The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-22
LITERATUHE.

ance. We trust that, Tor the sake OF "aud lang
syne," they will receive them kindly.
On the LIST of September, 1920, the sun rose
brightly on Lowelstree, a retired village, situated
on the borders of Lincolnshire, gliding the sen,
der spire Of the rustic church, and the gables of
the homesteads clustering around it, with that
rich golden hue peculiar to an English autumn.
The morning though cloudless, was cold one.
The carriers and farm servants walked briskly with
a determined, bnsinesslke air, on their way to
the fields, as if they meant work. Most Of them.
however, relaxed their pace 81 they approached
house half buried in tees, adjoining the church
rest and gazed wisfuly at the light still burning
in one of the upper windows-shOok their heads
sadly, and passed slowly on.
Even the ploughboys ceased to whistle as they
drew near, and drove their teams in silence.
Most OF the husbandmen had gone forth to la
bor but the day had not sufficiently advanced for
the housewives of Lowelstree to make their APP
pearance yet The occasional opening OF
a hssty glance at the rectory house, where the
curate, the Reverend Edward Mansell, was dying,
proved the unfeigned sorrow they also felt at the
anticipated loss Of their friend and pastor, who
had lived twenty FIVE years among them and won
their affection and good will by illustrating in his
own lfs the charity and Christion love Of the
faith he taught.
The clock had scarcely done striking six when
O condition superior to that OF the laborers and
farm servants, walked hastily down the village.
He also paused and regarded the rectory window,
opened the gate Leading to the house, and knock
il was opened by respectable looking female,
whose age could not have been much under sixty
Her eyes were red with weeping.
How ia Mr.. Mansell?" inquired the young man,
in voice subdued almost to whisper, as if he
feared the answer.
"Dying, Master Tom--dying,n sobbed the house
keeper. ut will be sad loss to Lowelstree. So
good gentleman! We shall never have such
another miuister
Meyer lever repeated the young man. emphatical-
None in noae ~ exclaimed the ra with
that he may last till noon~not longer. It
would break the heart of stone," she con-
tnued, ito see him-he is SO resigned, 80 pa
tent. left him gazing on the pale faces Of his
them, consoling and blessing them-no thought Of
his own su6erings; and know what they must
have been. God knows what will become ofthem
"Poor Harold" sighed the yisiter.
"Ay. and poor Master Harry" added the house
keeper, reproachfully, "you forget him."
"No, dom, Mrs: Sparges," replied the youth,
warmly "but Harold, you know, saved my life
own. 1t is only natural that should think of him
first"
Perhaps it is Master Tom, murmured the fe-
male, perhaps it isl
81 have brought you brace Of birds for his
father said the former, at the same time drawing
them from the pocket of his shooting jacket. /
was ont before five to shoe; them. "fthousht he
might fancy them. and ". s. ..-
them back with her hand, The viii never S eat
again."
as that you, Toms'' demanded youth of
fourteen, who now made his appearance in the
The speaker was Harry 1mray, the nephew of
the dying man. An orphan from early infancy, he
had never known any other home than the house
lent relative who, despite his limited means, and
the angry remODstrances of his wealthy relative,
Sir Jasper Mansell, head Of the great London
banking. house Of Mausel Company, persisted in
The man of money pronounced the conduct of
the curate ridiculous and quixotic, felt himself in
suited that his advice had not been taken, and
treated him with marked GOODNESS ever since, and
yet the tic Of blood between them was a near one
they were half brothers.
If affection could have repaid him, the worthy
man would have found ample recompense for the
sacrifice the additional charge upon his slender
means entailed in the love and obedience of the
friendess boy, whom lie educated with his own
son Harold, a spirited, fine hearted youth, about
the same age as Tom Msyfeld.
The marked contrast III the characters of the
two cousins was one cause, perhaps, OF the strong
attachment which bound them to each other.
Harry was timid, gentle almost as girl; Harold
fiery and daring indignant Of the slightest sense
of wrong, yet patient with those he loved, frank
and trusting. Harry was suited by temperament
for life OF retirement, reflection and peaceful
study harold 70 contend with the world grasp
Its difficulties, direct its movements, and hold his
own in its hot battles Yet he, too, could be pa
ticnt on occasion, place the reign upon his feel
ings, appear calm and impenetrable
Fatal or splendid qualities in one so young so
soon to be cast without pilot upon the stormy
sea Of life-a powerful weapon or broken shield
according to the use made OF them.
While IN the vein for description, we may AS
well photograph the portrait of his friend, rom
hOxyG At1 fhnN vIry AT IS Al IL
ers in the Observation-Disclosures by his parents
as only sons generally are iudulged-yet, strange
to say upspoied by their weakness. He was the
best shot and cricketer in Lowes,ree. At the
bat, Harold, perhaps, might have disputed the
palm with him, but Az bowler his superiority
was incontestible
For several years sort of quiet rivalry existed
between the two youths, but from the day the
curate son saved the life of his rustic competitor
it ceased and they bee anne friends, fast friends,
whom no coldness nor rivalry henceforth could
divide, and Tom never displayed so much indgna-
ton as when any Of the members Of the cricket
club yentured to praise his skill at the expense of
his preserver.
In person, the young farmer was tall, his frame
well knit, wiry and strong, without being un-
graceful In fact, he was Just such q fellow as
would attract the glance Of the recruiting ser
geant, or pretty girl at a village faf--both ex-
cellent judges in their way.
He had dark hair, merry hazel eye, and face
which, if not regularly handsome, had candor and
manly confidence written in every feature.
No wonder, with such advantages, that he was
popular with the fair sex. The most prudent
mothers in Iowes.ree forbore to chide when they
discovered their daughters chatting with Tom
Mayfeld.
At the rectory he was almost ss much at home
as at the farm and yet he hesitated to enter the
house at the invitation of Harry.
The shadow of Death was in it, and he felt
awed at the majesty Of i.s presence.
Come in" repeated toe sorrOwng youth.
Tom stepped into the hall; the speaker grasped
his hand and tried to speak, but tears chokcd his
utterance.
ut be the will of God, Master Harry" said
the young farmer, in low tone; I'VE must all
submit to it. Where be Harold?'
With his father sobbed the boy; with his
dear father"
In the chamber above, one of those scenes
which wiring the heart, proving, by its agonies,
that we are something more than clay, was taking
place. The dying parting from the living, aztec
ton uttering its last connsels, taking its farewell
gaze, straining the dim sight to catch the fading
H. A..-