Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1857-05-28
ynteresting stotp.
BY ANN E. PORTER,
OR

eeesT was warm sultry afternoon in Au-
" gust, one Of those quiet happy days
w when even the grass hopper and but
terfly seem weary Of play, aud take an af-
ternoon nap under the shade Of some
green leaf, or enjoy their golden dreams,
in the fragrant cup OF some sumner How
er. tf
The high road is travel worn and dusty,
and every shrub and bush by the wayside
Sc ans weary Of the heat, and dropping be
meath the weight Of dust Nothing seems
cool save the dark woods in the distance,
and the weary pedestrian longs to turn
aside, cross the little rustic bridge which
spans the brook. and rest awhile under
those widespread clms, which stands like
sentlicIs at the entrance Of the wood =
But the cares Of life call him away, and
he must pIod on amid the toll and dust
and fever thirst of this world, until eve
ming brings its darkness and rest.
Not far from the trees, at The eud Of a
green lane, stands Father Morris cottage.
[ is plastered and whitewashed upon the
outside, and light green blossoms have
covered the gable end Of the house, and
ambifioasly climbed TO the very roof.
while the little door-vard in front is filed
with flowers and vines. They looked a.
if tended by some more tasteful hand than
that 6f Father Norris who has spent a
greater part Of his lifes in the camp and
battle field Ayl there is the little fairy.
who presdes over the garden. Sac ha,
jnst wheeled her grandfather's arm clair
nnder the shade of the grapery. and is now
seating herself upon stool by his side
How carelessIy he brushes those rich
brown curls f,om her forehead, how coax
ingly she looks up into tie old gentle
| mans face.
Now grandpa, I've done spinning, anC
have put all things in order, grandma i:
asleep in the bedroom, and aunt Sally has
gone to the sewing Society, now won
YOU tell story of old times?'
Father Morris sat leaning upon his
large ivoryheaded cane, his white hair
so long that it almost reached his shout
ders, and his mild blue eye fall ofqniet
enjoyment as he gazed upon the pet Of his
old age, his favorite grand daughter lie
patted her gently on the head, and wa;
about to comply with her request, when
the sound of the village bell was heard
! and its slow monotonous tones told o.
death. @ ee-ra
/ Alice stopped, the smile passed from hel
countcnance, and turning her head in the
direction from whence the sounds came
she passed her forefingcr towards hei
grandfather, as if to say, /" don't speak, :
and commenced counting the stokes o.
the bell. Il was a long time she thu,
stood, while the old gentleman. who was
deaf, sat watching her countenance atten
lively. Turning towards him at length
She said, +" Ninety eight 1t must be ole
Major Stafford" F.
Grandpa grandpa" she repeated il
louder tone, it must be the old major
/ for there is 10 one else in town SO DID,"
But the old gentleman had fallen into
reverie. From the length of time
which the bell tolIed, he knew for whom
| it rang those sad notes, and his heart wa
now busy with the past. Memories o.
other days, of days when the blood circu
lated swiftly through the youthful limbs
and he could boast of health, strength and
Ivigor-scenes Of strife and tumult, Of bat
tle-helds and council chambers, ofityrany
fresisted, and independence achieved. All
these were connected with thoughts Of a
friend, who had just passed from earth
What depositorysof relics an old mans
heart must be! Not buried Pompeii, or
Herculaneun present more subjects o.
thought than one human heart. could We
look beneath lava, rubbish and dust with
which years aud intercourse With the
world have covered it. The crustis often
hard to be penetrated, but now and then
an opening is made, and we have glance
at the depths beneath IN n
1t was now thus with Father Morris
and the wise man, had he been. there, and
looked at the. shattered hopes, which, like
beautiful ruins were scattered over that
life, and that the stranded wrecks upon
the shore woald have exclaimed anew
All is vanity and yexation of SPIRIT
But poor Alice thought only of losing her
story, seeing the mood other grandfather
she sat down by his side and leaned her
head npon his knee. The trembling hand
was by the power of habit involnntarily
lald upon lt--but the touch recalled hi-
wandering thoughts, and he said: a
must follow soon, Ally. NY old
companions in arms are almost all dead
Ny armor is worn and rusty, and mus
llaV If soon ne;Jo L-L