Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-06-21

"Our early days !-liow often back
We turn on life's bewildering track
To where, DER hill and valley, plays
The sunlight of our carly days.
After toe lovers separated | arose and re-
turned to the house of a friend whom | was
visiting, and having mentioned the circum-
stance. he gave me a sketch Of their lives. /
am also indebted to him for the incidents
which form the after-part Of this story.
Edward Emerson, at the age Of thirty,
was engaged in active life, in a lourishing
town in Virginia. His fortune was ample,
but unlike most wealthy men, be was not en-
wed by the less fortunate. for possessing all
those principles of virtue and morality which
beautify and adoru the human character, and
using the means which God had placeiin his
hands for the benefit of mankind, he was en-
shrined in the hearts of all who knew him
| but it is said that "deGth lopes a shining
mark" and truly it seemed to be verified in
this case. In his ripening manhood and while
yet his acts Of amelioration we're extending,
be was stricken down by one Of those dread
full casualties which usher the soul into eter.
nifty without a moments warning; but he was
prepared to meet the summons whenever it
should come. and this was a source of conso-
%lation to his numerous friends.
A few years previous to this sad event, be
had married a lovely girl, the exact counter
part of himself, who by the occurrence was
left a widow with an infant daughter, the
Mary Of our sketch.
For a time the widow was inconsolable at
the loss Of her husband, and it was thought
she would soon follow him to the tomb, but
a change of scenery had the effect, 10 a mea.
sure, of bringing her back to life, but the
bloom had faded from her cheek, and when
she returned to the scenes where che had
spent SO many happy days, she fell into her
former state of dependency. and mourned as
though in the freshness Of her grief. Her
daughter having been neglected during this
time, finally awoke her to a sense of duty,
and with the ample means which her husband
had left, she purchased a beautiful tract of
land, ard had erected upon it the elegant
mansion TO which the readers attention has
already been called. Here she intended to
educate her daughter. and spend the remnant
of her days in sweet s~eclusion from the world.
In seeking a tutor for her daughter she
was most fortunate, for at the time, q new
minister came to the parish, who being a wild
over with an only son, took up bis abode be-
meath the hospitable roof of Mrs. Emerson,
and besides attending to bis ministerial duties
be actea as tutor for Mary and bis son. He
was a devout man and took the greatest care
to instil into the minds of his young pupils
those principles Of christianity which had sus-
tanned him during his deep affection.
Like twin flowers nurtured in a hot house
these children grew up side by side but they
were tender plants that would soon witber
and die if exposed to the rude wind or biting
frost.
They loved as brother and sister, and lit
tie supposed that any other feeling warmed
their hearts, and it was only when Willie, al
the age of twenty, left to take charge of a
school in the n~eighboring town, that it was
discovered that stronger affection than thai
Of brother and sister did exist between them,
Their sadness at parting aud joy at meeting
was proof, and they felt that each had in
keeping tho happiness of Che other.
Willie had been teaching q year when be
received an Invitation from a bachelor uncle,
in a northern city, to spend a year with him,
in travel. He had been raised in the coun-
try, and therefore had but little knowledge Of
the world, except such as he had derived from
books, and his father thinking it would afford
him an opportunity of extending it, urged the
acceptance of the invitation. But Willie was
loath to leave Mary with whom be had spent
his happy childhood, aud to whom he now
felt endeared by the tenderest ties of a pure
and devoted love.
Having suffered himself to be persuaded.
he had made all necessary arrangements for
his journey. On the night previous to his de-
parture, he sought Mary. and they sauntered
to the arbor in the flower garden. where they
had spont SO many blissful hours, aud whore
occurred the conversation a part Of which has
already been given.