The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-06-13
SELECTED TALES.
JUST DOWN THE ROAD.
ny VIRGINIA. y. TowNsESp.


little cottage. II was the quaintest OLD
house, with green blinds and gray gables
the wild vine toiling up its sides, with th,
scarlet berries flashing like red stars a
mong the dark green leaves. .. ..
Then there were two cbcstnut.tree.
that stood all summer before the from,
door, like tall friars with green stols fol-
ded over their bosoms; and on either aide
OF the grave.-waIks, harebells an datfo.
dis made a rufling Of gold and purpe
down 10 the little wicket. -..- =. -.
Oh, it Twas N happy home to me!
ait here aud close my eyes, and, looking
down into the far land of my memory,
see the quaint gables, the great trees, and
the golden rufiling, shining clear through
the light and the darkness Of the years
that lie between it and the present ....
Just down the road could see il from
my chamber wiRdow-was red frame.
house, with the moss Of half "a century
growing thick on it's sloping roof The
building WAS considerably dilapida,cd ;
still. Il had a cosy, old fashioned look Of a
summers morning, when the sunshine
used to gild the leaves, aud plate ~i,h
gold tile great weather-staincl front door.
Mrs Willard and Harry lived in the
red house; lie was her only son, and she
WAS widow. They were verv poor
all the village knew this; hut Mrs. Willard
managed TO obtain somewhat precari-
Gus livelihood for herself aud child by tn.
king in plain sewing: aud M she some.
times fitted Aunt Mary's DIR, sscs and mine
and Harry always came for and returned
them, | became acquainted with him.
Henry Willard was a strange bow
II" didnot laugh and play as other bows
OF his age do; he was only two wears
older than /; aud there was an air Of
mingled pride ami timi,!ity IN his manner,
ashadow on bis yoehg face and look
Of melancholg earnesipess in Li. large
DARK eyes. which ssses,e.l my attention,
and aNakenei my sympathy the FIRST
time that I saw linn.
we were both naturally slyy, and 50
Harry can'e and wen, mapy Ilimts with
the li.tls buaiiss and I sal IS i chair by
Asnt Marys side. estslse sarrcpti,ious
giaaees Of The psie meurnfuI fsce, and
woSdering greatly why II was snss;,Iks
hatef other boys, before the least over.
tAresfor acquaintance We made on eth.
81 side.
Bat Aunt Mary, whose llsast seemed
a!ways ovevAowing with kindnes. and
spaily FOR every human being. had
ken great fancy to Harry Willard
md one day just as he wss les.yips, ate,
having discharged the commission on
which his mother had sent him, abe aud.
denly said TO me:
-Alice. ycu had better 90 os,y pItp rfay.
", and make a bouques for Mss. willard
Don'tyou like fowess. Harry y
ayes, ma'am, ssts n,nel ibsnk yo,,. y
replied the hoy; and thca his ewes wey.
full al a strange heantif6l Hight as h,
placed hem'fnll on Aunt Marys.
So. we went into the garden together
and there We tailed Tor the first time
while gathered mignonetie and roses
and Harry held the flowers when I led
the blue ribbon round the stems.
After this. our reserve wore gradual,
away; andSIhrry became a frequent, al
ways . welcome, yisito. at our house =
We would sit Tor hours under the erea,
restless shadows Of the chestnut. trees
while he would talk 10 me in his strange
dreamy way q the stars, ,ba. seemed q
him like goiden stsira on which the an.
gels came dowa g earth; OF The ,t,ang,
music bls heart could hear in the wind
mpsic that sose 10 the spriag time into
mighty Jubilee; and il flowed over. Al.
asIds. and they grew green |; ans! die Vic.
lois opened their eyes, and mads purpl.
seams IN the grass. 10 the sssnne,, Har.
y ssid the music grew inlo eIor;oa,
psalm, filing the fores, and The wood.
and when the autama came. Il sweIled
'nso s'a'.d stream, that went rolling nj nm
.ssi, ne h'lls, and along the valleys; and there
was "o'hl"g Ike i bu, the moan Of the
great organ. asntlng through the a;.Ics .,
'he village church when the choir sang
the dorOIogy.