St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-06-24

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sister required change of residence
and associations. He had been quite
unfortunate during his stay in Califor
mia, and though he had written home
several times, the letters on both sides
had never reached their destination
At last he had gone to the East Indies,
and being very high spirited had re-
solved not to write home again till
he could acquaint his family with his
success in business. He engaged in
commerce and in a short time acquired
a considerable fortune but as he
was obliged to be in a migratory
state for the time, he did not send his
address to his family, but set sail for
home as soon as his business relations
permitted, which was not so soon as
he anticipated.
The epistle inclosed a fifty dollar
note, with many expressions of graft
tude for the recipient.
* Nearly seven years
have passed. 1t was mild, balmy
day in the early part of November,
and the soft winds were fragrant with
the decay Of forest leaves and branch
es, that lay in far-off wood hollows,
and the sunshine had that soft, benig-
nant, half:regretful, and very peaceful
smile, which is like the smile of the
dying-the dying in the Lord.
Deacon Pike was to have an apple
bee at his house on the evening of this
soft November day, and in his orchard
adjoining the village school, he had
petititoned that the children might
gather the apples for the evening"
proposition which was received with
acclamations by the children when
the teacher made it known to them at
recess.
And it was not in the least sur
prising that the young lady and
gentleman, who happened late in the
afternoon, to be walking through the
lane that ran past the orchard, stopped
for a moment to look at the scene of
childish life. and sport, and eagerncss
it exhibited.
! Half dozen bushel baskets were
scattered through the orchard, and
the deacon, benign-looking old man
with thin locks of gray hair strag
Cling across his temples, was going
from one tree to another, while from
each one that he shook came down al
affluent rain of the ripe fruit. Tit
boys plunged and scrambled after the
fruit, and the piles in the great basket,
| Orov 1arrer all the time
The school teacher-it must have
been she-stood near the orchard bars
watching the children and enjoying
the sport with keen relish.
She had removed her bonnet, and tn
soft winds were surging through hel
hair. Her face was turned from the
lane, and sometimes her laugh would
leap out sudden, and rich, and must
cal, as some boy went tumbling ovcl
on the grass.
Hasn't she sweet laugh?" asked
the lady who had been watching all
this, as she took the arm of the gentle.
man and at that moment, unobserved
by either of them, scarf, gathered
around her neck, fell to the ground.
1t is probable the school teacher
heard this remark, for she turned and
looked after the strangers, of whose
proximity she had, till this moment
been unaware, and a moment later
her voice said, Madam, you have
dropped your scarf"
The strangers turned back, and the
ladies' eyes met there was STAR
on both sides, and an eager, bewilder
ed glance then they spoke simulta'
neously, "Surely we have met before!'
And yet neither could identify the
other till they had spoken their names.
"Jerusha Mott"
"Clarissa Mead"
o there were tears and kisses, and
warm welcomes then, which the
gentleman smiled to hear.
"To think have come across you
here in Winster-this little out-of:the
way village, and in an apple orchard
too" cried Clarissa. "What in the
world are you doing here, Rusha ?"
81 am the village schoolmaster,'
answered Jerusha with a half-mourn
full smile. And Clarissa stood still
with establishment
And there by the old orchard bars
Jerusha Mott told the story Of the
last six years. A few words of ours
will epitomize it.
Shortly after Clarissa and her broth
er left New York, Jerusha's uncle had
entered into some large speculations
which proved very unfortunate, anc
he died insolvent in less than yea
afterward.
i Then came the old story, and Jeru
sha Mott learned what much of tn
worlds friendship is, though Their
were some who were true to her.
But her health and spirits requires
, change, and her uncle's housekeepel
r who was very warmly attached to Jt
e rusha, had daughter recently ma
0 ried and settled in Minister. The
( were very DESTROYS that she shoul
a come to them, and she had acceptc
their hospitality year ago.
J Nothing in their power had bee
left undone for her happiness, and il
| Iuolld udu OCCI hOiC SoAVChtSu WI
them than she would have been wit
any other persons.
But she did not like dependence
and SO greatly in opposition to tn
wishes Of her friends, had accepted tn
situation of district school-teacher
II wonder what my Fifth Avenu
friends would say to seeing me here,
she added in conclusion, and some
thing of her old smile frightened thu
face of Jerusha Mott ; but it had gain
ed, during the three years, much o
character and earnestness Of expires
sion.
And Clarissa told her story After
passing two years at the South, hel
brother had prepared himself for the
ministry and as the pastor of the
principal Church in Minister had beer