Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-05-18
Ghoite Mistellang.
TEE DOUBLE SACRIFICE.
BY MAGGIE HAMMOND.

A low. brown farm house, encirrlc3 on
one side by bills, dark ana lefty, where
forests waN ed their leaiy tops, ard seemed
to Woo the snnbeau's on the ether side,
rich meadows bus.oniing with clover, gold
EN- wi , Grain, which spread atar off to
river, rolling deep and rapid beyond
A pbce beautiful beyond DESERT ivtion
warmed into loyeliuess by the skill Of the
great Artist, who blended all tints and
shades in periet whole The house itself
could not boast any architectural beauty
it was only low rooted old farm house,
with a cooi piazza extending across the
front, which roses aud honey suckles, deck.
ed with fragrance and lovoiness. Yet there
was an air of comfort pervaling every nook
and corner, aud it seemed 10 he neilowed
into the surrounding landscape Out in
the old yard with it prim rows ni box,
vi6lats. and red blooming roenias, wo-
man cane ZIP the walk, bearing ia her
hsAJs pals of white, loaming milk, he
irptH creaming over the surface a woman
destitute Of grace and beauty, at whose face
a second glance would not have been given
by casual observer Yet close scrutiny
would have shown a kindly look in the
honest gray eyes--a Geniui expression on
the faded features Reaching the farm
house dior, she set-the pals down on the
step, and looked over the scene before her.
The setting sun was Illuminating the land
scape with richest tints, turning emerald to
gold, and bright Ming he river until 1t seem
ed as if a rainbow. waarcd with it's home
in the heavens had sunk TO rest anon its
bosom. Many hGed clouds were piled up
III the ky, wherein the eye Of fancy aould
trace palaces Of pearl, mountsns of gold,
aud streets Of iasper. faint pink tinscs
blending with sl and broad crimson s'reak,
parting tn show riffs of azure blue. 1t was
gorgeous sunset, and she looked at it
absorbcdly, the mellow light Frightening
her worn features and silver threaded hair.
just then the gate was slung open a
merry whistle echoed on her ear, and she
turned to look a, her boys coming up the
path. Her boys, sturdy of limb, frank and
handsome, with tbeir flashed cheeks and
masses of dark hair, which clustered in
damp curls around their brows, from which
they had taken their broad straw bats that
the evening breeze m eht cool them. Her
boys, the only ones Jeff from large family
which had clustered around the old hearth
stone, and OF which one after another had
dropped beneath The shafts Of the relentless
destroyer and gene down into the valley OF
the shadow, and all that told the tale OF
their lie was the grass covered niiiocks IN
the rural graveyard Iheie Two alone were
lett of all the children God had given her.
Noble boys, honest, truthful, and manly, >
the pride OF her heart, 10 wonder hsr diln
eyes ngntea u. ana tide oil H3thsfiy love
transfigured the lineameptss OF her face. >.
David and Benjamin, she could not
have told winch was the dearest, as they
stood ny hei IN tue msi'p" sual'gnG' lapsh-
ing and talking 10 boyish glee. Her hus-
band, Mr. Holmes, came up the path last,
leaning on his cane, Looking absentiy over
the flowers and shruss; a cold reticent
man, yet wlthal religious and generous,
albeit the tlncture OF Pur'tanism 10 hls
manner prevented others from conyerfing
freely with him. or OF giving him outspokeh
love and sympathy, q
Mrs: Holmes had always looked UP to
him with an uneasy, sort OF reverence nlpg
led with her wiiey love and duty. In the
long ago, she had learned TO submit to his
Wishes, to repress toward him all outward
! damOnStfari rions OF affection, aud as her re-