Butte record., 1856-03-29

} be married very shortly to the writer of
le letter | saw her reading a least twenty
mes when Ipassed the bar. and which |
lore than believe saw her kiss one night.
he told Inc tale of that country which
ent so pleasantly to the music of her
oice that ought rather to say it tuned itself
ito verse, than was tuned into verse. bv
e
little past the village
The inn stood, low and white.
Green shady trees behind il,
Aud an orchard on the right,
Where over the green paling
The red checked apples hung,
As if to watch how wearily
Tie sign-board croaked and >wunr.
The heavy laden branches
Over the road hung low,
Rejecting fruit of blossom
In the wayside well below:
Where children drawing water,
Looked up and paused to see.
Amid the apple branches,
\ purple Judas Tree.
The road stretch'd winding onward
For many a weary mile
80 dusty iootsore wanderers
Would pause and rest awhile:
And painting horses halted,
And travellers loved to tell
The quiet Of the wayside inn,
The ochard and the well
Here Maurice dwelt; and often.
The suuburnt boy would stand
Gazing upon the distance,
And shading with his hand.
lis eyes, while watching vainly
For travellers, who might need
His aid to loose the bride,
And tend the weary steed.
AMI once Qhe coy Remembered
That morning many day
The dew lay on the hawthorn.
The bird sang on the spray,)
\ train of horsemen, nobler
Than he had seen before,
Up from tie distance gauoppd
Anc paused before the door.
Upon milk VIII tie pony,
lit for iai'y queen,
Was the loyeliest little damsel
His eyes had ever seen;
servant man was holding
Inc leaulhE rein 10 guide
The pony and its mistress
Who cantered by his side.
Her sunny rirglets round her
y golden cloud had male.
While her large lat was keeping
her calm blue eyes in shade;
One hand held firm the silken reins
To keep her steed in check.
The other pulled his tai gleG name,
Or stroked his glossy neck
And as the boy brought water,
AID loosed the rein, he heard
The sweetest voice that thank'd him
In one low gentle word;
She turned her blue eyes from him,
Look'd UP, and smiled to see
The hanging purple blossoms
Upon the Judas Tree.
And showed with a GESTURE,
Half Pleading half command,
Till be broke the lairest blossom,
And laid it in her hand;
And she tied it to her saddle
With a ribbon from her hair,
While her happy laugh rang gailyl
Like silver on the air.
But the champing steods were rested
The horsemen row spur on,
And down the dusty highway
They vanished aud were gone
Years pass'd and many a traveller
Paused at the Old inn-door,
But the milk white pony
And the child returned no more.
Years pass'd, the apple branches
i deeper shadow shed;
And many a time the Judas Tree,
Blossom and leaf lay dead;
When on the lettering western breeze
Came the bells merry sound,
Ana tiowery arches rose, and flags
And banners waved around.
And Maurice stood expectant,
The bridal train would stay
Some mements at the inn door,
The eager watchers say;
They come-the cloud Of dust draws near
Mid all the state and pride,
He only sees the golden hair
And blue eyes Of the bride
The same. yet ah, still fairer.
He knew the face once mere
1hat oent ABOVE the pony neck
Years past at the inn-door;
Her shy and smiling eyes look'd round,
Unconscious Of the place
Unconscious of the eager gaze
He fx'd upon her face.
He pluckei blossom from the tree
The Judas Tree--and cast
Its purple fragrance towards the bride,
A message from the Past.
The signal came, the horses plunged
Once more she smiled around;
The purple blossom in the dust
They trampled on the gound
Again the slow years feeted.
Their passage only known
By the height the Passion flower
Around the porch had grown;
And many 4 passing traveller
Paused at the old inn-door,
But the bride, so fair and blooming,
Return'd never more.
One winter morning, Maurice,
Watching the branches bare,
Rustling and waving dimly
In the gray nd misty air,
Saw blazoa'd or a carriage
Once more the well-known shield,