The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-07-12
So, as through the storm wended my

ering girl, moaning, IN her agony, for he
distant Brother. Long before reached
my destination, | had marked, an imagi
nation, all her features, penncilled he
sorrowful eye, and enshrined her in m,
heart as sister, whose pillow should
have reJoiced to smooth, and whose eb
bing spirit I shuold have loved to solace
with the hopes of better land than this
| A single light illumined room of the
house where Mornington resided, which
seemed, from its locality and appearance
to be occupied by one in the middle walk:
of life. No plate on the door indicated
the occupant, but the number, Ga, painted
in plain figures over it, and lighted by a
lamp near by, satisfied me that I had
reached the place. Knocking gently at
the door, it was opened by an elderly la
dy, who with politeness | scarcely ex-
pected, invited me to walk in and await
her sons return.
"This is his birthday" she said, sand
he and part of the family have goue to a
little merry-making near by, from whence
I expect them every moment. They
promised to return by ten, and it is now
a few minutes beyond"
"It is somewhat important I should see
him soon," replied 81 have message
from his sister, to which I would be glad
to carry reply"
"From My daughter Mary!"
81 believe it must be from her,"
"From Wilmington 2"
ayes, received it from there this even
ing"
"You did not, then, come from Will
mington. was in hopes you might have
seen my daughter, and brought US news
of her he alth. Poor child; we sent her
there to see if change of scene would re-
store her to health again. But--she is a
a tender plant, and needed a mother s
care. But her brother proposed to change
and to her his wish is her guide"
"The despatch I bear would indicate
her i'll health, and, fearing that it might
be important to be delivered soon, came
thus late to deliver it,"
said this in a tone of voice intended
should be easy and unagitated yet, hav-
ing absorbed my mind with the subject of
it, my speech was tremulous, and I saw
at once that the perceptions of mothers
heart were aroused. The knitting nee-
die dropped from her hand, and, with a
hurried, anxious voice, she replied -
"Has anything happened, sir-is my
daughter worse? You seem to regard
your errand here as urgent. Something
must be wrong! What keeps my son =
He seldom disappoints me-I am aged
and infrm, and could not join in their
gathering" Then, lowering her head,
she said, sorrowfully. "My poor Mary,
I fear thou will soon leave u.s." And
saw the tears coursing each other down
her aged cheeks, as shaking her head sor-
rowfully, she went to the window to see
if there we're indications of her sons re-
turn.
There was no time to lose. I might
have handed my message to that aged
mother; ] rose to do 30. Had I done so,
/ would have hurried from the house. I
know, and none knows more deeply, the
power of mothers love; the clinging,
living grasp with which it encompasses
her children, and I dared not give her
the cbalice, which would surely induce
ebullitions of a grief could not bear
and yet 1 must accomplish my Grand
That dying girl seemed following me with
tears and low expostulating entreaties to
grant her request. Fact I must not, and
] was just about to propose to find the
object of my search amid his festivities,
when sound of footsteps at the door,
and the ring of merry voices, assured me
of his return, "Ah," thought I, "what
mission is mine p / began to hate my
avocation. l felt myself to be misera-
BILE raven, coming to croak note of woe,
where all was happiness and hilarity, and
hope.
The Party who thus came upon us were,
first, a. gentlemanly looking man of about
thirty, with gentle, benignant counte-
nance, deeply expressive of inward sensi-
tiveness and delicacy; little lady of twen-
ty-fve, with a bright, cheerful counte-
nance-tbe token of trusting and open
heart within. The third was bright
little girl of FIVE summers, merry, pratt
tling child, with little round cheeks and
chin, who, with her hands full of confec-
tions, was struggling between the sleepi-
ness of so late an hour and the hilarity of
the festive occasion from which she had
returned. 1t was an interesting scene to
see the beautiful tokens of affection pass
between them and the aged lady, as she
kissed, with true maternal warmth her
children, and little grand daughter, wish
ing her boy many returning birthday and
a long and happy union with his compan-|
ion. Tokens which, in their delicacy and
touching affectionatcness, Ifear are too rap
idly passing away from our households.
This greeting, however, was soon termi-
mated by the conscious presence of a stran-
ger. It was in vain to endeavor to pre-
pare this loving circle for the message of
death. / essayed to do it. Kind words
were swelling from my heart, but they
refused arrangement in the preface work
of consolation. | handed my message,
took my hat, hoping to escape the burst
of emotion which | felt was to follow,