Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-08-01
LITERARY MISCELLANY.
CHAP. III = Continued.
BY ALICE CAREY.

two ears of corn, one red and the other white,
and, Smelling OF some grains we amused our
selves with the games Of Odd snd Even the
Twelve Men Of auIice,' and the like. Char
lev glanced ut me now and then, in token Of
his keen appreciation OF the broad droileries OF
the widow, but nevertheless the games seemed
to entertain him as had mover known them
to entertain him till then, and Lucretia's smile
was sweeter, and her voiCe lower and softer,
thought, than previously. When the rooster
on the Dough at the door crew, for nine o'clock
the widow said sho would just clap on the tea
kettle, that we might have little sup OF
something warm to keep off the cold as we
went homo for that che once knew woman,
that she had daughter, that she went out
into the night and caught her death Of cold.
g In vain we tried to dissuade her from CIV
ing herself useless trouble.
Now just mind your own business, she re-
piled to our entreaties I'll have supper in the
crack Of = cows thumb; and, indeed, it seem
ed scarcely five minutes till the bright tin tea
pot was smoking On the table, and the broiled
ham, and peach preserves, and fresh. baked
sweet cakes were all in readiness and then
with what hearty cordiality she urged us to
eat; but, indeed, think, we required little
urging, for to our juvenile appctites her excel
lent viands sufficiently commended themselves
Jests and laughter enlivened the table; absence
Of ell restraint, and tho consciousness OF being
welcome, made me, for.the time, quito happy;
Charley, too, was sharing my pleasure, and all
was obtained with 70 little effort.
II did not scorn LucIetia that night because
Of her simple mind and manners, but said,
rather, who Of uB all is much WISER! What
would it avail her to struggle against manifest
destiny, or why should. she embitter the little
she possesses by useless endsavor to obtain that
which is beyond her reach g
1t was nearly midnight when Charley and
set out for home, and 30 pleasant walk we
had not taken together for long while, in
spite Of the intense cold and the darkness.
Many times after this, during the winter, we
repeated our visit to the widow Wilkinsons.
Sometimes Lucretia called at our house for
a little while, as she went from place to place
with the work which her mother had done
and as saw her more she won upon my love,
SO quiet and inoffonsivc was she always Char
ley grew more cheerful and occasionally join
cd in the farm work, and sunk into sort of
bitter reconciliation. In my walks to the post
Office, now and then met DR.. Roberts, and
sometimes he walked with me to the gate of
home and though our acquaintance did not
progress toward intimacy, felt that these
casual meetings were pleasure to him-a
much greater one than TO me. Now and then
and conyersed for an hour with my father
about agricultural matters. but he seldom came
to the house, where indeed, be had little cause
to believe there was any attraction for him, and
confined his visits to the orchard and the barn.
We exchanged salutations sometimes; but
when l could conveniently, preferred to avoid
him. So the winter wore toward tho March.
My father gathered new courage as the
spring drew near, and renewed the suspended
labors with an energy which for a long time
had not been habitual to him. He believed
brighter day was coming for us, he said, and
Charley was grown such comfort such an
:. assistance to him. Very often of evenings he
was gone from home but thought little more
of his whereabouts than Doke, who usually
suggested that he was in search Of something
good to cst--not that was 80 much absorbed
in my own affairs, l was only Indifferent to
everything
"One bright sunshiny Sabbath morning,
early in March, bent my steps to the woods,
for there was not much | could do to vary the
monotony Of my hfe What long days those
Sundays were--a week is shorter now Tired
Of my own thoughts, for they moved in q little
circle, tired of the sccno which had surveyed
from childhood, tired of hoping when hope
seemed idle, coated myself ON q mossy log in
the sunshine, and, throwing down my bonnet
ON the grass at my feet surrendered myself to
whatever chance thought presented itself Now
indolently watching the great brown humble
bee as he lowered and hummed about some
yellow dandelion-now the blue bird twittcring
in the tree--now the snail, rocking lazly its
white shell in tho sunshine, and now following
across the hills the steps going churchward-
old men leading children, young girls wearing
their prettiest gowns, and pious mothers with
babies in their arms.
Presently was attracted by voices near
me, and, looking round, saw, short distance
away, Charley and Lucretia gathering early
flowers; they did not observe me, and passed
deeper into the woods breaking the silence
with laughter. Then came the thought TO me,
Cor tho first time, that Charley would, perhaps,
lovo the girl; and in the Thought ! grew very
sad--she was 30 unsuised 10 be his mate--so
little calculated to steady up his faltering cour
age--then, too, would be quite forgotten by
him--more alone than ever.
"My rcverie was broken suddenly My seat
was on the edge of . grove Of naples and wal.
nuts, not moro than a quarter Of a milo from,
and in full view Of, tho main road. Dr.. Rob-
erts saw and recognised me as no rode past,
and, leaving his horse by the wayside, crossed
the meadow and joined me.
" His check was palo, and his spirits heavy,
for nc WAS nctvery prosperous in his avocaton,
and he had, beside, 10 his heart a secret sorrow
do not think pity akin 10 love, as is generally
believed, for surely pitied him sincerely, and
yet my heart beat no fsster, nor did my eyes
shrink from his, when bis trembling hand held
mine, and his broken voice said he loved me.
He is very good young man, thought i;
am sure Of that and If it 10 in my power, as
ho says, to make him happier, ought I not OBJ
viously do 80, and shall not withal, be doing
for myself AZ good q thing as can hope to do
That ! reasoned thus, is evidence now to my
mind that his feeling found listlc reciprocity,
for true love docs not wait for reason--to cal
culate gain or loss. Nevertheless he pleased
and interested me, and the more saw him.
the more he won my esteem, so that am per-