The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-05-12

MS belnS the same person from whom she
had parted forty years before. l myself was
puzzled, and it was some moments before it
flashed upon me that the person before us
might be Robert Alison's son. The young
man was seriously embarrassed, but kindly
took the good old souls embraces without
attempting to disenchant her. While she
hung round him, calling him her &c dear
Robert,' explained to the young man that
| was her nephew, and that aunty: who was
fast sinking into dotage, had taken him for
his father, to whom, as he might know, she
was attached in her youth. He said he knew
that, and that his father was coming in pre-
senty. Meantime, aunty hung about him.
calling HIM by endearing names, and remind
ing him of their young days, and of their sor-
rowful parting on The old bridge.
Don't you remember, Robert, the old
bridge, and my faxen curls shining in the
wind that morning when came to say fare
well! Comc-come and sit by me; % and
when the young man took a seat by her side,
she stroked his glossy curls, and, turning to
me, said proudly
You see it is jet black as told you-
black and glossy, and all IN curls, just like
the one that he gave me forty years ago.
The candles were now alight, and as aunty
said these words, her eyes fell upon her own
| shrvelled fingers, which embraced the fresh,
young hand Of her old swcctheart's son.
"Forty years ago." she repeated with
| sigh; dear, dear, what a foolish old woman
l am! am wandering in my wis., Here
she paused, and covered her face with her
| hands. At length, she said, more calmly
"l have been dreaming, young man, as if
time had been standing still for forty years.
You can't be my r obert Alison, but you must
be Robert Alison's son. Look,'' she said,
before he had time to reply {. there is your
portrait, just as if You had sat for 1t )" and so
saying, She took the candle, and led the
young man to the picture. Meanwhile a
knock came to the door, and an old gray
bearded man entered at my bidding.
Mistress Patterson 2" said the stranger,
inquirnely.
stepped up quietly to him, and asked
him if he was Mr.. Aison-R ebert Ais J.
He said yes, and he wanted to see Mistress
Patterson. Aunty was still standing with the
young man, throwing the light upon the pic
ture with her hand. I said in n wbisper.
pointing to aunty, " that is Mistress Patter-
son!' The old man started, and seized nv
arm as II for support. Aunty still stood there
shading the light, and the old man, crashing
my arm more tightly, remained gazing at her
abstractcdly. At length, turning to me, he
said i'll a low voice" Excuse me, | have
sustained shock. Forty years ago, that
was the prettiest girl in this town; during
that time / have thought of her as she was
then. | meet her now, when both she and
are verging towards the grave. | shouldn't
have recognised my old sweetheart, and l
dare say she will not recognise me.'' went
up to aunty and told her who had come -
She came forward to where the old man was
| standing, with the candle still in her hand
| She gazcd at his white hair, and thin,
sallow face, and said, calmly, holding out her
land--'' Well, Robert; and SO we have met
at last, after forty years. I" We have" re-
turned old Robert Alison ss and having been
old swcethearts, there will be no harm in an
embrace, especially as | am wdowcr and
you widow" And the old man took aunty
| in his arms, and kissed her right heartily.
| fully expected sccnc;'' but | was
greatly relieved to find that the old sweet
hearts were by no means disposed to be sen.
timcntal. The old man and his son stopped
and supped, and, after supper, aunty grew
quite chatty and cheerful, and talked in a
light and airy way of old times. And at las t
| she brought out Roberts black curl and the
old man laughed, and said he could not sup
ply any more according to that sample
Nor do suppose, Mistress Patterson he
added, taking locket from his neck, {: that
you can execute an order according to that -
and so saying, he took out the tresses of flax
en- hair, which aunty had given him on the
| old bridge forty years before. There were
tears in aunty's eyes, as she looked upon the
two locks lying side by side in her lap.
Robert Alison settled down in his ma tive
town, and was once more aunty's sweetheart.
| He was constant vster at her house, and
often walked out with her to the old bridge
where they parted in their youth. The neigh
bors laughed to see the old couple always
together, and said, pleasantly, that the best
thing they could do, since they had been
sweethearts so long, was to get married.
But aunty always said she had had enough of
marrying.
Aunty did not live long after the arrival of
her old sweetheart. The infrmities of age
came upon her very fast, and the last time
she went out she was wheeled in chair to
the old bridge, and Robert Alison walked
with tottering steps by her side.
Aunty lies In the churchyard now And
last year Robert Alison was laid by her side.
The iron-founder and the accountant repose
hard by; but they have nothing to say to it.
SLEEPING UNDER THE CLOTHES. There is