The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-27
BY EDWARD SPENCER.
Hou the Gardener left tie Hall.

Hoo the Gardener tett tie Hall.
Gilbert Congreve was buried in the grave
yard of his native village, by his fathers side,
and where, through the trees, the glittering vane
of the Hall could be seen. All around were the
spots familiar to his youth; the house in which
he was born, the white meeting house. the
schoolhouse, the village green; and he had
chosen to return his dust to this native soil,
rather than to be laid where his manhood had
hourished. His tomb is there, plain white
marble slab, supported on four pillars, and
bearing the inscription
mon sibi solum wiki, sed omnibus"
1t was the day after the funeral, and Mrs
Fleming sat in the library, ministering with
tenderest hands to Ruth, who lay the sofa
ill with weeping and emotion. Her grief was
of another sort, and did not manifest itself
in tears Her cheek was banched, and her
eyes dstraught, yet she was outwardly calm,
thoughtful, and considerable Standing near
Them his face quivering with emotion, and his
eyes filling up constantly, was old Richard, the
gardener.
"Oh, madam said he, wringing his hands,
"Oh, madam, | did ma think O this. God
help me, did IA expect sick thing as this
@ 1t is all for the best, Richard said Mrs.
Fleming, turning those panied and aching eyes
upon him for moment with grateful glance.
4" Eli, madam, but tina best was SO near! The
lang lost happiness was so near. See, madam
And he handed her some papers. She took
them, glanced at them, shuddered, and grew
paler even than she was. The papers were
three in number, and contained, in set form,
the several Acknowledgements OF Carissa the
maid, Mrs. Morninglory, and Aulicus Cinquant,
that the charges against Mrs. Fleming, had
originated with them, were false were known
to be false when made, and were instigated by
malicious purposes. Mrs. Fleming turned to-
wards Richard, and held out her hand.
"These were not needed but | thank you,
faithful old friend from my heart"
"Oh!" cried Richard, completely broken
down in presence of her calmness "Oh, if
had only been day sooner, so that l could
haze saved his life. Only day sooner"
"Hush," said Mrs. Fleming, pointing to
Ruth, who was sobbins violently. "Tell me
how you got these papers"
II forced 'em until it. / skeert- yon Jade
Clarissa, until she acknowledged about the
bride, and then threatened the other woman
wi exposure, and. wi somewhat | meesel haze
against her, and she helped me and my big
stick thegither to bring yOn deevil, Clinquant,
to his wits, wha yielded the easier, | reckon,
that the blude was so fresh on his hands. Lord,
madam, if had haze kenned then ,chat blude
it was on his hands, would haze banged out
his brains on the vera spot"
" 1t is all for the best now Richard.
thank you much. You are faithful friend
"Why for should ma be ?" cried he, impctu
ously, I" wha nursed the auld mans blind and
affected daughter, and smoothed out her puir
dead members, when he could only tear the
hairs out o. his deestracted pow? Wha would
ma be, when we've ben friend till the auld
hameless foreigner ever sense We kennel yer
sell? Don't thank me. Use not-done Wit
may, Richard, you do but grieve yourself"
But Richard went on, talking rapidly, and
more Scotch than ever.
81 haze up til Mister Claussec, and tauld him
a that has happened, and a that was said. He