The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-06-14
4 AOap- sioc 5ketfl.
MUTATIONS;
Noted at LIES Halfway House.
For The Cecil Uhig.

~
Who, on retrospecting the arid wastes
over which they have come, would wish to
renew again the journey Of life T! Youth,
happy in its ignorance, exulting in its hope.
looks out but upon the cloudless future, and
sees only the pretty flowers of the landscape
whcrcon it so soon will tread. Age, uneasy
III its dilapdated dwelling turns back on the
path Of its pilgrimage and from the acme of
clalnbered attitude, surveys again the
nisspcnt hours of its probation; and shudders
to think the actions Of three score years have
been recorded by the sleeplcss scriptor, and
must vibrate through the measured roll of
time.
But stop at the halfway house and COM
pare notes with travellers across this plain Of
life. The botanist is here, troubled with
poisonous ulcers, received from the very
petals of those plants he pluckcd for pur-
poses of detailed research. The naturalis,
is dangerously i'll from the bite Of u reptile
which he had captured. The hu man bcnc-
factor is at the point of death. A thousand
leagues back he overlook Il fellow, faint and
y
up, administered corlials and rcstorativcs
Which relieved the hopeless stranger, invited
him to join his party and go with him on the
route. But afcw months later the thanklcss
wretch offered indignity to his prcservcr's
household, from which an alteration took
place, and the humane father has been
mortally wounded. 1t took place in sight
of here: and the comfortless family have no
friends to console them, or give them any
assistance, as the fcnd who committed the
treacherous deed, proved by fraudulent
indenturcs the sole property Of his benclactor
was his; on which he held mortgages for
legal considerations.
But few hours ago lady alightcd from
her gilded vehicle attred in the weeds of
woe. And as she wcnds along the marble
paved hallway the moumful rustlcof the
black rament produces sensation al
most like the music Of the harsh winds that
sigh through the tall, scrc, saw grass
s'Who is she?'' asks every spectator. A
widow of great fortune; whose husband died
OF an epidemic Which Was raging on the
desert as they crossed. All poor disconsolate
woman! Will ever thy beautiful yet des-
ponding features be lit again by the rainbow's
brilliant lig"ti Who imagincs that she but
few short furlongs further on will meet
some gallant cavalier, whose sympathy will
soace, whose protection win and WOO her
heart
The foul prctendcr, the feigned lover,
invited our party to his room to test the
quality Of his choice wines. Some drank,
some would he excused. The wine soaked
brain makes the tongue run glibly; reason
and the god Of the cup are not recognised
companions. The latter speaks and the
former is mute, and listlcss. And now the
pretendcr most injudiciOusly recounts the
story OF bis scenes upon this dusty road =
"One third OF the way back from this 1
fell in company with family to whom am
now related by ties that cannot be unravcled.
! first met them under most propitious
auspices. Twas early in the day, the full
round face Of the sun was but risen from the
drapcry ofhis orient couch and the glimmer
OF his sccpte stretched over the cak
"h'Sh woo "oSoHuiS, anu gave tnt SOIL
dawn to the vale below. Upon shelving of
the preciptous spur and but a short distance
from the road tent was pitched; on sight Of
which rcincd my horse and fora moment
studied whether or no it would be prudent to
intrude SO early upon an unknown party
But on revolving the subject in my mind, l
resolved to break the silence of the morning
to its occupants, and so gave myShorse the
rein and spur. The striking of his steel
hoof on the rocks lent its echo to the morn
ing's stiffness and by the time | had reached
the place of encampmcnt the senior was
without to meet me. His apl carance denoted
an carly riser, and lad by no means sur
priscd him. Fortitudc, generosity, and
hospitality were readable in his face, and
tough lis locks were as frosty as the frozen