Smyrna times., 1854-07-05

everything glow in her warm, genial breath.
A few years since, curing the balmy days of
June, plodded over to the blue mountains and
green valleys of Mercer. l recollect the asso-
ciations of loving friends, whose hearts beat in
unison with mine. Vilidly arise the Saturdays
relaxation from study, when long excursions
were enjoyed, fences scaled, streams forded,
trees climbed, caves delved into, and deep tam
gled forest-spots explored. Those days came
as an oasis on the desert of a monotonous week
"a dull alienation l,f "books open,'' in the
third story of my temporary home, and books
closed, )" in the first. The deeply buried latin
roots, gladly permitted to repose in their OBJ
stinate obscurity, that ! might dig around those
at the base of the sassafras and the birch tree,
and. willingly abandoned Gummere's angles
and circles to perform angles on the mountains
sde and make the circle of the surrounding
yerdure-elad country. | love to dwell upon the
days when the cage-doors were thrown open
wide, ana manumission was granted, giving
liberty to fly whithersoever inclination sug-
gested, and permission to sing and whistle as
long and loudly as the voice chose to sound it.
self, or the lips chose to pucker, without dread
of that formidable wing nsy-clpper-the bell
But here am set down for life Ito all ap-
Ipcarance<) IN the heart Of dense city, and
permanently established among its red bricks
and ugly paying-stoniss However, do not
lnuTnur God has cast my lines in pleasant
places -among friends solicitoas for my plea
sure lnadditon to these, have the sunlight,
and the sky, and the rain, and the river, and
winds, and wonderful sights! Then, am fa-
vored with health, literature, music, business,
and happy heart! From all these my mind
frequently plays truant, and recapitulates some
scene of other days.
In this salubrious month, twenty or thirty
years since, immediately on the margin of the
roaring Atlantic, was first beard to raise dis
cordant notes. | was an exceedingly bolster
Gus infant probably, III my extreme ignorance
of terrestrial arrangements, essayed to rival
old ocean in uproariousness
| When the tenth anniversary of my birth ar
rived, sweet sister Laska, three years my senior,
(now she slumhers beneath the weeping -willow,)
determined to celebrate, the day with appropri-
ate display. At first, she seriously considered
the propriety ofcalling out the village "soldier
company" with their band of martial music,
consisting of a fife, drum and triangle; but the
committee of one (herself) appointed to inquire
into the practicablity Of such measures, after
mature deliberation, decided that such perform
ance would either deprive her of being foremost
on the field, or involve her modest little self in
abashing conspicuity. Further profound con-
sideration settled upon adorning our antique
dwelling throughout with natural fowers.-
The yard was ransacked and the big, old gar
denis tall shrubbing bushes were assailed right
and left, and obliged to surrender their choicest
! productions to carry out the ambitious designs
Of her kindly heart.
81 see her now
As when she used toltrip across the lawn
n And pluck the flowers in her pathway strewn,
Herself the sweetest loseliest of them all.n
" Paul, want you to go with me in search
, OF cedar and violets, said Laska, taking my
! handand wistiully glancing toward the meadows
t .' i couldn't do without them anyway
We We're soon over the lcg-bridge, away be-
i yond the dilapidated mill and on the ponds
brink. aYou'll take ,,f your shoes ard stock
ings, Paul, won't you, and roll up your panta.
: looms and secure those lilies and wild-roses I?
: The tone Of voice and her soft blue eyes ex
| preston, would have been irresistible, had she
required the removal of my entire clothing, Sc
5 / was soon pulling away at the coveted gems
r After sundry similar expeditions, observed
. "I,aska. shall cert,linly feel highly conpli
7 mcnted if all these be wreathed to celebrate m.
? birthday" "a few more, dear brother-yol
: see that large water-hlly, perfect mammoth
d around the corner, iis there by that yellow
n splatter-dock Well, want that, and that, an
u that" said she, pointing to half-a-dozerl grow
's ing IN remote Quarters Ibegan to feel slight
: fatigued, but waded eriskly throughmthe sun
q warmed element aniil this thought intrude
" itself into my mind, Can not perpetuate thi
N day IN her mind as ls'ng she intends sha
e remember ita" Without thought of possibl
IS consequences, when slt the distance of twent
m feet from my sister, fell upon the bottom
sr the shallow pond, ai,d raised a splash ana
= scream that almost forced the conviction int
l. nay own mind that was actually in danger
lc drowning. Glanced slyly toward Laska
= 10 perceive the effect upon her. Before ha
of time to counteract ths FIRST impression my RAJ
az made, she bounded from her grassy seat, ar
rushing on and on, through mud and waite
scattered her flowers upon the ripples in ever
direction, and, finding she could fathom Il
whole distance, was by my side in moment.
ssFaithful, loving lister Laska!''
oh' Paul, how cfmld you ifighten me so =
/ placed my aru, around her pure me-
- and with the kiss imprinted upon her pale Iii
nd | covcnanted ssith myself never u be guilty
ap- similar wickedncss. At this moment, our
est ther, alarmed atonr protracted absence, appes