Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-05


thought of this. do not love you. do
not seem to know my own heart as yet"
Enough, Florence" he replied, with
calm, sorrowful dignity. "Ah, child, had
yon known it, you would never have trtled
with my heart as you have done" .........
A strong, yet not unkindly grasp, was
laid upon his shoulder.
Right, Owen" said my father, who had
entered unobserved-'sh is child. Think
no more of this weakness, John, my good
fellow. Had it been otherwise, | scarcely
could have given my daughter to man,
however estimable, who has no home to
offer her. Flory, shake hands with Mr..
Owen, and go to your room" ....
John left EldOun the next morning. l
did not see him again.
"Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for
thou knowest not what day may bring
forth" Who has not felt the truth OF these
inspired words? Within one short, year
after the events above narrated, my father
was aruined man. The failure OF bank,
wherein all his funds had for years been
deposited, reduced us at once from de-
gree of comparative aflluence to the verge
of necessity. My fathers temperament
was not well calculated to withstand these
reverses he was seiZel with a kind OF
mental paralysis which rendered him total
ly unable to pursue his calling as a physi-
clan; and in this extremity we judged it the
wisest course to comply with the urgent
entreaty of sister OF his, long settled in
Australia, that we would go out, and try
our fortune in new world; hoping that
the voyage might also be beneficial in re-
storing my dear fathers mind to its wonted
healthy tone. My mothers family proyid-
ed the necessary funds for our passage and
nI,rin al, IL tlt
q be confessed, for few and far between are
the 'brothers born for adversity !" and it
was matter of great thankfulness to my
mother and myself that our sweet Alice
was exempted from our trials, being the
happy little wife of Wilfred Anderson, now
established as Junior partner in firm of emf
nent solicitors IN the neighbOring county
town, of which his father was the head.
Neverthelessi it was with aheavy heart that !
prepared to quit EldOun, the scene of all
my past happy life 4; and when the last
hustle aud excitement OF packing were
over, when we turned away for the last
time from the door OF that house we had
all our lives called "hOme," and sought
shelter under the roof of kind friend, who
had urged us to spend our last remaining
days in England with her, my fortitude
gave way, and, like the patriarch of old,
sought where to weep, and entered into
my chamber, and wept there"
was recalled to myself by message
requesting my presence down stairs
Hastily drying my tears, l obeyed the sum
mons, and descended to the parlor. Ny
parents were both there, and with them a
gentleman, whom, in the darkening gloom
failed to recognize-ohly for an instant
however. One clasp of that friendly hand
and my heart sprang up, an unspoken well
come to John Owen.
L 1t needed not many preliminary words t
explain to me the object OF his coming
The news Of my fathers trouble had reach
ed him in distant part OF England, wher
he had, through the influence of Wntred'
father, obtained a curacy, on the latter
quitting Cambridge. Full of sympath,
for our misfOrtunes, he had lost no time il
fastening to EldOun, to pTOffer consolation
aud advice, and to implore me once more
true and constant heart Ito share his lot
now more prosperous than my own. A
| yet, he was ignorant of our intended emf
| grafton.
1T cannot be, john" answered, tryin
to speak firmly. God bless you for you
generous offer; but it cannot be! My plac
is with my hOnored parents, now; and
| could never bear to see them set sail TO
that distant land alone"
"But must they go?" asked poor John
entreatingly. Gan nothing be done fo
them here" ..
mo, my good friend" replied m
mother, steadfastly. "All is arranged now
our passage is taken, aud we must folON
the destiny which Is leading us on. Blu
Flory, my poor child" she added, regret
fully, IL grieve to stand in the way of he
prospect of happiness. Perhaps eve
| now" - .. M.
Mother" interrupted, laying my han
upon her arm, "dO not try to shake IN
resolution. must go with you and papS
And believe me, Mr.. Owen, that is now IN
true and only reason for turning deaf ca
to your pleadings. | am wiser, if saddle
than was year ago."
is it indeed SOP" said John. "Do yo
love me at last, my Florence? Then ca
bear all, even this bitter disappointment
and believe me, my darling, that the yer
act which destroys my hopes raises yo
higher than ever in my estimation. Far,
well, Florence! May heaven bless yol
good work, and prosper you alln
He turned to my father aud mother an
warmly shook their hands. Then he pause
before leaving the room.
zone kiss, Florence" said he; "it is Il
last time" s. Fl. .....N
What could do but yield? For one il
slant he strained me TO his heart-the ne,
he had left me, and the wind moaned sad
round the gables, and the night fell dark
round.
1t was a glorious evening in July; s
around spoke peace to the tried and tirt
spirit, and filled it with the ineffable cal
which sometimes comes through the med
um of quiet and beautiful scenery to d
heart which, amid all its worldly cares, h
not lost the freshness of its love for no
nature. Tears rose unbidden to my eyes
| gazed on the dreamy loveliness of q
landscape which lay before me, bathed
the golden light OF sunset-tears whi,
were not all sorrowful; and memories
the old dear days at Eldoun for time di
PEELED the recollection of many heavy al
scathing trial which had come to me du
ing the last seven years. All me! | W
: only iive-and-twenty, yet my yOuth-tir
J seemed very far away; so much had cor
) and gone in that seven years. The lirst lol
voyage; the Australian experiences, viii
had promised brightly at first, until M
lignant fever swept away my father, au
: and uncle In a few days; the sorrowt
7 leaving of our dead in their lonely buri
I places in the bush; aud the subsequent r
turn of my widowed mother and myself
second Naomi and Ruth--tO the old cou
. try, still called home, though Offering nc
: no certain home to either of us-all Il
+ outline, filled with a crowd of attenda
} details, seemed GO compress ilife's histo
, into the short spaced have mentioned. d
: And now my dear mother had foun(
home with her own kindred, and the sal
: refuge had been offered to me; hut my n
e ture rose in proud rebellion against a |
s of dependence Oh others. Consequently
s had sought and obtained situation as &c
erness. MY new abode was. in pietur,
Il oue part of Devonshire, and somethihO