Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-12-31
A REMINIsCENCE.
BIZ ALTA G. MASON.

and as sit here, the Zephyrs turning
and overturning everything around me
doing all so lightly, gaily, gracefully
that cannot find it in my heart to chld'
them-memory carries me back to day
that We're, and thoughts come crowdlnt
fast upon my mind. Is it not strang'
that when weary, sad and disheartened
reveries of the future will cheer u
lquicker than thoughts of the past? To
iday am very sad; yet / have not ia
ken fancy for my guide and gone far in
to the future, but with gentle memor.
by me, have brought to mind the stor,
of one who suffered more than eve
have, and to beguile the weary moments
into faster flight and to chase th'
shadows from my own darkened spirit
/ will pen this recollection of one wht
lived and loved '.long time ago."
Years ago, ere the white mans foo
had pressed this moist prairie soil, o.
his axe had felled one tree from the vas
forest near us-ere the Indian wigwan
had disappeared, and when the wal
whoop was echoed by these hills ane
their light canoes bounded over these
Irippling waters-when all was as nature
had made it, there came from over tht
great ocean vessel, bearing to this
almost desolate country people from the
far-off mother land. Among those who
came over in this ship were two families
friends; bound the one to the other by
ties that time himself had strengthened
They had pledged their word before
leaving the old world to seek for homes
near together in this the land of their
adoption. They chose their locations
one on each side of the wide rolling St
Lawrence, and each one crossed the
mighty river in peace and friendship.
A few years passed on and their chill
dren were growing up around them
when the fathers bethought themselves
to connect still more closely the two fam
lies, and to that end William Maitland
and Mary Sullivan were pledged in mar
riage. Time kept on his rounds, and
ere long he had silvered over the heads
of the fathers and brought the youths
forward to enjoy the pleasures and con-
| quhr the trials of life. Meantime many
changes had taken place. The United
States and England were at war with
each other. The two families of the
st. Lawrence were still nominal friends,
though Mr.. Sullivan was an earnest
Tory, and Mr.. Maitland determined
rebel.
Mr.. Sullivan plead as an excuse for
staying away from his friends home SO
long at time, that he 'sdid not like to
cross the St. Lawrence very often, as il
seemed like treason to his king. Mr..
Maitland thought that private individu-
ais ought not to quarrel even if their
Irrespective governments were at war;
and one day at the close of a long con-
versation between the two, Mr.. Matt
land said:
''You know, friend Sullivan, that al
though differ from you in political OPP
Unions, yet have rs warm feeling of
friendship for you as ever, and besides
William and Mary are waiting for us to
say when they may be united. Itseems
the highth of happi. es to me to think
that they two who were plighted in
childhood, should love each other now
as fondly as they do.
A sheer was on the lip of Sullivan, as
he answered:
"Then perhaps you will not be so
very happy when / tell you that Will
liam Maitland and Mary Sullivan can
never be married. The reason is, your
son is rebel to his king and his coun-
try-the land that gave him birth-and
with such an one no daughter of mine
I 10
to the conclusion that Mary shall marry
British officer who has made propo-
sails for her hand, and who can place her
in the position she is capable of filling
with honor to her friends and herself
I told her this last night, and the next
time your son visits her / shall tell him
to let it be the last time. Farewell,
Maitland, ana may you be happy as long
as you keep out of my way"
And the enrageG man turned and was
out of sight before his friend had recov-
cred from his surprise.
To say that his feelings were not
wounded-that he did not feel desolate
and alone, when his hitherto best friend
had turned from him in anger-would
be doing Mr.. Maitland injustice; for the
ties of many years might not be SO
easily seryed-but he sorrowed most OF
all to think how terrible would be the
parting between the passionate William
and the true, pure hearted Mary.
"Why, o, why" he kept repeating
as he walked homeward, .''must it be SO,
when they love so fondly, so devotedly.
God give him strength to bear it," he
inwardly prayed, as he saw his son ad-
vancing. The young man came quickly
forward, and seizing his fathers hand
hastily, exclaimed:
'.Father, you have a saddened heart
rs we'll as | to-day. Do not nifty me,
emily help me. 1t is all ask. / have
seen Mary, and we are determined to
wed withina year-but we are not to meet
until all plans are arranged, for fear that
we might be suspected and our purposes
thwarted."
A few weeks passed away and still
there was no communication between
the two families.
1t was late in the fall, and on dreary
rainy day that a boat might have been
seen putting off from the American side
to cross the ST. Lawrence. 1t contain,
ed four oarsmen, and a young man al
1.-The helm, who seemed more absorbed
with his own thoughts than aught thai
was passing around him. As they touch
ed the shore one of the men said:
BE expeditions, William, for the
wind is rising, and the waves are al
ready crested with foam
The young man bounded away and
in less than half an hour returned and q
female with him. Without a word they
entered the boat. The sun had set il