Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-12-07

FIVE asked why she was so unhappy as to
die, she said it was love. Then we won
dered who Love could be. And she
smiled, and told US we were too young to
understand. But still, we had our own
ideas, and we all thought him very cruel
fellow. One said, he was sure he had seen
him and rough Ben Smith, as we used
to call him, wiped his eyes with his coat
sleeve and declared he would never make
bis parents or any one else so unhappy
like naughty Love- Little Jim Jones was
quite certain 'he would never have any
thing to do with him, if he ever should
happen to see him. And we talked a
great deal about Love- and wondered, and
wondered till the school-bell rang.
That evening as we passed the old forge,
we looked in, and asked Harry Graham,
the blacksmith's son, if he had ever heard
of Love- and if he knew him. And Hand
some Harry blushed, and laughed one of
his merry, ringing laughs, but did not tell
rs who Love was. And the huge bellows
blowed on and the fire burned fercer, and
we went upon our way; but did not forget
the story of Love-
BY and by, the summer passed away !;
and gentle Anna May grew taller and more
beautiful, day by day. And once, when
tie Autumn leaves were falling in the
school house path, she took leave of us, and
went away. We were very lonesome and
sad, and did not play any that day. For
many long weeks we waited, expecting that
Sha would xoturr b,+ ,4;u mr. ,vo;toJ -
vain. We thought our teacher looked sad
der and more weary, than he did when she
was there to sit by his side and listen to
his olden time tales. Autumn passed, win
Ter came and went, and spring had come
again, but Anna came no more.
One morning as we hurried on to school,
we noticed that the old forge was shut up
and still. For many years that Old ham
mer had pounded away and we had be-
come so accustomed to hear its heavy jar,
that we feared something unusual had hap
pened. We were not disappointed, for
next day there was new made grave in
the church yard, and they laid the old
blacksmith in the ground.
Harry wept a great while over his faith
er's grave; and then, wiping away his tears,
left his little home on the hillside, and
went away to the city.
Another long year fitted by. All
through those weary months, went to the
old school house on the hill, but there were
not so many happy faces there, as were
wont to be. One by one, they had gone
away, until the number left was quite small.
Then Spring came again, and the birds
sarg in the willows by the brook. The
squirrels chartered and leaped among the
Wild flowers We're 1eeb;ns fRnoSTEgs6ss end end
leaves on the hillside. And the sun shone
brightly across the green hills, and down
upon the little white cottage where Anna
lived. And to her, the skies looked bluer,
and the grass seemed fresher, than it ever
had before for Anna was betrothed tc
Harry Graham. Handsome Harry Of the
Forge as we used to call him-I think
can sec him now
He had changed much, since he hac
gone to the city, and people said, Harry
Graham was fast growing rich; for th'
firm of B. 81 Co., owned almost half tn
boating on the river; and Harry, who haC
been their chief clerk, was now taken as
partner. But from among his ledgers, an'
bills of exchange, and gray, brick walls
and dirty streets, his thoughts would wan
der back to the white cottage, up amons
: the cedars. And now, Anna was to be hi
bride.