Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1854-09-14

| "lhank God tor the weakness which is
lovelier than strength! must never leave
you, Annie"
"Never!'
The morning of the wedding day had
come, and ! was srrsying Annie in her brl-
dal dress-a beautiful muslin, gui.less OF
ribbon or lace. ! wished TO twine in her
hair small string Of pearls, which was
once her mothers, bu, she gently pu, it
| from me.
'Wha,, no ornaments - inquired.
"Noue," she replied; 'but-yes-ifyo you
will 60 into my garden, you will find love-
Iy white rose tree, which William planted
when frs. knew him; bring me one of its
buds, snd will wear it in my hair"
have seen brides radiant in heal,hful
bloom, gli,ering in jewels, Dazzling in sat-
ins, rich wells and costly wreaths, but never
have ] beheld one SO eXqusi.ely, SO won
derfully beautiful as that dying girl, with
her dress of simple white, her one floral Or
nament, The dewy lus,re Of her soft blue
eye, and the depend hectic of her cheek.
When the ceremony was 10 be performed,
she wished to rise !; and as she was too
weak to stand alone, stood by her side
and supported her. She smiled sadly, as
she whispered
"You remember, Grace, promised that
you should be my bridesmaid"
As the beautiful marriage ceremony that
Of the English Church) proceeded, the face
cG the bride became expressive alternately
Of earthly and heavenly love, of soltness and
subIimily, of the woman and of the angel,
4 to La
she received the fearful congratulations Of
her friends with graceful manner and with
the mos. cheerful smiles playing about her
| lips.
1t twas morning, morning born of bloom
aud beauty, SO soft, SO glowing, it seemed
s'Likc a rainbow clasping the sweet earth,
And melting in covenant Of love-
Annie Gordon was lying on her couch by
an open window, with her fair head sup
ported on the breast Of her husband. And
shea fathers joy, brolher's pride, the
wife Of two short weeks, was leaving US
now. Every sunbeam which look ed into
her eyes saw her violet hue sra.u nAlaE-and
every soiI air which Kissed her faded lips
bore back fainter breath on its light pin
ion. Her dostng father knell in a deep
trance Of grief at her side. stood holding
one of her hands in mine, while at her feet
sat her younger brother, Arthur Moore,
weeping with all the uncontrolled passion
aleness of boy yhood.
| Annie had lain for some moments sppa-
rently insensible, but she looked up yet
once more 10 William. with her own swee.
smile, and murmured-
"Pray once again, my beloved, i. will
plume my spirits wing for its upward flight;
bu. place your hand upon my heart, that
YOU may know when am gone"
William Gordon lifted up his voice in q
prayer,a all sainl-lIke submission and child
like love. lie solemnIy and endorly com
milled the passing soul of The wife, the
daus h,er, the sister and the friend, 10 heI
Saviour and her God, and meekly impored
for the stricken mourners, the minlstrstior
Of the blessed spirit. Suddenly he paused
her heart had ceased its bealings. His bro"
became convuIsed, and his voice was low
and iremulous as he added
''She has left us oh our Father, she i:
with thee now -
"Gone! our Annie dead!" exclame,
forward and casting one look on that still
face, he stretched his arms upward and cried
I"Oh dear sister, come back to US, come
back ~
We arrayed her in her bridal dress, eve,
to the white rosebud twined in her COLDER
hair. We laid her to res. by her mother
side, in lovely rural graveyard aud few
months after took her favorie rose lre
from The garden and planted it over he
breast.
Our Annie he'd been gone from US yea
and the rose was in lis first bloom, wheI
William Gordon came to bid US long,
might be last adieu. lie was going ou
as missionary to India. On the las. even
ing Of bis stay, went with bin TO the grav
, Of our lost one. We remained till the gras
: was gllltering with dew and the stars wer
thick in heaven. Many times poor William
turned to depart but returned again. w
both remarked single rosebud, very lik
the one Annie wore on her marriage and a
that second bridal, when she was wedde
to dust and when a. las, William summon
ed strength to 60, he plucked this and plac
ed II in his bosom, with many tears.
/ doubt not that in his distant home, i
that darkened land where he lolled 70
Chrst's sake, that flower is still cherishe
e memeno of his sadly beautiful past, and
, touching remembrancer Of shore TO whic
S he has,enelh, and an un(aGing cline, wher
, ever liveth s'lhc rose of love-" in the bloor
e of Immortality, in the sunshine Of God
f smile.
: I,too, am far from the grave, but know a
most to day when that rose tree Is III bloom
Every morning another but is unfolding owe
her resting place how il loads the air Wit
: pCnumc, as 1t sways tho passing tlceZ