The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-11-05

$50 they told me, as matter of opinion, "
without positive assurance on the subject
"Where do they sleep?" gasped the father
weeping large tears, one by one, like the frs
Of thunder shower.
''ln the old catholic cemetry, near the east
ern gate You see their names from the en-
trance, on small pyramid of white marble
but l will show you the spot'' r.
| "Nop' said the colonel, in hollow whisper
II would visit the beloved dust of nv injured
daughter alone.''
allow long will you remain in the city?'
II know not; perhaps while Iremain on earth
l have sold out everything, and am the misera
BILE owner of half million-more unfortunate
more utterly wretched and hopeless than thu
poorest rag picker that lives in the gutter''
"Then come aud make your home with US
and we will do everything that we can to cheel
your sorrow; for my family, too, have suffered
bereavement, and can feeb for the aff1iction O
others, urged the Judge, in tones of the trues
sympathy.
II am not ungrateful for your kind request, -
answered the colonel, mournfully; t'but my
home must henceforth be in the solitude of nv
own chamber, where shall always be happy
to receive you. AS for myself, shall never
more mingle with any sort Of society,"
At the moment, a youthful feminine voice
was heard singing, near the door, the words OF
rude song, in tones of the strangest, yet sweet
est melody and pathos ever uttered by human
organs:-
"Here are flowers for the beautiful flowers for the
5 brave,
Flowers for the bridal, and flowers for the bier;
Here are flowers for the altar, and flowers for the
knave-
Come who will buy my flowers, the fairest of the year?
l Guild them in the morning, beneath the break of
When the silver dews were falling in many shining
tear;
Here flowers for the gloomy, and flowers for the
Come who will buy my flowers. the fairest of the
Colonel Moulton started, with feelings of in
describable agitation, as the notes, wild and be-
as those of nightingale, rung thro'
the brain. The voice with its rich, thrilling,
bird like, inimitable music, possessed touch
of beseeching sadness that fingered in the SOUL
and haunted the listeners heart, as the echoes
of funeral bell, or the tones that sometimes
come in deep dreams of love and sorrow
Immediately the female singer entered the
public saloon, with large basket of radiant
dewy flowers upon her arms; and the Carolini-
an felt far more wonder at the remarkable Vi
sion of her beauty than he had previously ex-
perienced from the silver accents of that en-
chanting tongue. She was slight, fairy form
ed young girl, or rather child, only in her thir-
teenth summer, with meek, pale face, musing
and melancholy, and large mystic eyes of the
brightest heavenly blue, but sad and thought
full, had almost said saint-like, in their purity
Of expression. Her long, yellow hair, gleam-
ing with the lustre of golden threads, or like
tissue of woven sunbeams, flowed around her
graceful neck and shoulders in shining waves,
and gave her the appearance Of some divine
picture, the representation of an angel, or 9TH
er ethereal being.
he .'mG" do;"nt2 beautiful how oslesti'' nl1pured
cit is Marie Merlin, the pretty flower girl"
said the Judge.
''How strange that she should wander about
he streets, and venture into such improper
places as this, with all those matchless charms!
have never seen anything like her beauty
ave in one-and, indeed, that strongly resem-
'led it," sighed the Carolinian.
cit is thus that she supports an aged moth
II and some worthless brothers and sisters,''
eturned the judge; although she is herself
he personation of all virtue and goodness, in
Ter present situation she must fall at last"
AS he spoke, Marie glided, with uuspeaka-
lie grace into the centre of the hall, and rest
ng her fragrant basket on stand of mottled
marble, held up in each hand magnificent
ouquet, and repeated, with still wilder pathos
nd fervor, her musical song in praise of the
looming merchandise. Every beholder seem
d equally astonished, as well bysher fascna-
ing beauty as as by the bewildering sweetness
f her voice, SO that you might have heard the
ropping Of a pin on the floor when she itera-
ed, with tones of unutterable Sadness the clos
1g line
Come, who will buy my flowers, the fairest of the
year?''
The words sounded like the wall of some
reakng heart, the implorng cry of an infinite
orrow, Or the chaunt of an angel at the portals
paradise.
But Immediately the wicked spirit of the gen
raj loafers and gamblers broke loose from the
pell of holy enchantment which had held them
t first, and they swarmed around her, with
nseemly jests and deceitful eulogies of her
larvelous beanty. s .....-5
She shrank from them with bushes of maid
n modesty, and seiziny her burden ofperfumes
nd brilliant colors, turned to the Judge and
olonel with the eager inquiry you
ant some of my flowers for your children?'
eyes, my dear child, willie buy them ALL
nswered the Carolinian, with streaming eyes.
How much are thew worth 9D -
Five dollars she replied, with look of
'ingled delight and wonder. ur
Here will give you ten,'', he said, pre-
.nting gold eagle. .... ..... s
"Thank you, sir, she faltered, with still !
reater amazement in those large, mystic blue
yes. CESS .z VI
''You shall have ten such pieces if you will
Ike me to your home and let me see your
other,' added the colonel, in tones unspeak-
bly, earnest and tender.
The cerulean eyes dilated to their utmost ex-
nsion, but shouts of laughter from the we'll
ressed barbarians in the saloon told that the
hisper had been overheard; and Mary, snatch
G the golden eagle, and at the same instant
implying her basket of bouquets on the marble
oor, fled from the hall with the speed of a
irbtaned fawn 80 g....a--.- - lfz.rs . 7