, 1864-05-01

vent fJr horse. I was the only one Of the |
But had so much to think Of, was 10 happs |
thinking l wnehome again and that everything |
you'd be right that Inever minded being alone
'Paseing by the graveyard made me remem-
aa PEI ny & dssnm: "J1seph" said TO ;; mTsen. ~
to satisfy n5eelfI dare do it. felt noways |
0gttated until I found, that, on account Of It's H
being 60 dark, was stumbling just asl had /
dreamed. I KEPT on, however; for, BY going
When Lgot behind the meeting house mar
" fell over q heap Of earth. Ny fall started |
few stones, and I could hear them drop,
Then my courage LETT me and shook with |
fear. Ihardly had strength to reach the road |
That was the first timeit occursd to me that
might not find all as left them.
r AS I came to dwelling houses, however, I
grew. calm again, and even smiled at my
1oolIshness,-or tried to. =. = :.
Mr. Nuthaniel's house came before ours.
saw there was q II hit in the kitchen, md step
ped softly through the backyard, thinking
small aud high. The curtains we're made Of
house paper. One tf them WIS not quite let
down. 11coked m underneath It, and saw two
old women sitting BY the fire. Something to
eat was set on table, and the teapot WIS On
tie hesrth. one stick WIS broken in two.
The smoking brands stood up in the corners
There was just flicker flame In the candle
stick. It went cut while was looking. T..
saw that the old women wera DOING. 1open-
ed The outside-door softly, and stood In the
one. In my agitation forgot there Was step
up, ond 50 stumbled forward into the room-
They both started to their feet, holding on BY
the pommels Of the chairs. They were fright
cnea:
out. -
awatehing with the dcadl' whispered one
Of them. = >
"Who?''
They looked At each other: they knew me
tlen.
Irenembcr their eyes turning towards the
front room door, Of placing ny hand On the
.frunt-windo~s, Of a coffin resting on the
white cloth, Of people crowdlng about me-.
| nothing morc that night, Nothing distinctly
for weeks and months Some confused idea
/ snvc OF being led about at q funeral, Of be-
| Ing told must sit with the mourners, Of the
beare1s taking Of their hats, Of being held
back from the grave. Buta black cloud rests
| over I'LL. 7 cannot pierce It. have no wish
to. l can't even tell whether really took
her edid hand in mine, and bid her goodbye,
orwhether that was one Of The terrible dreams
ut last I refused to go to bed, but walked all
! night In the fields and woods
believe that insane people always know
the feelings and the plans OF those about
them. I knew they wezc thinking, Of taking
ne TO the asylum. I knew, too, IL, that ! n US
they tried to keep 1t from me-. read In their
faces,-stJamie got fever that wet night at
the shore; but don't tell Joseph" -
As look beck upon that long gloom, Q
rhadowy remembrance comes to me Of stand
Ing In the doorway Of o darkened chamber:
A minister In white bands stood at the foot
of the bed, performing the marriage cere-
mony. l remember Jamie's paleness, and
the heavenly look In Mary q face, as she stood
ut the bedside, holding his right hand IN hers.
Mother passed her hand over my head. aud
whispered to me that Mary wanted to take
One Of my fancles WAS that dark bird
like yulture, constantly pursued me- Al
cay was trying to escape him, aud au th|
while slept he was at my pillow.
AsI came to myself found this to he
form given by my excited Imagination to
dirk thought which would give me no rest
It wac the idea that my conduct had been tn
means Of fMargaIet's death. never daret
question. They said 1t WAS fever,-tnat 9th
ess died Of the same. II could but hav'
more, The same old look and smile This Wa.
an ever present thought.
But did afterwards. I told her every
thing. She knows my folly and my grief
1t Was in the night time. was walking
through the woods, On the road TO swamsep!
Vill'gc. Margaret walked beside me- for I
long way. just before she left me, sh'
abo you hear the surf on the beachp'
said, Yes, hear the surf"
:"And what Is It sayings' ,..-
I listened moment, then answered.
ait says, Woei woei .Woep"
See said, Listen again..
While was listening, she disappeared
But q moment afterwards I heard vofc
Speaking in the midst Of the surfs roaring
! II was Just as plain and distinct US the minis
tzsre tsts fio% nnaa1, the pulpit It said Endure
might think that all this, even my scc,n
Margaret, was only creation Of my disorder
ed mind, were It not for something happen
! afterwards which proved itseE.
! One evening, about. twilight, walke
through the graveyard, and stood leaniD
!, size wss coming, for. I heard the ringiD
sound in the alr which always came be1or
her. A moment after, she stood beside mi
, She placed her hand On my heart, aud sa1d
, "Joseph, all is right hcre,'-then upon m
forehead, and said, "But here all
! Then eho told me there was q ship ready
9 sail from Boston, 1nd that must 70 in he
I said it troubled her that I wasted my life q
I She gave me the name Of the ship and Of Il
I captain, and told me when to 60 ;. -,
y did e1acty as she said. And It all can
!, back and exclaimed.-
: "Whnt Gent Jou here !"
~ said, IAN angel." - -. y
!. "And m angel told me you were coming,
$ Active work saved me. For years new
dared resi-. shrank back from 1elsuI
: lour as from q dark clasm.
= The greater part Of my lite has been passe
upon the sea. As approached middle ag
people would joke me upon my single LII
= they struck, and could never. tell then
! Beautiful girls were pointed ont to me-
" could not see them. Masgaret's face alwa,
= came between them.
!. This b1ntcsing single man is very con
mon. often wonder that people dare do |
y pointment he may be mourning overs Is
g anything to laugh about, that he has n.
= body to love hin1,-nohody be may cali hi
own,-no LomeY Sealed In your Pleasa,
T 1amijy.circle, the bright faces about him f1t
and he secs .e onIy Ey1so yislon OF win
! hare feeling. No mother, weeping over Il
q coffin Of her child, dreams that " have pi1
q and sorrow In our hearts for her.
9 Thus the world shuts us out from au syI
. p'thy with its Joys or affections. But u
e world does not know eserythIng,--least
: : n!l what Is passing In the heart Of IN o.
: bachelor.
1 Jamie and Mary azc old folks, now. +
= ncverwent to sea after his marriage. Faith
!. set him up in store. l should mako 1t n
:, place, and I am always better away fro
= there.
= Mrs. Maybe was right about my notfci1
! Children. like 10 sit on the stone wall III
talk with them. No face comes betwe.
;. thelrs md 1nine-unless It's the little girl
$n hH1,tnr
family. His grand children call me CAPITA
Joseph. bumor them almost as much
J be does: When hucklebcrries come, th
10 wonder why won't let them take TINT lit
+. rough. looking basket that hangs over t
. looEing-g1ass. T 1s the one Margaret mn
y that night In the hut on The Mountain
=