The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-02-12

in his heavy shoes. | ran to a front
window; there he was, already round
the house, and out at the gate, fleeing
like shadow.
was afraid about him, and yet not
afraid so | sat down beside Rab, and
being weared, fell asleep. | awokc
from sudden noise outside. 1t was
November, and there had been heavy
fall of snow. Rab was in stdtu quo he
heard tie noise too, and plainly knew it,
but never moved. | looked out and
there, at the gate, in the dim morning
for the sun was not up, was Jess and the
cart--a cloud of steam rising from the
old mare. did not see James he was
already at the door, and came up the
stairs, and met me. 1t was less than
three hours since lie left, and he must
have posted out--who knows how to
lIowgate, full nine miles of; yoked
jess, and driven her astonishcd into
town. He had an arnrful of blankets,
and was streaming with porspiration.
He nodded to me, spread on the floor
two pairs of clean blankets, having at
their corner, &c A. G., 17G4,' in large
letters in red worsted. These were the
initials of Alison Grnmc, and James may
ha, c looked in at her from without-un-
seen but not unthought of-when he
was swat, wat, and weary and had
walked many mile over the hills, and
seen her sitting, while " a the lave were
slcepn';" and by the freight putting
her name on the blankets for her ain
james bed. lie motioncd Rab down,
and taking his wife in his arms, laid her
in the blankets, and Mapped her carefully
and firmly up, leaving the face uncover
ed and then lifting her, he nodded
again sharply to me, and with resolved
but utterly miserable face, strobe along
the passage, and stairs, followed by Rab.
| also followed, with u light; but he
didn't need it. | went out holding stu
pidly the light in my hand in the frosty
air ; we were soon at the gate ! could
have helped him, but | saw lie was not,
to be meddled with and he was strong
and did not need it. lie laid her down
as tendeHy, as safely, as he had lifted
her ont ten days bcfore-as tcnderly as
when he had her first in his arms, when
she was only "a. G.'-sortod her,
leaving that beautiful sealed face open
to the heavens and then taking Jess by
the head, he moved away. lie did not
notice me, neither did Rab, whopresidcd
alone behind the cart
stood till they passed through the
long shadow Of the College, and turn
ed up Nicolson street. | heard the
solitary cart sound through the streets
aud die away and come again; and re-
turned, thinking Of that company going
up Libberton brae then along Koslm
m'iir, the morning light touching the
pentIands and making them like on
looking ghosts then down the hill
through Auchindinny woods, past sshaun-
ted Woodhouselec;" and as daybreak
came sweeping up the bleak Lammcr-
nuirs, and fell on his own door, the COM
pany would stop, and James would take
the key, and lift Allie up again, laying
her on her own bed, aud having put
jess up would return with Rab and shut
the door.
James buried his wife, with his neigh
bors mourning, Rab inspecting the SOL
emtity from Il distance. 1t was snow,
and that black, ragged hole would look
strange in the midst Of the swelling spot
less cushion of white. James LOOKED
| after everything; then rather suddenly
fell i'll, and took to bed was inseusiblc
when the doctor came, and soon died.
a sort of low fever was prevailing in the
village, and his want Of sleep, his cx
haustlon and his misery, made him apt
TO take it. The grave was not difficult
to reopen. A fresh fall of snow had
again made all things white and smooth
Eab once more looked on, and skunk
home to the stable.
And what Of Raba l asked for him
next week at the new carrier who rot
the good will of James business, and was
now master Of jess and her cart
How's Rab % He put me off, and said
rather rudely. What's yoar bushes
WI the dowg" was not to be put off.
/" Where's Rab" He ccttiug confused
and red, and intermcddling with his hair,
said " Deed Sir, Rab's deid." "Dcad
what did he die of - .sWcll Sir" said
he, getting reddor, " he didna exactly
die he was killed. | had to brain him
WI a rack-pin; there was nae dom VII
him. He lay in the trcviss wi the NEAR,
and wadna came DOT. | Tempt him WI
kali and meat, but he wad tax naething,
and kept me lrae fecdin' the beast, and
he was aye CUR gurrin.' and grup grup.
| pin me by the legs. | was lailh to
make ava wi the auld dowg-his like
was ma atween this and Thornhill-but
deed Sir, could do nacthing else. -
believed him. Fit end for Rab, quick
and complete. His teeth and his friends
gone, why should he keep the peace and
be civil.
OLD AGE Beautiful is old age, beautiful
as the slow dropping mellow autumn Of a rich
glorious summer. In the old man, Nature