St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-02-11

. 's ss.''A'%5 - +" - 'f*f'- -.-., + -
:, j.. .-..-3 ~; .4:4.t:..s -
tiful avenus to Oor>ton Hall, gliding fl,e
rugged branches aud turning into pendant
emeralds thA leaves of the branches which
met across the wide carriage road; met
and interleaved in a heightened archway
that might well have suggested the rich in
tricacies Of cathedral aisle in the proud
est day of Gothic architecture. The viii
lage bells pealed amain, horses pranced,
aags waved. the children .dft ,::fftAp parish
schools strewed the gaudy flowers Of the
early autumn; and MS the carriage Of the
new lord of the manor rolled between the
vivid lodge to the gray old Hall, . quaint,
irregular structure of Elizabe,h's 5 or James
day, with tame. peAcock summing himself
on the stone balustrade, large old English
spaniel oasking on the steps, and the ten
ants in their holiday; apparel grouped round
the porch, an artist, whether painter or po
ct, might have enyied the accident which
produced an arrangement so felicitously
picturesque "
T. Something Of this feeling, however, un-
perceived of'Anguessed by herself, mingled
with the nat!1ra! emotions of curiosity and
interest in Our friend Margaret's bosom, as,
standing humbly apar, between her two ell
der children, with her infant in her arms.
under large sycamore, she gazed around
upon the scene, and perceived. gaily adorn-
ed, ia the extreme country fashion, the RI
val candidate for her beloved cottage-the
buxom landlady of TIE Red Lion, surround
ed by the unfriendly kindred of her late
husband. Neither Margaret ntf her Will
liam had ever applied for assistance to
these peoples and vet she knew instinct
lively that some from pride and some from,
shame felt the silent reproach of her unas
sisted poverty and her blameless life-that
all wished her absence, and would contrib-
ute, as far as in them lay, TO turn her. from
her homei and, .ip spite. e.ef the. earvSirag-
ing influence of her lately known kins-
mans cheering forebodings, her heart sunk
": thin her as the door of the e-cottage was
thrown open. An elderly gentleman, very
neatly dressed, but pallid, emaciated and
lame. was assisted BY his servants up the
two low steps that led to the porch Hav-
ing ascended them with some difficulty,
he turned around, took off his hat, bo wed
with a gracious smile 10 the assembly.
and then aaused. rs if in search Of some
one whom he expected to see.
The effect Of this appari,ion was a sta,t
Of surprise and horror 10 the portly land
lady, seldom equalled on the. stage or off,
her brother the haberdasher; who had just
ficurished his hat preparatory to leading
| the general cheer, let it fall in dismay,
looking the .,.coFses WHICH. his habitual n.y.
pocrisy scarce repres5ed cousin Anthony,
| the rich, miserable raiser, smothered a
groan; and Nicholas Hume, in spite of hi:
consummate impudence, fairly stole away.
What, in the meanwhile, did our friend.
in their humble nook under the sycamore
Little Michael danced for joy. Ami,
clapped her hands, and Ioor Margaret, fo,
burst into tears; this time however, O.
unmingled joy 3: Xxx s...
Mrs. Leslie! Margaret, my dear neice {!
cried Michael, Tor, as We may now call him
Mr. Norris,9 advancing to meet her; :te
you alone, Of all my relations now living
do owe any account Of my motives 70,
coming among you as have done to day
With the rest Of my kindred have don,
forever. But I Also have some explanation
to my tenants and future neighbors. .Yra
all know that left England, about fiftJ
years ago, poor and friendless lad. re
turned, nearly. thirty years afterwarA, viii
riches honestly 65,a,ned, the happy hus
band Of q wealthy Ind excellent woman
and the father Of four hopeful .ehitdren.: +; i
came to Corston, found:my relations, som,
indigcnts some comfortably situated, die
what could among them and went back t,
Jamaica, with the T{eN,. at some future da,
of placing my sons 81 the head of my plant
alton in that Island, and coming home I,
lie in my native village. A hurricane pass
ed over the estate where l lived, destroy
ing my dwelling, my wife, my children
and almost myself
!: :Eor many years Twas dead to the world
but cary had been taken of the llrge prop
erty tEat remained to me, and when, By
Gods mercy, l Was restored to health, men
tai and bodily, found myself rich indeed
SO far as money was concerned, richer tha,
ever: but in The blessed charitisd!cf life
most poor-a childles-. desolate, bsreave<
old man. knew that report had gon,
abroad that was ruined by the hurricane
and resolved to prove the relations hsssI
left in England: by coming among them i
seeming poverty. have done 80, and tn,
experiment has answered we'll. Add now
my dearest :neicc, need not tell you tha
the cottage is yours; but for the secont
time to-day; l. throw myself upon you
charity You will not abandon ne becaus,
I happen to. be ,ich! :Ypu will never hay,
the heart Ii d6 SC !. ou 4easetnber YOU
promise that xe' should I've together; 8,
come with these dear children 10 brighte,
aud gladden. the old ,1all.'' ,.-
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