The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-09-11


have just left" he said " for / am unwell
and tired"
The woman pointed to little path, not
very far from the spot where they stood,
which turned suddenly out of the lane
into wood, overhanging the river, and
directed him to follow it through large
corn-feld, and up very steep, sandy lane,
and then for about half mile over; but
such directions are tiresome enough, when
one is obliged to listen to them to learn
ones own way-here, they would be even
more so. Besides, / am not sure the Earl
attended to the poor woman, for he lost
his way. He walked on, wrapped in his
own melancholy thoughts, but soothed, in
every sense, by the cool fresh air, the
gurgling flow Of the river, and all those
distant sounds which, in the quiet fields,
on a fair calm evening, fall so sweetly in
distinct upon the ear. But the sun had
set before the wanderer awoke to the re-
collection.of the purpose before him. He
locked around him; he saw green and
sloping hills, many stately trees, and the
same calm river flowing gently below, but
no house. AT last, where the leafy shade
was deepest, he discovered a pile Of old,
quaintly-shaped chimneys, opposed against
the glowing sky. He had not proceeded
far in the direction of the farmhouse,
which now plainly appeared among the
trees, when a light step seemed to ap-
proach him. and then stopped suddenly
and he heard the sound of unrestrained
weeping. A hazel copse separated him
from the meadow whence the sound pro-
ceeded; but, on peeping through little
opening, he saw that young girl was sit
ting on the bank of the meadow on the
other side. For little while she con-
tinued weeping-only for little while
then clasping her hands together, she
raised her head, and her whole heart
seemed to look up to heaven in her meek
and steadfast gaze.
Still she sat there, almost without stir
ring, except that, once or twice, she looked
down upon the green grass, and her lfanc
dropped, half forgetfully and half play
fully, among the flowers that grew in wilc
luxuriance beside her, as if she was pleaseC
with, but scarcely knew she noticed them
just then the rich song of the nightingale
burst upon the stiffness of the evening
and stole away her ear; and though he
thoughts seemed yet to linger on abou
the subject which made her weep, she lis
tened till at last she smiled-and so, min
ute after minute passed away, and g,aduall,
q she furgou al 'her-trou5fs, aid Vie AL.
expression on her face was innocent glad
ness.
Let no one suppose that, in this fai
country girl, we have met with any maidel
of gentle birth, brought down to a loy
estate by the hard uses of adversely; no
any wonder of her native village, gifte,
with talents of the highest order. Oh
no Lucy was none of these. What wa
she A fair and happy maiden of 10y
! parents be low birth of no accomplish
ments or education beyond reading and
let me remember-yes, she could write
She read well, for her voice was full q
natural melody and practice, and genuin
feeling, and, above all, piety, had mad
her very perfect
Lucy's features were not beautiful; bu
their modest, innocent expression, wa
better than mere beauty. Her hands wer
not the whitest in the world though del
cately, nay exquisitely shaped their palm
might have been softer-but, if it migl
, have been said of her. as of the fair an
: happy milkmaid, "she makes her han
, hard with labor" it might have been we
added, "and her heart soft with pity;
: for they who knew her say she was tn
:. kindest creature that ever lived, and spea
oe , eno,+lo ,rd x,,;nn,po. oou,faouSnacc ,
manner that gave charm to every loo
3 and every word she uttered. But althoug
: she was one of natures own sweet gentl
" women, and unaffectedly modest and piou
! she was only poor uneducated counti
: girl. There was one, however, who soc
! began to find new hope-new life, I migl
= almost say-in the society of Lucy; OF
= = who, in spite of all the pride or aristo
;. ;. racy of his habits, and his prejudice
~ began to feel it privilege to be addresst
J as familiar friend by the pure-minde
: maiden-who felt, in his inmost heart, IL
!, influence of her modest, cheerful piet
:, and paid her, from his heart, the homat
y of respect and love that was the sweet
! from being half made up of gratitude
h He could not help smiling, when
n made his proposals, in due form, to Il
/. relations of his sweet Lucy; for they d
i not choose to have their child throw
!. away upon one who, for aught they kne
to the contrary, might be little better thi
IS beggar, or sort of (they did not qui
,e say the word) "vagabond." They doubte
le and questioned, and wayered, and que
d toned him again, till the Earl began
q feel uncomfortable, and to stammer, al
d blush; and thus, in fact, to make the
a really suspicious he had quite forg'
,e ten to provide against this most probat
m issue of his suit to them.
IN g You see, said an old uncle, at la
Of who was the head of the family, and t
ct best spokesman, g you may be very go
of sort of young man, and have nothi
e to say against you but you are, or at LEI
er have been, till now, when you are plu'
on ing up bit, poor, sickly, idle body; a
is suppose you fall i'll, or take to- no kind
tle employ, and having nothing coming in
of your own-why, Lucy's fifty dollars, a
4 II. L l,.x IA.