Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-06-08
Y, JUNE 8, 1866.

lie had been one of Mr. IIale's warmcst
friends, but how could he countenance such
doings as these 1t was u new phase i'll
his ministerial experience. Old DR.. Dow.
under whose preaching he was converted,
drove a horse who never forgot the dignity
of her station so far as to exceed a fast
walk, on any occasion: and he could not
help feeling scandalized at such an nno-
vation on the old custom.
So much was his mind exercised upon
the subject, he felt it his duty. to cxpostu-
late with his pastor. Mr.. Hale heard him
with a quiet smite and cndeavorcd to soft
en- his animosity to poor Psyche, by telling
him of her docility and gentencss, but to
no purpose. He left him, not in anger.
but with IA heightened visage, and sor-
rowful shake of the head.
t The good deacon lived just below the
f parsonage. in an old farm house, whose
projecting roof. where the swallows colo
nized. wide stone foored porch, and large
yard shaded by Lombardy poplars. gave it
a venerable, patriarchal appearance.
Theyard, with its carpet of emerald turf
t was the play ground Of the dcacon's grand
son, little black eyed fellow, whose fa-
ther, having gone to the land of gold, had
placed his wife and year-old boy, in his fa
Tiers house for safety and protection
The child was the idol of his grand parents
and the pet of the whole village. Mr.. Hale
often walked down to the gate to caress
him, and sometimes lifted him over and
sat him upon Psyche's back, who seemed
to know that, with such delicate precious
burden, she must be very gentle, and pac
ed slowly about. now and then looking back
| If ta hat bn rel tpd
; A few rods above the parsonage, noisy,
brawling brook makes its way over a huge
race, that covers nearly an acre of ground ;
in the summer it dwindlcs to an insignli-
cant steam and small pool of muddy
water but in the spring, when swoolen
hy the melting SHOWS, it runs with "a swift
current, and in some places the lake is
quite deep. a patch is laid ont around it,
| and fight of rnde steps, up to the side
/ of the rock, leads to Il shady walk ;boyc,
much frcquented by villagers on summer
: evenings.
One bright May morning. not long after
T the deacon urged Mr.. Hale to sell Psyche
: Mary Saunders sat nditinsa IA letter to her
absent husband. and she told him of the
home he had provided for her in his ab-
sencc, and dcscantcd upon WHY'S good
the rogue had already upset an inkstand
upon his snowy wrapper, and now hung
: about, distracing her mind by his childish
questions. Unable to proceed while thus
annoyed, she tied on his little straw hat
aud scarf, and sent him out into the yard,
where the grass was Just spfinging. and
the lilac trees bursting into bloom,
Gongratulatng herself that he would he
/ l.. n,
: her letter and soon forgot all things else.
Willie was very happy for 4 while i'll
, watching the robbins who flew from limb
lows, who were bringing mud for their
nests, beneath the caves, but he soon got
l tired of these. and leaning against the
gate looked wisaIully out into the street
: Soeon he cspea the latch. 1t was a
| perfect mystery to him how it was to be
nnfastened but standing on uptoe, his
e little fingers soon pressed with sufficient
force upon the thumb piece to lift it, and
the gate swung gently open. Peeping
out, first on one side and then on the
other. to be sure no cows were near. and
casting turtivc glance towards the house
as if he suspected he was not doing quite
: right he ycGturcd out ON the grassy side
walk. The yellow dandclons and the
: bright king cups heckoncd him on, rs they
pccpcd out from under the fence, and
soon he filled his hat with their gay bios
SONS, us he wandered on towards the pond
and brook, which still swollen by the
spring rains, attrac ed him by the noise
as it fell over the rocks.
At the end of an hour Mary Saunders
had finished her letter. and placing her
, writing materials i'll 4 rosewood desk. her
husbands last gift, she turned with Il
: bright smile to the window, To see What
pretty mischief or cunning roguery Willie
might be doing. Bnt no Willie was in
sight. The gate stood oninously open,
aud catching her bonnet. she dartcd into
the street. "Willer. Willie" she called
but no answer.
Looking down she espicd his tiny tracks
on the soft earth, outside the grass. and
with beating heart, she SAW they led to-
wards the pond.
With new fears she most flew on, the
little footprints still tending towards the
water The flowers he had picked she
found scattered by the margin of the pond
and on the steps his hat still holding n few
of its gaudy treasures. Mary.s strength
was scarce sufficient to make the ascent.
and on reaching the top, what was her
horror to see Willie standing i'll the middle
of the stream, on IL large fiat rLck, that
lust showed itself above the stream for
more than half its width. The water be-
meath it was deep, and run with swift
current into which he was throwing the
last Of his flowers, and watching with
glee their rapid progress towards the fall.
Poor Mary was 10 heroine. With one
piercing shrck, she fell senselcss to the
Garth.
Willie, hearing the cry aal seeing his
mother, instead of going back to the bank.
took one step towards her, and plunged
beneath the swift running Strcen. Mary's
cry had reached the ears of Dennis. who
was at work in fieldnear by, and Willie's $
screams as the cold water closed over
him, convinced him from which direction
it came. With all possible speed he was
at the waters edge, where he found Nary
living as one dead, and caught sight OF
Willie, as the rushing waters bore him
over the Smuotl. surface OF the rock INTO
the lake beneath 1t is impossible to give
any idea of the terrific cries with which
Dennis filled the air, as he ran like one
frantic along the shore.
Men at work in the field listRncd mo
mcnt. aud feeling that something unusual
must be the cause. dropped hoe and spade,