The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-07-02

Evil Onehas breathed a spell over them.-
When the 6fth commandment is broken,
when the parents will is despised, when
there Is clandestined woolng, and The welded
one dare not ask Gods blessing upon thsm--
then those rings are worh.e hHia s'i Do n1D
3 Even ms he spoke, with fearful, hesitatinE
step, maiden approached the pile, led, half
by one of graceful form, who was
soft words in her car. Oh! could
II be love that led him 10 act the part Of tho
tempter to the woman who trusted him, OF
did he fondly hope TO find the faithful wifc
in the undutful daughteri i,,sr, div
Sand what is the neglected cluster OF
rings which no finger has yet :Ouched!" ask.
ed Marion. .,q ,r t....e..s ,5 ,itg
The voice Of Time sank to the soft whisA
per of the western breeze, and mildet light
shone in his eyes rs he replied: "They arc
for those whose marriages have been made
in neayen;. every circict OF gold has been
formed by Esteem. when two devoted 70
one service meet, heirs Of one hope, follow.
ere Of ono Lord; when loving and beloved,
they would share each others JOY, nor shrink
from each others sorrow; when, helping each
other on n hevenward road, they would press
on in the same strength, to the same bright
goal above, then those rings unite them here.
emblems of that eternity which will unite
them in bliss never ending!' "a t,I lJi as
A voice behind Marion seemed to echo the
last words; she knew TIM. voice, Il thrilled
her to the very heart; and she knew the hand
that pressed upon hers the pledge Of connu-
bial love. Could all the diamonds Of Col
conda make II more precious to the heart Of
the youthful bride!
Then, ngainj the voice Of old Time rose.
as the rushing sound of the angry blast. IT
come-f come!" he cried. "rhrones melt as
snow before me; the peopled city, the OBJ
scure village, the home Of the peasant, the
palace Of the monarch, bear the marks Of the
deep footprints of Time! And mine is the
touchstone that tries the gold; it is my hand
that draws back the veil Of Truth, L touch
the bubbles of folly and they break, and
leave but n tear behind"
Marion watched, as with stealthy but rapid
step Time approached Althea and her hus-
band. Now lines sppeared on the fair smooth
brow; the CLASSY rlnglets were streaked with
gray; the fairy form had lost all its grace.-
And the ardent lover, how cold was his look
-how changed from the bridegroom was the
husband! Time laid his heavy finger upon
the ring which still glittered on the finger Of
Althea; at once the circlct lost all its bright
nesss, the gliding vanished; nought remained
but the dull, worthless metal beneath ! the
ring had never been gold l.
Naughty Julia! amid thy wealth and thy
state, Time also is stealing on thee. Bars
of gold will not bolt him out-he tramples
earth's treasures beneath his feet. He touch
es the ring on the worldllng's hand, and the
dull, heavy fall of iron is heard. Man may
see naught but the loop of gold, but the
wearer feels the CALLING chain. Hopeless and
unp:tied must she drug its weight; she has
chosen her fate and she must bear it; her ring
has never been gold
With mournful interest Marion watched
the steps of the welded pair, who had sacri-
feed duty to love. There were looks of
suspicion, ami words of reproach as the
shadow of Time fell across their path; but
when his cold hand touched a fatal ring, q
faint cry escaped the pallid lips; viper was
coiling where the crclet had rested; her ring
had never been gold.
And now Marion felt Timc approaching
herself, yet still she clung to the husband
beside her with deeper, more confding Lore.
Time held out his hand; she did not shrink;
she felt his touch, but she trembled not. The
ring which she wore grew brighter than ever;
it was formed Of the gold which changes
not, in the furnace of trial, or beneath the
grasp Of Time. And the voice which she
loved was sounding confdingly in her
ears, like soft music from n sphere above:
"For richer for poorer, in sickness or in
health, to love and to cherish until death US
do part" "Till death us do part" repeated
the bride; "united in life, in death, and be.
yond it," Even rs the words burst from her
lips, the whole scene appeared to change be.
fore her, tho image Of Time had vanished,
she suddenly opened her eyes, and wonder
ed at the dimness around. The light had
burned out in her chamber, wasting itself
and dying, like the love which mere earthly
attractions inspire; but soft rosy CLEAN was
now tinging the East, bright harbinger Of q
brighter radiance; il was the dawn Of Mari.
on's wedding day.
And so our little Wreath was finished, and
presented with suitable speech by the
bridesman and suitable smile by the bride.
And what shall add, but that on the follow
ing morn the sun shone SO gnyly on the wed.
ding, that it seemed as though November
was assuming the style of May, in compile
ment to the joyous occasion. Merrly rolled
the carriage-wheels, merrily played the brass
band, merrily fluttered the white favors in the
breeze, and merriy beat the hearts beneath
them. Nothing occurred to cast the slight
est shadow npon the festiviiy Of all, the
cares, and vexations which had followed on
the fog, had now all vanished.
RAIN IN WESTERN New YoRK.-The rain
has been so heavy in Cattarnuga county, that