American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-01-22

for water on the parched desert; and
SO days heightened into weeks, and at
last their parting came, and hard, very
hard yas it for Minnie to say, farewell,
perhaps forever!" to Howard, for she
had giycn;the first pure love Of her soul
tohim. All! aholy thing is woman's
first lovc-the first, outgushinps of a
spotlcss heart. Minnie did not think
that she had been so careless of her
heart as to give it up to stranger;
and notuntil Howard was gone did she
know fully how much she did love him.
And did he love her No word of love
had passed his lips. Trueh he was very
kind and delicate in his attentions to
her, but that was all. Eagerly did
Minnie think and recall his every word
and look; dearly did she prize his lit.
tie gifts, slender goldring that he
had asked her to wear for his sake, and
a book or two. No miser ever boarded
his gold so carefully as did Minnie
these. 'N's
| And so time passed on with the usual
routine of study to Minnie, and in
creasing trouble and failing health to
/ old father Bell. For fifteen months
the old man had been failing rapidly,
when one morning as the little family
were assembled around the breakfast
table, aunt Violet came in with all haste
to announce Mr.. Flint and several
others. '.s' |.y'
Tta.t ..H# .
Flint came in smiling fiendi.h smile
as he seemed to gloat and exult over
1.-THE ruin and misery he was about to
bring upon those good old people.
Well, my old friends, I have come
ito have this business of ours settlod.--
will wait no longer. Here are men
with me ready to buy the negroes and
farm. If you have not raised money
enough to pay off the mortgage, | shall
take possession at once. Come, Sheriff,
let's to business" H.. r,' -, ..
All this time father Bell sat as one
1 in a dream. The entrance of the men
aroused him; he raised his eyes, those
old dim eyes, and looked wildly around
until they rested on his wife. One
spasm of pain crossed his face. He
seemed about to fall from his chair,
when Mrs. Bell sprang forward and
raised his head gently on her arm,-a
sweet smile of resignation and peace
settled on his countenance, and he ex.
pred without groan! The shock was
too great---he was not expecting it so
soon. Ills heart was almost broken
long before, and with this rude stroke
the last fibre was snapped asundcr, and
the aged and loved was no more. The
weary spirit was freed; it had scared
on high, even to the God who gave it.
His had been the christians life; he
had fought the good fight he had kept
the faith, and henceforth there was a
crown laid up for him, crown ofright-
eousness which God, the great Am,
hath in reservation for all those who
have been washed in the blood of the
( Lamb. ... ...... ..
Sudden and heart-rending as was
this scene, it did not appear to affect
the heart of the wretch who had caus
ed it all. Had he looked deep into
his heart, he would have seen MUIR
DERER!' written there in letters of
fire; for had he not murdered the hus-
band, and taken the home from the
widow, henceforth to turn her out upon
the Geld world homeless? But no, he
did not think of these things; his heart
had become callous love Of gold had
blunted every noble impulse Of his ma.
ture. Gold was his god, and to it only
did he bow down and pay his homage.
With curses at his bad luck, as he
termed it, Mr.. Flint and his men de-
parted to wait until after the funeral
should take place, and then they said
they would return and finish the bust.
ness, and bid Mrs. Bell and Minnie to
seek another home.
My dear reader, could you have
seen these two afflicted ones, your heart
unless Of adamant, would have ached
for them. Oh! it is hard, very hard,
to part with loved ones to think that
they must be laid in the cold, damp
earth tor the grave-worm and mould to
destroy. Bitter, O! bitter, is the
thought. Then do we, too, long to die;
then do we pray for death, but It comes
not at our bidding. We have mission
to fulfil on earth, before we can 30
hence. And then again, we think of
our loved dead, ard we see more clear.
ly now that our loss is their gain; wo
are glad then that they are safe in our
Fathers house, where no pain is felt
where God, our father, will wipe all
tears from their eyes. o! yes, that is
o glorious thought, and we exult in it;
yes, we give thapksto tho Eternal, and
can say with full heart; "Father,
thy will be done" )" thou hast only claim.