The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-07-01
body they cad Adam Campbcll's grave

body they cad Adam Catnpbeiis grave
now are We any the wiser for sperin 2"
"My fa,her?" cried my comrade as ap-
preached him, and clasping his hands to-
gether, he bent his head upon my shoulder
and wept aloud.
l will not dwell upon the painful scene.
During his absence, adversely had given
the fortunes C his father to the wind and
he had died in his humble cottage, unla-
menteI and unnoticed by the friends of his
prosperity.
At the request of my fellow. traveller, I
accompanied him to the house of mourning.
Two or three poor cottagers sat around the
fire. The coffin, with the lid open, lay
across a table near the window. A few
white hairs fell over the whier face of the
deceased, which seemed to Indicate that he
died from sorrow rather than from age.
The son pressed his lips to his fathers
check. lie groaned in spirit, and was
troubled. lie raised his head in agony,
and with voice almost inarticulate with
grief. exclaimed, imploringly, "my mother !"
| The wandering peasants started to their
feet, and in silence pointed to lowly bed.
lie fastened forward, and fell upon his
knees by The bedside.
any mother! o, my mother" he ex-
claimed, "do not you, too, leave me
Look at mel arm your son-yuur own
Wllie-have you, too, forgot me, moth
er?"
She, too, lay upon her death. bed, and
the tide of life was fast eblng but the re-
memb.red voice Of her son drove it back
for a moment. She opened her cyes-she
attempted to raise her feeble hand, and it
fell upon MS lead. She spoke, but he
alone knew the words that she uttered /;
they seemed accents Of mingled anguish, of
iov, and Of blessing. For several minutes
he bent over the Jcd. aud wept bitterly.
lis held ler withered hand in his he
:. started ; and as we approached him, the
hand he held wa. stiff and lifeless. He
> wept no ouger-he gaz-d from the dead
body of his father 10 tina. of his mother
his ewes wandered wildly from one to the
other, he smote his hand upon his brow
, and threw himself upon chair, while
misery transfxed him, rs if thunder.lol
had entered his soul. I will not give
description Of tho melancholy funeral, ant
the solitary mourner. The fathers obse
: quies we're delayed, and the son laid boil
his parents in the same grave.
Several months passed away before
gained information respecting the sequel G
nv little story. After his parents were lai
Z in dust, William Campbell, with sad an
9 anxious heart, male inquiries after Jeann'
Leslie the girl of his early affection.
= whom we have alluded. For several week
" his search proved fraitess but at length h
" learned that considerable property had bee
left her f.ther by distant relative. and tif'
- size now resided somewhere in Drumfrie
- shire.
% In the same garb which have alread
- described, the soldier sat out upon his Jou
;" ney. With little difficulty he discovere
;" the house. 1t resembled such as are occ'
- pied by the highest class of farmers. II
IT, front door stood open. He knocked, but !
- one anwered. He passed along the passae
- he heard voices in an apartment to Il
right-again he knocked, but WAS unhee
~ ed. He entered uninvited. A group "
~ standing in the middle of the floor, al
~ among them a minister commencing Il
20 marriage services ofthe Church Of Scotlar
u" The bride hung her head sorrowfully, a
'e' tears were stating down her cheeks-it W
IT, his own Jeannis Leslie. The cIergyms
"S paused. The brides father stepped forwa
'" angriIy. and inquired, "what do ye wal
a. sirl" but Instantly recognising his featur
'"' he seized him by the breast, and in vol
halfchoked with passion, oontinued-"St
lat row take ye for scoundrel! what's broug
'e'f ys here-an' the mair especially at til
n! like, tlia2 Get out o my house, sir ! | 81
ne Willie Campbell. get out O. my house,
u" ne yer darken my door again wi your ne
we do-well countenance !"
my A sudden shrek followed the mention
the name, and Jeannie Leslie fell into {
We the arms Of her bridemaid.
his "Peace, Mr.. Leslie!" said the sold
'h' pushing the old man aside; ''since matt
lie are thus, will only stop to say farewell
en- for auld lang syns-you cannot deny
'ao that"
III" He passed toward the object Of his yo'
'e"' love. She spoke not-she moved not
-ne took he hand, but she seemed unconsci'
u" 10 And, as her again gazed upon her beat