The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-05-23
RAVENNA, WEDNESDAY, MAY %, 1860.

woodland and river scenery of exquisite
beauty--though wreathed in snow and crisp
ed by frost. Here is a cottage, old'fashion'
ed and substantial, an exquisite garden
around it, aud clothed with glowing Pyra.
canthus. The berries are massed in coro-
nails the leaves lie around in beds of richest
green. But the windows--at least towards
the lane--are shuttered; no ooe seems keep
ing Christmas within.
But as Robert Gray leans upon the paliDg
looking towards little window that now is
bowery with scarlet and green--in summer
with the myriad waken trumpets of the yel.
low jasmine--a man plods by and touches
his hat.
sIf yer wanting Mr.. Watson, sir" he
says, "you won't find him at home to-day.
Him and the missis be gone to see their
Youngest son. Old Tab the maids minding
the house but she's upstairs dressing |
dussay now"
"Well, Mr.. Watson deserves q holiday.
Gone for long! =
"No; l reckon they'll be home to'mor-
row. Miss Mariana, the daughter, amt
wi 'em. She's gone to Master Fieldug's,
across the moors, to keep holiday wi the
children. She's particular favorite there
sort o. cousin 10 the missis."
So saying, Hodge again touches his hat,
and proceeds.
When the honest fellow is out Of sight,
Gray opens the gate gently, and steals in.
Then from the before mentioned bowery
window he cuts spray Of pyracanthus with
his pocket knife, and coming forth again,
hurries away like one guilty of serious sin.
When he is far out of sight Of the cottage,
on his path again to the ighway, he looks
at it long and tenderly, and then opening
his knapsack, lays it within. This shall go
with him for and far away; it grew about
her bowery window--she whom he has met
once or twice in country homes--she whom
he has spoken to few times--she whom he
Like man who has accomplished mis-.
sion he now walks steadily onward, regains
the highway, and begins the ascent to the
moors--to the lower ones, which lie at the
base Of the higher and more remote. Deep,
er becomes the snow, wilder the scene, nei
ther man, nor bird, nor beast giving life to
the whitened waste. By-and-by he comes
to few solitary homesteads, and beyond
these to a lonely graveyard. where the deat
sleep eternaly amidst the great hush OF ma
ture he must pause moment, for here lies
poor schooIboy who died of cold and fever
Gray nursed him, Gray loved him, Gray can
not turn away--perhaps forever-'-withou
saving farewell TO the insenteDt dust.
As he diverges to the gate OF entrance
into this lone battle-ground, middle,aget
gentleman comes towards it, from the req
of the small thatched church, and striving tt
undo the latch, cannot his fingers may bt
cold. He muy have entered the grave yart
by some other path. For days, possibly
there has been no passer in. Be this as
may, the gentleman cannot make egress.-'
Grow hurries forward, and from his eide un
does the latch.
"Thank you," says the gentleman, raisin
, bis hat, "a courtesy is always pleasant, eve
on lonely Yorkshire moor. I thank 30
, "a happy Chrstmas--a good day." He
a handsome, thoughtful man of middle life
his hair just touched with gray, his manne
prompt, bis words court, like one who's
dealings are many, with men and the worlt
Perhaps he is Yorkshire manufacturer
o who knows !--m6ny have factories in tn
, hollows of these moors--rich, exact, earne
h men--gathering whole populations roun
J.. them. and making steam their willing sIav
/. When the stranger is out OF sight Gre
passes in, and following the footsteps in II
:, snow, they lead him to simple grave stor
at the rear of the church, off which the sno
~ hos been recently brushed on it is record
~ the death of two old persons--man and wi
- >. --who died some five yeers before. The
names were Fielding; their married life
long one, considering the years they lived
:. 81 thought as much" says Gray to himse
- "That gentleman was Mr.. Fielding-tl
=, rich spinner-and this the grave of his fat
J., er end mother. I have heard that he W
:. az noble son as he is a noble father, hu
. band, master and man. Yes! thoug
- there was a likeness in his face to the DO!
:, that came to Tubb's, to be taught drawing
~ half year ago. How often does the pr
, saic hide the depths of a poetic nature
This is his visit to his parents grave, on t
, anniv ersary Of their death !; and who know
70 of what worth such visitations and self cor
n munion may bea The virtues OF ye
may be sown thus in a single hour !"
e, Gray passes on to the school boys So
,e tarv grave. No reverent feet have visit
ks it-no reverent hands have scraped off I
g, dazzling snow. The marks where the lit
in redbreasts have hoped across it are plain
,e visible, and YET it 10 not solitary; the vii
s, sings dirge, the snow presses downil
ss and at night the moonlight sweeps over
ne and silyers it with glory. Under the or
q, of heaven no single thing but what b
is some hymn sung to it-some tears we
- over 1t by nature 7!
in The poor usher resumes his walk presel
b. ly, for he has far to 60. The cold is