Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1857-09-03
THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 3. 1857

u'ouen oeneatn that cold exterior. Should
she by look betray her lovoP Mol the
very thought she repelled with all the pride
her womaniy nature possessed. he had
never spoken as other than friend True.
his manner was subjusd his words more
tender when with her but that was all She
would wait and forget Il might be One an
tumn eve, Mary, jus, such an hour n this
they wandered TO this loved spot, aud then
be told her all Beneath these branches
now shadowing us--it may be, on this self
same mossy seat-they plghted their love,
aud Efiie was happy Had -Le not surreu.
dered her heart, with ell its wealth Of
affection, and would she not receive in re.
turn all the stores Of lovo and sympathy
hidden in hisi The girls envied, whiis the
village spinsters shook their heads aud said,
IL cannot last Earth cannot give such
happiness.' Efhe cared not, and why should
she
He left to prepare home for his blush
ing bride. lie would return in a few short
weeks fheH the magic words would be ut
tered, and she would be bis forever The
time few rapidly by; another short week,
aud Ethe would see him A bright May
morning was fixed upon for the day, aud SO
busy was she decorating their cottage home
with springs earliest flowers, il quickly
passed The morning came The suu arose
IN unelouded spleodor everything seemed
joyous, as If to mipgie their smiles with hers
on that bridal morn Seated ia her ittls
bower she was dreaming only Of happiness,
when distant step was heard His step /
Could II be Nearer aud nearer il an
preached, until form stood before her =
Not ChdTisy's- but the postman. with a let.
~ - coll -. 4
Pened Hastily she opeus the paper. CLAN.
ces over its oopteu,s, aud with Que cTy Of
anguish falls inseHsiblc on the mossy turf
kesile her
The tale is soon told He had proyed
false to her Attracted by aaother form. be
had forgotten bis FIRST love, thinking she
could ss easily forget Long and anxiously
weeping friends bent over her almost lifrless
form Was their Efio so soon 10 be laid in
the silent gravel Ii must not be and she
did live. She aWoke from her long. death.
like sleep, only to know how desolate che
was. Then the man Of cd came and spoke
ofJesus. Gradually her ehastened heart be
came calm. She could lean on HIN. III
would not forsske her Her own bright
hopes forever dashed, she would live for
others. How well Mary. she has done this.
let the mingled voices of these happy homes
declare. Now, beading over that little enc.
as be lies lifeless in his mothers arms. with
words Of sympathy for her stricken heart,
pointing her to those pastures above, where
the gentle Shepherd shall carry the lambs
in His arms, and fold them in His bosom.
where her little one Is at rest Again. AZ
the bedside Of that dying maiden she points
TO Calvary, aud as the last whisper Of faith
ahaa kap Il
those eurtaining lids, and arrays the beauti.
ful dead, for her last, long sleep But /
have not yet done. You know little Charley.
the fair-hAired boy, that fingers longest by
her side, aud, when evening shadows fall,
wends his way TO her humble abode 10
that little cottage yonder, 4 dying woman
lay young she was, and even traces Of beau.
ty might Be seen on her cmaciated counte.
nance A little helpless iufaut lay in her
arms and EiIie, too was there and, rs she
listens 20 Der tale of sorrow. why does her
baud tremblc, aud her voice CULVER She
has heard tales Of NO before WLyp Is
not this lovely babe all tLat is left Of er
Charley His daughter lies before her, aud
IL is her lot TO soothc her last hours and 10
take this little orphan 10 her heart and home
Mary, | have done You know the res. -
The evening shadows fast failing bid us re.
trace our steps
Years have Gown by since chat hour. Our
loved teseber is at rest Her trials over. -
Her obasteBed spirit With its God Annie.
too sleeps BY her side We laid her IN tho
sileut grave, While set the dew Of youth vas
on her brow in all her loysliucss Little
Charley has grown 20 man ood aud
'rhuss ehl FisAsd sessss bat nov Femaia
To AeHory = tszffai eye.
Tas Fzzilhr- beaIfY e fr~an
O'ST Nhieh saEc sad stgb"