l see ON a fair May
morning two ragged, homeless, wretched orphan
children, standing before it, watching with strange
delight the flowers that are wrapping themselves
round the fence. l see too the face, fair as an
angels, with its blue eyes, and golden curls,
that looked through the pickets, and hear again,
as though heard it yesterday, the scornful voice
that called me a beggar.'
&c remember it, | remember it all ~ cried the
young lady, while the tears mounted her eye lash
cs. 1t has all come back to me, the sleep in the
grave yard, and the old sailor and his wife, who
took us home and kept us till you went away and
sent for me. They have gone to their reward now.
And I-oh Paul, all am, all ever shall be,
owe to you,' and the sister drew up nearer to him
and rested her head on his shoulder.
''Nay, rather to our God, Maggie, for if He had
not incorporated into my very being this thirst
for knowledge, this indomitable perseverance,
which has worked out my very destiny, l should
not have been here to-day. And the brothers
fingers smoohcd tcnderly away the curls from his
sisters forehead.
ga lady who wishes to see you, sir" and the
domestic held open the door, as she passed in.
She was dressed very plain, nay poorly, but as
she flung aside her green veil, and advanced to
the gentleman, who had risen to receive her, she
revealed countenance Of exceeding loneliness,
although much of sorrow and suffering had writ
ten themselves in her blue eyes, and around tho
sweet pcnsivc lips.
81 have come to solicit a great favor of you,
sir" said the young lady, in tones of soft, rip
pling music, "and one which it may seem very
singular in me to request.
"But learn that you are the new owner of Ma
pie Wood, and as it was the home, the sweet home
of my childhood, | am DESTROYS of wandering
through the old rooms, and among the garden
alleys once more. We are soon to leave the
country, my brother and l; he is an invalid, and
his heart ycarns for a glimpse of the old place
once more. You will not refuse us ?''
sCertainly not, Madame-you shall always
have the cntree of the grounds, when you choose
to honor them by your presence"
81 have seen that face that beautiful face, be-
fore! 1t has looked on me in dreams some time,
Paul.
"Did you not know it i? 1t is the one that look
ed on you through that wicket that morning."
answered the gentleman.
1t was beautiful but mournful spectacle, the
pale, yet proud looking invalid, leaning on the
arm of his sister, as the two wandered with sad,
earnest eyes through the green, shady paths of
Maple Wood, and gazed long and tendery on the
beauty of the home that was theirs no longer.
One day, the owner of the grounds came upon
them suddenly, as he hastily turned sharp angle
of the carriage road, on the lawn.
"You seem quite weary, sir" he said, to the
invalid, after few common place remarks had
been interchanged by them.
eyes. will sit down, with your permission,
and rest myself" and he threw himself at the feet
of one of the trees.
ST have recently set out some fine Southern
Roses, near the summer house. Will you see how
my exotics hourish?' and Paul offered his arm to
the lady, for her brother was too weary to accom-
pany them.
"Livc here! in our old home shall We really
| come back here Oh! sir, it seems like blessed
dream How shall We ever repay you,' and the
| lady leaned against the summer house, and the
tears fell fast down her cheek.
''You have paid me already" he answered, and
when the lady glanced incredulously at his re-
mark, he told her of morning in the past, and
how two little besgar children had stood before
Maple Wood, looking eagerly at its world of spring
blossoms, and of the little girl, with blue eyes,
and golden curls who had spokp so gently, and
| cullcd them the fairest flowers.
For long time, she did not remember, but
when he alluded to her brothers haunting words,
the color drifted into her checks, and then Paul
knew her memory had grasped the whole.
'Ineed hardly assure you," concluded he, ''that
the present owner of Maple Wood, was that little,
homeless, ragged, good for nothing beggar.''
'You will forgive him those Words" entreated
the lady. "Poor Henry he is changed now, for
| no has suffered much,,