Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1855-05-10
From Godeys's Ladys' Book
JUST DOWN THE ROAD.
~ VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND.

Ann; Mary and lived all alone in
our little cottage. 1t was the quaintest
old house. with green blinds and gray
gables. the wild vine toiling up its sides,
with scsrle, berries flashing like red stars
among the dark green leaves.
There were two chestnut trees that
stood all summer before the front door,
like tall friars with green stoles folded
over their bosoms; ard On either side Of
the gravel walks, harebells and daffodils
made ruifiing of gold and purple down
20 the little wicket.
Oh. it was happy home TO mel I
sit here aud close my eyes. and. looking
down To the far land Of my memory.
see the quaint gables. the great trees and
the golden ,uffiing, shining clear through
the !igh, aad darkness OF the years thai
lie between it and the present.
Just down the road could see i
from my chamber window-was red
frame house, with the moss of huif a
century growing thick on its slipping
roof. The building was considerably di
iapidated; still il had cosy. old fashion
ed look Of summers morning, when
the sunshine used TO gid the caves. and
plate with gold the great weather STAIN
ed door.
Mrs. Willard and Harry lived in the
was widow. They were very poor
all the village knew this; but Mrs. Viii
lard managed TO obtain somewhat pre-
carious livelihood for herself and child
by taking in plain sewing. aud as she
sometimes fitted Aunt Mary's dresses
and mine, and Harry always came for
snd returned these, | became acquainted
with him.
Henry Willard was a strange boy
He did not laugh and play as other boys
of his age DO; he was only two years
older than I: and there was an air Of
mingled pride and timidity in his man
nei, a shadow on his young face. and a
melancholy earnestuess IN his large dark
eyes which arrested my attention. and
awakened my sympathy the first time
saw him.
We were both naturally shy. and so
Hairy came and went many times with
the li,tis bundles; and sat in chair BY
Aunt Marys side. getting surreptitious
glances OF the pale mournful face, and
wondering greatly why it was not like
other boys, before the least overtures
for acquaintance were made OH either
side.
But Aunt Nary. whose heart seemed
always overflowing with kindness and
sympathy for every human being, had ia
ken grea. fancy TO Harry Willard; and
one day, just as he was leaving. afteI
having discharged The commission on
whic n his mother had sent him. she sud :
denly said 20 ne: "Alice, you had better
go out with Harry. and make n boquet
for Mrs Willard. Dom, you like flow
,ers. Harry"
Yes. Na'am. very much, thank you,"
Iep''ea 'he BOY; and then his eyes were
full o. strange beautiful light as he
placed them full on Aunt Marv's.
50. we went into the garden ,oee. her;
and :here we talked for the first time
while we gathered mignoue,,e and roses.
and harry held the flowers while | tied
tue o'uc 'ioo" oiounu the stems.
After this our reserve wore orad,,,,v
away; and Harry became FREQUENT al.
ways n welcome. visitor at our house :
We would sit for hours under n. orea,
restless shadows of the Chestnut Trees
while be would talk to me in his strange
dreamy way of The stars. tina, seemed 10
him like golden stnirs on which the an.
gels came down TO earth; Of the strange
music his heart could hear in the wind
music that rose in the spring time to g
mighty jubilee; and it flowed over the
fields. and they grew green; and the vio
lets opened their eyes and made purple
seams in the grass. In the summer. Har-
said this music grew into a glorious
psalm. filling the fores! and the woods
and when the autumn came, il swelled
into a grand stream. that went rolling up
the hills and along the valleys; and .here
was nothing like il but the moan of he
the greet church organ. floating through
the sisles o: the v,llnge church when the
choir sang the doxology. a
And Hrry's brown eyes would grow