Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-09-22
AAn Original sksttB.
"HAZEL DELL "
BY JENNY WooDBINE.

on the turf-two merry girls sitting at the foo
of an old oak playing with pet dog, who nest
les first in the lap of one, then the other. A
Young man, not more than nineteen, seated ii
front of them, leaning thoughtful, handsome
brow, on white well-sbaped hand, and pushing
back with the other the rich clusters Of light
hair, which vOuM fall about in harum-scarun
independence.
A hazy June afternoon-one Of those bright
golden evenings, which insensibly draw ont
nearer hcaven-stately trees whose green leave:
are made golden by the last rays of the setting
Sun-long blades of grass, fresh, green and lux
uriant, interspersed now and then with white
and crimson pinks, fragile lilies, and slender
purple yiolets-forming carpet more gorgeous
" magnificent than that upon which the fee
of princes rest. A lazy stream at little dis
tance. whose waters now and then glisten like
molten silver. a calm, blue sky overhead, ovel
whose peaceful bosom, white feecy clouds arc
lazily sailing.
You have the picture-a picture which mem
ory has nursed faithfully for many years. One
of those merry girls is myself-the other, my
only friend, Nellie Norton. The handsome boy
is Willie-Willie Clifton-my brother; the
pride, and wonder of our quiet ncighborhood
the leader in all playful frolcs; the author O
much harmless mischief; the life and joy of all
Willie was my dariing-my one idol-the
d;coorood M blo,nicb Manu- q
time had this graceless urchin," (as aunt Di.
nah called him) escaped punishment because o
my pleading; many time, by duplicating myself
had I screened him from danger. My love for
him was wild intense passion, stronger than
any had ever felt before for we were orphans,
our mother having died in our infancy; our
father cold, stern man, surviving her but
few years.
Willie is just from College, full of fun and
frolic; and shocking Nellie and myself by " hair
breadth 'scapes," and startling tales of College
adventure. We laugh at his salles-we wear
his badge by turns, and tease him numerically
about certain air which he now and then as
sumes-and which is common to most College
students. And yet we are both proud of his
learning; and look forward to the time (for we
are both ambitious) when he shall be Cover
nor-possibly President Oh Youth, youth
The days speed by rapidly; and now there
are only tuo who ramble together. One strays
alone-ayc, alOne-as she has ever been in life ;
and gazes idly at tue stars Willie and Nellie
love each other! need no Gypsey to assure
me of the fact. see it in his earnest thought
full gaze; in her timd, downcast glance. Every
night that little brown Cottage under the hill
has visitors; every night that little parlor is
illumined; and patiently sit at the Piano.
enliyening Nellie's stern father with my gay
songs, making him oblivious to the fact that, on
the piazza, whispered conversations are going
on-and that the handsome College boy is steal
ing away his daughters heart beneath the pale
light Of the moonbeams. How can he, the unsus-
pecting father, know that Nelie's white hand,
which lies so temptingly on the baniSter, is
clasped lovingly in another hand-'lot her own
Now sad feeling comes over Inc, and sing
aHazel DELL" My voice falters as Irepeat,
Gall alone my watch Pm keeping,
In the hazel dell;
For my darling Nele's near me, sleeping
Nellie dear, farewc!'
And Willie cries out from the Piazza, "Not
that, pet sing something less sad.'
Then know that he fears that vail from the
broken heart of another, may one day be his own.
We are in the crowded city-Nellie and /.
Rufles have been crimped; laces have been
stretched on; ribbons hitched here and there;
Hounces pressed and re- pressed-for the Com
mencement, which will witness Wille's gradu-
alton, is at hand and we have come from our
lonely country home, to see him bear off the
laurels he has so nobly won. What a hubbub
See the students with their huge neck-ties and
pompous bows, flock around the cars, greeting
friend after friend. We feel quite lonely-Nel-
lie, and land clasp each others hands trelnu-
lously, for we are strangers. But here he comes
Our Willie-we would know him in a thousand
tall, slender, and graceful, but somewhat more
manly than when VIC saw him last. lie sees
u,-he smiles-he is with us-we are, oh! ! S,
happy!
And now the day Of days is at and. We
enter the College hall, which is already crowded
and before we are seated the asles are literally
choked with chairs. What buzz and hum o.
conversation-what crowd of smiling faces
what huttering Of fans. Hist the Band
strikes up-yes, tits sIIazel Dell;" and thai
eager crowd is hushed into silence Now the
exercises begin. One by one the youthful asp
rants come forth, some with lengthy details OF
the downfall of Greece, and Rome-that topic
which among school boys will never be ex
lausted-some with long eulogiums on the
aEmpire State; !" and some, less ambitious, will
lively speeches brim full of wit, and sarcasm
Now, all is over but the Valedictory. We glance
around at that eager-listening crowd. Surely
his heart will fail him. He is on the stage
our Willic-a shade whittier than usual, bu
calm and composed My own cheeks are burn
ing. I glance at Nellie: she is very, rery pail
--fearfully so-yet while her forehead, and lip
s.e of transparent whtenesS, bright rec
spot burns on either side of her face. Sh'
clutches my fingers nerVously; and hear tht