Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-17

group of seven, and was myself wsnderer In
the world--an aspirant after honor and station.
Five long years had passed into eternity, and
had wandered far over the world-had grown
to manhood-but still in my distant home had
heard nothing from my old schoo.mste,
II was bright May morning as when Harry
Watson left his native place, that the same old
village coach came ratteling up the road. Il
stopped in front of the residence of widow
Watson and a gay dressed gentleman, perhaps
some etwo-and-twenty years old, decended from
1t. His heavy moustache gave him foreign
appearance, yet he was remarkably hondsome.
He knocked at the humble door,, and an old
man of years and wrinkles opened and bade him
enter.
believe you do not recollect me sir.
The old man gazed for moment upon the
stranger-it was but for a moment, for he tot
tered toward him, grasped him warmly by the
hand, and said:
Why, Harry Watson, is It you2 How glad
am to see you. We thought you were dead
we had heard nothing from you since you bid
adieu to old Greenvilletown. ,vsg
That is strange, for have written home and
supposed you had all departed; for never re.
csived an answer.
That is strange, muttered old George Clark,
the village school master, for he indeed it Was,
and the mysterious stranger was none other
than Harry Watson himself .t
But my mother, where Is she2 anxiously in-
quired Henry.
The old mans head fell upon his breast---a
tear fell from his eye, and he spoke not.
Speak, my dear old friend, where is my moth
err
fear to tell you, faltered the old mau. Pre-
pare yourself, my noble boy, for the worst.
And then pointing with his long bony fingers
through the open easement, he whispered ia.o
Harry'a ear
She lies in you graveyard!
Dead
She is no more, Harry.
And Harry wept--wept that his long antici-
pated ioy-the happy moment when he should
meet his dear old mother again, had also van
ished -1 o
But Clara--what Of herl
A smile played around the old mans coun-
tenance.
She lives-and lives for Harry Watson!
Thank God! that my Clara is yet alive.
Happy was the meeting of Harry and his
loved Clara and in his joy he almost forgot the
grief the loss of mis- mother had occasioned.
Soon 1t was sounded through the village that
Harry had returned, and many we're the smiles
and greetings Of his old friends.
But what change had come over the scenes
Of other days! His associates had all, like
himself, bid adieu to the haunts of their young
ambition, and were widely scattered over the
world. Old George Clark was no longer the
village hoOlmaster-another had come to fill
his place, aud others occupied those old time
worn benches. The ecenes OF boyhood had
| vanished d-Time had stamped visible muta-
bility upon the countenances of his frenda-
I.sl ~ A. L. .-f Il III
sllin his mother-had faded the last traces Of
childhood from the brows of his youthful c1m
panions-and had made his Clara blooming
maid of eighteen-a woman!
Amidst il all he half forgot his disappoint-
| ments, and Was. very happy-happy once more
| to tread upon the soil that gave him birth
| happy to view the faded haunts where ho had
passed the most blissful hours of his life-hap-
| py once more to breathe the tales OF love into
the ears of his Clara. ..s ..-.- ...
shall never forget with what rapture | re-
csived the fret letter from Harry after his re-
turn, followed in few weeks by another with
au enclosed note containing an invitation TO at.
tend his wedding for he aad Clara were about
| to become one. u agsi
| Ii was a lovely summer evening in the latter
past of June, that stood for the fest time since
| left, in my native village. More than wan
ton animation seemed to be visible through the
vlllage-for heard music from lutes, and sOngs
from fair ones coming from gay dressed groups,
vending theif way toward the mansion OF Far
mer Gray. Harry and Clara were to be uuit ed
in the sacred bonds of ms!rimony that very
evening.
There was happy group assembled at old
Farmer Grsy's when | arrived, and glorious
welcome did | receive from my old friends
gathered there.
see you have taken good care Of Clara,
Dave, said Harry.
Yes, Harry, aud now am happy to be eua-
bled to witness union that will make sun of
bliss for you both, and light lifss dark pat
with beams OF happiness, and make fragrant
its thorny labyrnths with blushing rosss
Roses, did you say7 Do you remember that
rosebud Clara gave me when left the vii
lage.
Yes, but what OF it7
l have preserved il as sweet memento of
her, and have it yet; aud then fairy drew firth
from the leaves OF an old portfolio the very
identical rosebud.
And see heie-I have its image too.
And sure enough, Harry had it beautifully
paiptediand portrayed-the very image OF the
rosebud, looking for all tae world like 1t did
on the moraing when we parted.
Harry and Clara we're united. Years have
sped away since then--old farmer Gray ia dead
and Harry and Clara reside upon tie farm, i,
which, together with all his property, va, be-
slowed upon him at his decease.
| Old George Clark, too, is dead. The old
village school house is deserted, and new one
has been erected at small distance from the
old site, 10 its stead.
Harry Watson is the father of several inter :
esting children, and Clara is yet beautiful as
ever, as happy as pure and unsullied love can
make her. Harry is pursuing his favorile avo-
cation, and he has already become celebrated
as an artist and painter, and bids fair 60 stand
at the very head OF his profession; tor who is
there that has not heard of Harry Watson, the Q