Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-01-10
A TRAGEDY.

phases OF human lie, and, wanderin,
forth into the great world, as il were, Il
pause in some one Of It's hooks or corners
and listen TO the narration Of one O
those IS short and simple annals Of tht
poor" Of which every land is the scene
and which every hour brings forth "shor
and simple" indeed, and yet often replete
with the record of noble suffering and
endurance; for which we might look in
vain in the higher walks of life,
Chance, more than inclination, several
years since led me to make brief visit
to the scacoast Of Scotland, in the vicin-
ity ofthe Solway. What an appearance
the face Of the country now presents |
AIN not informed, but, at the time Of
which speak the few leagues over which
passed comprised bleak and barren
plain, sheltered hardly from the keen
and piercing winds which swept inland
from the sea, and, more than this singu-
larity dreary and uninhabited. The
ragged line Of the coast, projecting its
rocky masses far out into the sea, spoke
Of dangerous and inhospitaLle shore
while the wide birth given it by the few
vessels which were visible on the par
ticular morning TO which | now refer,
seeLe ed to speak Of The mariners knowl-
edge OF the fact
During all my rambles in this unprom-
ising neighborhood, discovered but one
hnman habitation upon this lonely plain.
1t was low and humble cottage, stu
ated some distance back from tie coast, .
and further sill from the nearest village.
| had passed it several times in my
loiterings, scanning its exterior more
closely al each successive view, until,
really anxious TO ascertain what m n1er
Of persons occupied this deso'aty spot,
l made trii.ng trrand serve the pur-
pose Of satisfying my curiosity. The
interior Of the cottage presented mach
the appearance, and its inmates were a
different class Of people, from what
might have surmised. Everything with
in bore the marks Of tidy and skillful
houscwircry, and 4 cheerful lcok of home
comfort, which almost redeemed the
place from its loneliness. The master
Of the habituaiion, a frank, sailor like
maa, was repairing nets in one corner;
his wife, youthful and interesting wo-
nsn, whose face bore traces of former ,
beauty rs well as sorrow and trouble, re-
ceived me at the door and invited me to
enter; willie tie tire small children,
playing about the floor, completed the "
household. u
Such was the scene presented by the =
Interior Of The cottage; and after con-
rorsiug for half an hour with the fisher
nan, aud his wife, who seemed much ,
,ratiGed by the presence Of a stranger
beneath their roof-whch considering y
be locality, | rightly supposed to be a -
natter Of rare occurrencc-I had risen a
o take my leave, when a mere accident
estrained me. The chance opening of ~
door, opposite to that by which had
ntered, afforded me a view of a yard,
nclosed by loosely laid wall Near
ne door was a grave, apparently, by its
ength, that of q grown person, neatly -.
2dded, although unmarked by a stone. -
Why il was, or whence came the convic- I"
on, | know not but felt, as soon as
y eyes rested upon the grave, that it "a
as not within its story. 1t was easy )"
rough, certainly, for one to sicken and Or
e. and be inferred in this lonely place an
1t | persuaded myself that this was
IT all, Death, thought, in spot like ne
is, must have been invested with cir hIr
instances which must render the mar
tive one of interest. by
Although my wish was formed on the COY
stant, the cordially and friendly re- Nh
ect which bad accompanied my recep- 'or
IN, possessed me with delicacy in
gard to the inquiry which hesitated PIE
my lips, which might not be able to 1t
ercome but the action Of the fisher ma
an relieved my embarrassment He
ID seen the direction Of my glance, ou'
d must have OWNED my thoughts, for, s'r'
ying aside his nets, he placed his stool WI"
arer to me, and said: '"e
You were looking at the grave in our us,
I'd, sir, and thinking, perhaps, that it ana
a strange object to have SO nigh ones Tue
Tellng.' our
Nay, my good friend, but it occurred all
me that there might be story con- mos
cted with it,. MAJ
And so there is sir--a sad, strange nor
e. Would you wish to hear it ? dIi'
! eagerly assented. The fisherman, rem
~eyer, seemed only half decided, for prio