The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-05-05

seat which the deceased had occupied.
, Every one knows the soul-subduine
pathes of the funeral service: for who
is so fortunate as never to have followed
some one he has loved to the tomb
but when performed over the remains
, of innocence and beauty, thus laid low
in the bloom of existence--what can be
more affecting? At that simple, but
most solemn consignment of the body to
the grave-"Earth to earth-ashes to
ashes dust to dust % the tears of the
j youthful companions of the deceased
flowed unrestrained. The father still
seemed to struggle with his feelings, and
to comfort himself with the assurance,
that the dead are blessed which die in
the Lord but the mother only thought
of her child as flower of the field, cut
down and withered in the midst of its
sweetness she was like Rachel mourn
ing over her children, and would not be
comforted."
On returning to the inn, I learnt the
whole story of the deceased. 1t was a
simple one, and as such has often been
told She had been the beauty and
pride of the village. Her father had
once been an opulent farmer, but was
reduced in circumstances. This was an
only child, and brought up entirely at
home, in the simplicity of rural life
She had been the pupil oe the village
pastor, the favorite lamb of his little
flock The good man watched over her
education with paternal care it was
limited, and suitable to the sphereinwhich
she was to move; for he only sought
to make her an ornament to her station
of life, not to raise her above it The
tenderness and indulgence of her pa
rents, and exemption from all ordinary
occupations, had fostered a natural
grace and delicacy of character that ac-
corded with the fragile loveliness of her
form. She appeared like some tender
j plant of the garden, blooming accident
ally amid sheA harder natives the
fields.
The superiority of her charms was
felt and acknowledged by her compan-
ions, but without envy; for it was sur
passed by the uuassuming gentieness
and winning kindness of her manners
1t might be truly said of her.
.eThis is the prettiest low-bcrn lass, that ever
Ran on the greensward : nothing she does or
| seems,
But smacks of something greater than herself ::
| Too noble for this place.
The village was one of those seques-
tered spots, which still retain some ves-
tiges of old English customs. It had it's
rural festivals and holiday pastimes, and
still kept up some faint observance of
the once popular rites of May. These,
indeed chad been promoted by its pres
ent pastor; who was lover of old GUS
toms, and one of these simple christians
that think their mission fulfilled by
promoting joy on esrth and good will
among mankind. Under his auspices
the May pole stood from year to year
in the centre of the village green; on
May day it was decorated with garlands
and steramers; and queen or lady of
the May was appointed, as in former
times, to preside at the sports, and dis
tribute the prizes and rewards. The
picturesque situation of the village and
1 the fancifulness of its rustic fetes, would
often attract the notice of casual visitors.
Among these, on one May day, was a
young officer, whose regiment had been
recently quartered in the neighborhood.
He was charmed with the native taste
that pervaded this village pageant; but,
above all, with the dawning loveliness of
the queen of May. 1t was the village
| favorite, who was crowned with flowers,
and blushing and smiling in all the beau
tiful confusion of girlish difidence aud
delight. The artlessness of rural hab
it's enabled him readily to make her ac-
quaintance; he gradually won his way
into her intimacy; and paid his court
to her in that unthinkipg way in which
young officers are too apt to triie with
rustic simplicity.
/ There was nothing in his advances to
startle or alarm. He never even talked
of love; but there are modes of m aking
it, more eloquent than language and
which convey it subtilely and irresistibly
to the heart. The beam of the eye, the
tone of the voice, the thousand tender
ness which emanate from every word,
and look, and action-these form the
true eloquence of love, and can always
be felt and understood; but never de-
seribed. Can we wonder that they
should readily win heart, young, guile
nesses, and susceptible As to her, she
loved almost unconsciously; she scarcely
inquired what was the growing passion
that was absorbing every thought and
feeling, or what were to be it's conse-
j ouences. She. indeed, looked not to
the future. When present, bis LOOKS
and words occupied her whole attention;
when absent, she thought but of what
had passed at their recent Interview
She would wander with him through
the green lanes and rural scenes of the
vicinity. He taught her to see new