Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-07-30

How startlingly does the trite remark, that
we live in changing world, recur to our
thoughts every day. In fact, it cannot be-
come trite.
The very stars we worship as changeless,
sometimes fall, and the eyes that we wor-
ship with more of devotion than the
i stars, grow dim, and the hearts that we
fancy are immutable, charge mournfully
There is nothing immutable but God. 1t is
the attribute Of Deity which includes all
others, and to which mortals do homage be-
cause they cannot comprehend it.
A score of years has removed the cottage
from the earth, and it's inhabitants have Sc
parated here, have met again up yonder =
One by one, their lips murmuring hymns
and prayers, and their white hands folded
together, the friends of my younger days
have passed away, and but few remain of
all that company.
Annie Grey died thus. One glorious
summer evening, when the moon was in its
full, she and Ned had been strolling up the
mountain side, and coming down together,
had nearly reached their boat as twilight
was gathered around them. 10th to return
from the forest, she bade Ned push the lit
tie skiff almost under the fall, and standing
on a rock in the very middle Of the water,
she shook her tiny fist at the cataract, and
held mock conversation with it.
Returning from days shooting on the
T Io,, 4ho ,ooJoc+o1 hofora
was seen, and throwing myself down on
the ground, watched her with admiring
eyes. Undine herself was not more beau
tiful. She talked to the water as an old fa-
miliar friend. and in truth if there be sprites
and ouphes they must have loved her. Her
voice was clearer than that of the stream,
and when she laughed, as she at length did,
at some odd reply she imagined the fall to
make, the old arches of the forest and the
ravine gave back musical echo, SO that I
started to my feet and listened to it as to
the voice of fairies indeed.
But cry of half terror and half laughter
startled me, and springing down the bank,
[ saw her a single instant as she disappear
ed in the water. Her footing had proved
insecure, and she slipped from the rock in
to the embrace of the stream she loved.
1t was the work of an instant to spring
out to her, and swim but few strokes to
the shore, and she was not a particle fright
ened by the occurrence-on the contary,
the woods rang with her laughter as soon as
she was on the shore
walked in that same forest two years "a
60, and heard again the music of that ring
ing laughter through the long halls of time;
made scarcely more melodious by it's pas
sage through the corridors of years.
Placing her in the boat and taking the
oars from Ned, [ soon delivered them safe
! ly at the cottage and babe them good night
The next day Annie had a raging fever,
and was delirious for ten days; saw her
sew veral times, but she did not recognize me-
albeit [ was a near relative, and had known
her from her birth! There was one voice
that she recognized. and one face that she
looked up to with longing love. 1t was the
face Of Phil R, who had won her pur-
young heart. But will not intrude on the
sacred memory of that love which is the
property of but few now living. Phil is
dead too. On the tenth day of her sick
ness she slept heavily, and awoke in her
right mind. But alas for the dear ones at
round her, it was but two evident she was
near to heaven. Her eye was clear and
full of joy as if she had been, as I doubt
not she had, with the angels.
Old Mr. Thompson, the clergyman, who
baptized US all, and buried our fathers, and
had loved US faithfully from the days of our
first lisping. stood by her bed and she
smiled joyfully as she saw him.
''Ah, Mr.. Thompson, used to wonder
whether [ should die with you all around
me, and this is just exactly as [ wished it.
1t seems strange too that [ am dying. I
don't exactly believe it. Phil, am I dy-
ing?
''God forbid, Annie.''
"Ah! that tone, Phil You mean to
say, God alone can save me, for all hope
of man is gone. Don't grieve, though
don't grieve. Why, it isn't hard to die
[ love the dear earth well enough to stay
here-and the flowers and birds and the
brooks, and the old seat down by the bank
of the stream; but don't feel so very sor-
rowful to leave them as [ used to think
would and [ do love mother and Ned and
Mr.. Thompson, and-and- and you, Philip
and here her voice, which had been low but
cheerful, suddenly trembled, and she was
silent
At length she continued in a renewed
tone Of cheerfulness
''Phil, 60 sometimes and sit on the old
seat down there by the stream. and put
your arm along the back of it, and look up
and if you don't feel my kiss it will be be-
cause angels kisses cant be felt; for if God
will let me I'll come there and take the seat
which [ have SO often sat in, and lay my
head on your shoulder Mr.. Thompson,