The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-26

take them from me-
Aunt Fannie smiled a quiet kind of
smile, and | went on.
ooh, auntie, how many a June bug
I've caught with its silken coat of green
and gold, and its slender, graceful legs,
one of which I always selected, with
much care and precision, to tie with Il
piece of gay colored yarn that had sly
ly stolen from your work basket. Then
I'd listen, enchanted with its pretty buzz,
buzzing, as wondered if there was ever
anything half so musical, How often
I've seen you seize my dear, radiant
hued darlings, and with your relentless
scissors cut the string that held them,
and then, the impudent, ungrateful June
bug would dash gaily out ofthe window
with what, sounded to me like glad
laugh of triumph. Then, auntie, I'd go
| out into the garden and peep cautiously
| round to spy another. Sometimes I'D
| find one, resting in fancied security on a
leaf or flower; and I'd close my hands
triumphantly overit, while the poor bug
would spring wildly against its prison
walls, with the horrible realization that
it had been caught nappingw
looked up at my aunt. The smile
had died out from her face, and she was
knitting with that intent expression on
her face which convinced me thatmy in
teresting "reminiscences ofJune bugs had
been lost to her.
The stately old clock commenced a
little preparatory whir-r, and then one,
two, three, four, five, six, seven, chimed
out.
cts a wonder father don't come"
said Aunt Fannie. She always called
him father, though she had never been
blessed with children to learn the en-
dearing name.
l felt the temporary allayed nervous
ness returning with renewed vigor, and
/ got up and walked the floor, asking
| every five minutes some invisible ora
Gle:
"Why don't he come ~
| The little tea-table was set; the tall
candle standing in stately whiteness in
the middle of the table, looking down in
seeming disdain on the bright brass cam
dlestick that upheld it, while the candle
stick seemed to smile and say; "Poor
foolish thing! your glory lasts but a sim
gle night, while I endure for yearsw
l thought of all this while / placed a
| chair for Aunt Fannie and one for Uncle
Dick, and one very near the candle for
myself. Then snuffed the candle for
| the fortieth time, and was Just starting
for the front door, when heard it open.
/ clenched my hands tight together, and
waited breathless. Uncle Dick opened
the door, looked at me a moment, he
held up a letter, and said teasingly:
"Who bids?''
ooh, Uncle Dick, please give it to
| me!' said, standing on tip-toe, to
reach his uplifted hand.
How eagerly my trembling fingers
broke the seal! Only two lines met my
ssHencetortA ace are uougM to each
Other. No explanation IS necessary.
"WESToN.'
gave one wild imploring glance in
Uncle Dicks face, as iii he conld save me
rom the crushing woe that was gather
ing aroundme. He smiled, unconscious
ed rending my heart in twain, sank at
his feet, and memory slept for season.
| The next l remember is waking, as if
from Il dream, and finding myself in my
own little room.
The freight burned in Il quiet. SUBJ
dued kind of way, SO different from tn
old flashing, sparkling, dancing way it
used to burn.
| lay very still and quiet wondering
what it all meant. Slowly came the
memory back to me, and l wondered
how could ever have forgotten it for
Onemoment and i'll could ever, waking
or sleeping, forget it again. 1t seemed
old as eternity and yet feltthat it would
beeverpresentW with me. Remembrance
laughed mockingly at the idea of letting
me forget it. Slowly l came back to
health, and tried to take up the burden
of existence with patient resignation.
God was merciful to me, and when l
read the marriage of Weston Wilcox and
Mabel Wayne, prayed Heaven to for
give them, and help me to cherish no
| bitterness toward them.
"Oh, Weston! life is SO short, death is
so certain!'
The words came out with mourn of
| anguish, as Mabel Wilcox held her hand
out with az imploring gesture.
"Mabel, my wife, would that l could
probing your life, but l cannot, and you
must be resigned to Gods WILL" said
Weston Wilcox, soothingly.
The dying woman half raised herself
as she shrieked,
"Weston, Weston, say that you love
me say that you will not hate me when
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