Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-10-24

bent on the ground. one slender I'm
ger on her smiling lips. as though
trans6xed with some sweet thought
I watched her as she stood. uncon'
scious Ct my presence. while my fond
eyes took ia the lovely picture ant
painted IL in loves brightest coors on
memory's canvass. | saw rs The
western light paled from the rosy sky
and The shallow Of he coming night
fell like a pail over the dying day, the
smile faded from Ter face. and a
mournful twilight, liko the prophecy
of heavy sorrow settled on her fai.
brow. AsI drew near and the sound
ofmy football met her ear. she started
as though conscious OF her thought.
and wrcathing her white hand 10 the
dropping larch bough. shyly hid her
blushing face bshind Il. | came up
close beside her and my hand gently
swung against the hand that hung
Iistless at her side: the contact Of that
soft delicate touch sent a shock
through me. asthosgh some mighty
hand had shaken the very founda-
tons OF my soul with delicious Joy.
I caught her hand In mine. and strain
ed Il to my heart; | drew the tassled
larch bough towards me. the sweet
face came with il. as though It were
some lovely flower that grew there =
| pressed the bright head to my bosom
aud bending low gathered that sweet
est honey--lovc's iirst kiss-from her
fragrant lips. l was afraid to trust
my bliss to words. the very silence
seemed filed with harmonious utter.
ances that proclaimed with trumpet
tongues my secret.
Il was now dark. but presently the
full blown moon hoated up the sky.
and lay like n great white lily sremb.
ling on the bosom OF dark river
Iis pale rays ceugh. u new glory as
they touched hergolden hair and light.
cd up her white dress; she seemed
transdgurcd into M angel. 1 whis.
pcrsd softly. Jessie are your wings
growing = she only answered with
a sigh. low and sweet Us lbe music Of
the distant spheres; why are you
50 sAd 10 night jessie. wben l am 90
g'adY Il DO not know Paul. unless
u II that you nro going away she
said. But ! Am coming oack IN two
years, ycu know Yes know
~ Two Years And mat was all we
said--it seemed enough
went 70 my old nurse: who was
nov very lniirm, II gave her = purse
OF money ana peggea hef 70 draw on
mo Tor a'i shs wanted. ""nd d"n ! ior'
get Jessie ! sA,a'
Ny i'me ~ so'lege haa now nearly
s*pr'u, NJ" was rejoicing ~ the
prospect o' soon returning 70 my gear
ssrsls' wh'h received 'et'ef from
IN old school ir'end, who was 'he on
W correspondent had IN my nsnve
place. iiu wrote long goss'pp'ng
letter. giving me MI the news .! tho
vi'isge ana my if'rnus mere Tour
OLD nurse he wrot "iu dead She
bequeelhcd you her blessing. aud lc't
hef scanty properly to the widow nay.
whose daughter is soon to be married
TO her cousin, q most worthy young
man. who lives Mt distance from this
place, and IL said to be very we'll OIL
] am heartily glad Tor the young girrs
a"he' '""' sue Is 70 90 SO wei'' 10,
,hey "re very poor nno ha'e wo,Aea =
n n"ru TOT pare ns'ng. uon
N"ow' = 'e"u '"o o'ue, "v'os 'n"' 'o,u
me ~, l was oefeavea o, AL ina. maue a'l0
i me Valuable, out 'e'' mem burning
,n'o my o'"'h "uu se",'ng my ne"'''
dld not stay Tor the literary honors
wh,cn awaited me ~ college, ! 'e,s'
"''nous mak'hg my 'n'enuoh KNOW" W
any one, and crossed the ocean and
became y wanuerer " foreign lands
lut neither ,he granuure 0. nature
or the 'r'amPhs OF Art, on which my
eyes 'eHs'eu' served 10 sa"s'y my
complaining heart, The shadow OF
+" great evil wh'ch /. ie,t nad oeen
pcrsuing me MI my NE, hhd overt"-
ken me. and was stretching It's gloomy
'sny'n 'nro"sh MI my future, growing
darker ms the sun OF llle declined, un'
VI could see nothing beyond ou' the
n'gh'-a h'yh' without stars anu
without repose.
II was now five years since | be.
held my native land. and was seized
with sudden homesickncss, strong
aud unaceountable longing to revisit
the scenes Of my early youth. for time
had passed YEARLY. and | seemed an
old man. II was peaceful MOI ming
in early May that | reached my native
place, but the verdure and vegetation
were so sparse. compared with the
tropical luxuriance Of the scenes | had
left. that every thing wore bleak
aud desolatc appearance. wander
ed through the village. but change
and dilapidation were written every
where. On my way to the grave
yard. passed Jessie's cottage. the
shutters and doors were closed, and !,
looked neglectful and forsaken; the
larch tree was dead, and stood. be-