The weekly ledger., 1857-05-16
ORIGINAL STORY
Written for The Weekly Ledger.
THE SOLITARY TEAR;
Misfortune follows Misfortune.
BY HARRIET.

1t was on bright and pleasant day in the
early spring. when the fields were green with
growing grain, when flowers gave forth their
fragrance to the breeze, and birds sang sweetly
in their aerial home when the sparkling
brook gded over its pebbled bed, humming
forth its plaintive song, to be waited by the
pure air to the senses Of man, producing
pleasure. Beneath the wide-spreadng branch
es Of an oak, which had for many years cast
its shadow over the Threshold of a neat cot
tage, sat young man. He was neatly al
though plainly dressed his manly form, his
noble brow, and his calm blue eye, all bespoke
heart within of gentleness and truth
BY his side was seated young and beauti-
full girl. She had seen but seventeen sum
mers, yet by her kind and afectonate man.
ners, and her winning smiles, she had won
not only the heart Of the youth by her SIDE,
but the well wishes of all with whom she be-
came acquainted The parents of this youth
full couple were not wealthy, nor was the fa-
ther of the youth even in good circumstan-
ces He had managed by different means to
obtain livelihood for himself and family,
which consisted of a wife, advanced in age,
and son and daughter
He had thought seriously of removing from
the place in which he was then living and
settling in some other part, where by less la
Dor he might obtain livelihood, and perhaps
lay up something at the same time for his son
and daughter, for they were to him all that
life could give in the way of happiness. To
make them happy was his only desire, and to
see them we'll situated in life was the object
of all his exertons.
As for himself and wife, (who were both
far advanced in age, he knew that life could
not be theirs, and that a few short years at
most could pass away before they must return
to the dust from whence they came. He had
noticed the intimacy growing between bis son
and the daughter of his neghbor, with whom
he had been acquainted for many years, and
through whose influence he had obtained the
spot of ground on which he lived, in the wes-
tern part of Ohio Regarding his sons hap
piness as that of his own, he deferred the
removal.
AS time rolled on, the youth and maiden
became more and more attached to each 9TH
er, and at length vowed that their lives should
be devoted to the happiness of their parents
macy had also been spoken OF by their pa
rents, who expressed willingness to their
union at future time, and implored the bles-
sing of God upon the youthful couple, whose
beginning seemed as bright as the dazzling
sun in heaven
The circumstances of Mr.. Morton. (the
youths father,) became from some unknown
cause very embarrassing; and it being shortly
after gold was discovered in California, he
determined as soon as possible to wend his
way to that far-off land, where by the exer.
tions of himself and son, he might in short
time amass sufficient fortune 10 enable his
children to begin well in life.
He thought at first to leave his wife and
daughter upon the little farm, where, by the
help Of their kind neghbor, they might obtain
a scanty living, and in company with his son
start for the golden land. On calculating the
expense of the journey however, he found
that it would consume nearly all his property,
and cost but little more TO take his wife aud
daughter Also Upon this he resolved, and
soon advised bis family Of bis intentions.