The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-10
THE THREE ROSES.

from mass OF flo aers like toy-house in the
centre OF a bouquet. The little hamlet In the
vicinity seemed built up at random, within
garden. Even the old church, perched high up
on the hills, was surrounded with towering
shrubs. 1t was kindly Deighborhoord, and all
the residents visited my mother on the spot.
Out of their families came forth my three es 2e-
cial playiellows, Rose Sebille, Rose Grahame,
and Rose Fonneresu. AS write their names,
they steal, with my departed youth, like spirits
to my side. Soon hear their gay singing and
the little feet that never walked, except TO
church, pattering and dancing up the garden
ways.
/, Frank. was the only representative of NV
sex among this merry band, was respected as a
great authority and inialllble reference, and hal
my own way IN everything. Our tayorIte walk
was TO the cemetery, than which no palace
garden was ever richer in sweet flo wers. Long
before we approached Its sacred precincts the
! air was laden with their fragrance. There was
4 nothing melancholy to us in that delightful
garden OF rest. We had never seen death. We
only felt we should be quiet, and not noisy and
playful there, as in the presence OF something
holy. IL was kind of ch urcn to US, and while
we reVerenced 1t as much, l am afraid we
enjoyed It more
Sometimes we would come suddenly upon
black PROSTATE figures, still and quiet like
everything around; and the graves at whicn
we had noticed these mute mourners had an
especial interest. tor the time.
Our French nurse, however introduced us
to tomb that had melancholy charm beyond
all others. Until we came no Hover or garland
had ever been placed upon 1T. Only solitary
willow sapng had been planted there, ard
that had died at once. There was name,
known to the world, and even to us; a date,
and deeply cut, in larger letters, the single
word "Proscrlt.n
remember that we all stood weeping by his
grave, as the nurse related to us the patriots
story. All that summer we laid fresh garlands
on his tomb, and whether he knew 1t or not,
never failed 10 wave an adieu to him as we lett
the gates
| That bright summer passed but too quickly
away. We were often on the lake, sailing past
ChilloD. our great delight being to lraternlze,
by friendly signs, with the prisoners therein
confined. There was something pleasantly
mysterious III their dark figures, half concealed
behind the iron bars. Once we had great
alarm.
In apparent answer to our amicable demon
STATIONS, formidable looking instrument was
protrudel from the barred easement. Were
they going 10 fire upon us ? No. Our boatman
fastened to assure us it was only tshlng-rod,
the use OF Whcn was permitted by paternal
Government to pass away the time. But at no
time did ever observe trout ascending to
/ that lofty fishing bank.
Thus feeling, as | am sure we did, the beauty
and grandeur OF the scenes surrounding us,
I though without any artistic appreciation OF
4 them. we while away that happy summer until
a certain CrisDness and 1lppanCy in the breeze
4 that came from the neIghborng hills, reminded
us thai summer delights were over and autumn
begun.
My mother prolonged her stay as much as
possible; but one morning, behold our rose
trees bending under pule white robes of snow
This hint not to ne mistaken. In three
! days we were to go. We did what we could.
We snllenly made snow man, and so success
fully that We deemed him worthy OF the name OF
4 William Tell, and lett him there, gazing with
his black pebble eyes towards the crags and
peaks he loved so well.
Il For ourselves, we were to 90 to a spot where
snow was never seen, and there was sunshine
4 for my mother the whole winter long. Our last
Il days at Clarens we're somewhat sad. had to
separate from my playello VS., Tor my suggestion
II to take the three Roses with us was overruled
= by the respective parents OF these howers, as
% we'll as my own. We made a last pilgrimage
together to the grave OF the "Proscrt," and
y deposited thereon q wreath OF evergreeus of
prodig,ous size, while the three and my
little sister, Rose Mary (who was, however,
too small TO be regarded as a regular ROse),
# mingled their tears, and those who we're TO re-
main pledged themselves 10 remember the
II "Proscrit" Tor our sake, as well as his own;
Fl With this unselhsh bond we parted, crying IL
will confess it) TIL we could cry no more, and
u OF the many butter partlngs since l can recall
\ but one as bitter.
The young doctor of the village who had at
tended my mother, and often took me as his
VI companion in his long professional drives or
n walks among the hills. lie was full OF lie, as
s. merry as boy, ana glad of any excuse to run
races and Jump ditcnes with me.
| cOrresponded with hIm after our separa-
|# non, AZ 1rSL IN rOunu JeAI anu u SUCCESSION Ol
= abrupt sentences, always ending with my
Fl love to the Roses" AS time went on l had
more subjects oil interest to dilate uoon. His
replies bad greaT charm for me, and, when
8 my mother died, his was the one letter that
4 broke the dull apathy of griet into which
a had fallen, and taught me a healthier sorrow.
''You ale ill.," he said IN his last letter; 81
81 believe l can cure you. Leave London to-
= morrow, and, accidents apart, be with me on
Thursday"
! / obeyed; and thus, after an interval of Just
twenty wears, returned TO Clarens.
| found my excellent friend utter than could
have imagined. Friends so often omit to men
"A tion the personal changes that are taxing place
in them, and pno osraphs were at this time un
Unknown. HIS hair was curiously streaked witt
~ white as ii he mad dyed 1T with an unsteadJ
hand, but there was the same Kind beaming
face, and the grasp of MS hand was cordial
81 almost to pain. He had loved my mother, anC
our first talk was all OF her. lnsensblY VIZ
glded INTO other topics-old scenes and adven
tures-untl at last, / inquired for "the Roses
"They are here-all here" he answered
''Rose Scbile, Rose Fonnereau, and-and RosC
Grahame; but" he added graVely, I'VE will visi
her last.n
Cony, looking on the olue lake, and glancln!
every instant towards chalet halt-buried ii
trees and flowers and lraught with so many
sweet and sacred recollection, l learned tht
story OF the hrst of my three bright roses, Kos
Fonnereau.
We could discern, in the twilight, grand OLE
chateau browning down upon uS from an auJa
cent hill, though, to be literally correct, l
+ presently began to shine and glisten in th
rising moonlight, as only Swiss chateau can
/ knew it well, OF COurse-kneW It's teuda
history, its secret crypts, its torture tower. Ii
dunOeona IL had been. in nv timP. the nara