The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1858-11-04

george the elder OF the remaining
brothers, were sleeping in a forest
grave, having fallen early victims to
one Of those epidemics which so fire.
quently prevail in the settlement of
new country.
She was one of those quiet, gentle
creatures, never formed for the stern,
battling activity of life, but who are
only fitted for the peaceful repose of
the home fre-side. She never laugh
ed. Nothing more than a pleasant,
and yet, even then, an almost sad
smile ever sat upon her pale, Madon-
na-ike features; she spoke in low, soft.
soothing tones and moved with gem
tie, easy grace, but so softly, so quiet
", you never heard the echo of her
football ! did not love her. could
not, but the quiet gentlcness Of her
manner had in it something for me,
just then, pecuiarl y attractive. | could
not bear a laugh. 1t was discor-
dant to my feelings. A quick move
ment, or a rapidly spoken word, dis
turbcd me. and everything she did and
said, was just as | felt, was done and
said, just in that calm, soothing man
ner that my extreme nervous eXcita-
bility demanded. There was that in
her presence that calmed the agita-
ton ofmy spirit, that dill'used a sooth-
Ing influence around my troubled
pathway, and consequently | was hap
pier when with her, than when alone.
She was also devotedIy pious, not
that sort of piety which is fond of
making display, but that unaffected.
unobtrusivc piety which, without ever
intending to manifest itself to others,
yet exercises such u sway over the life
and conduct Of its posscssor, as to
throw an additional charm around a
lovely woman, and bcstow II livelcr
grace upon every action she per-
forms.
She knew of my religions gloom,
Of my doubts and my trials, though
nothing of the cause of them. Her
own lervcnt, earnest belief in God,
with all his attributes Of goodness.
mercy and love, was but necessity
other nature and to her, it was myS-
terry how any one could feel otherwise
towards n being, who seemed to her
so full Of gracious favor towards the
children Of men. As our acquaintance
progressed, for contrary to all my
previous habits of sccluson from
society," became constant visitor
at Col. Gaskills, while Emily with
the winning tones of Il modest, timid
maiden, who felt for my unhappy con-
dition, Strovc to convert me from
the error Of my ways; but like many
another, who has hated sin but to love
the sinner, saw, though late, that she
had given unSought her guilclcsS mai
den affections into my keeping. Yet
think not that discovered it from any
unmaidcnly manifestation. Far from
it. Her transparent nature could con-
ccal nothing; | learned it from ma
tural, unmistakablc signs, from the
sudden flushing Of the check, and the
involuntary Frightening Of the eye at
my approach, from the perturbation
and evident restraint that came over
her when VIC were left alone, as it
sometimes happened that we were for
II few moments.
They were certain evidences that
feeling was at work, and at last no.
ticcd them and began to consider what
was to be done. The Col. and his
wife, naturally enough, began to sup
pose must have some motive in com
ing there so often, though | could
scarcely have been considered, by any
one having an exact knowledge of my
condition at that time, an accountable
man. My friends were exceedingly
anxious should marry and settle quiz
etly down in my own country, for some
of them were afraid that as soon as
had finished the work for which | had
left home, my old missionary IA
naticism, as they called it, would re-
turn upon me. No fear of that now,
no longer cared to serve God, or my
fcllow-crcaturcs.
But have said there was charm
to me in Emily's presence, and some
times felt that she was perhaps to be
the instrument ofmy earthly and eter-
nal salvation. We were married qu-
etIy in her mothers parlor, with no
witnesses, save her parents and broth
ers and maiden aunt, who was Wis.,
iting IN the family. Col. Gaskill was
man of considerable property, and
as Emily was a dearly beloved child,
and as he was highly pleased with her
marriage, would have been glad to