The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-07-20

aI langhter, soon won their hearts.
10 George -anda Waiam were not as
handsonae and intelligent as. Harry,
they were equally as gallant and
generous, and the ladies' were highly
pleased with their polite attentions
and unvarying Kindness. When them
short furlossgh was out and they had
to return 10 eLe arm.j, George left
not littae of his 1reart with Minl1ie,
and the gay. girl found, to her sur
prise. that the amiable young fellow
had taken with him n goedly portion
of hera.
The tine 1li<ied rapidly by, us time
spent happily always does. and when
at length Harrv's wound was perfect
ly hesae,i, aud he had regained his
usrlal strength and health, the party
left tlieif friends ut Oaklands with
many sincere and mutual regrets and
returned to Erginin.. Leaving Ellen
aud Minnie in e re Of MIR. Early and
Mrs Minor. the young officer hasten
ed to reloin his command
: During the weary and eventtul
years that followed-years that have
left the sad traces OF their cares and
sorrows on so many once happy
faces-the only bright spots in Har-
rvs life of toll and hardships were
the short furloughs that he obtained
of long intervals. He remained con
nected with the army to the end OF
the wnr, and though he participated
In many hard brush aud battle with
the foe, he Was so fortunate. us to es-
cape without any serious injury from
them all, and witnessed the closing
scenes of the momentous contest.
When the sun Of the South went
down, and iler battered and battle
worn banner could live no longer,
except like the names of the heroic
men that had fallen in its defence
in the sweet songs of Southern barJs
and in the green isles of memory
he returned to the embrace of his
beloved Ellen and sought, in the do
mestic felicity that awaited him there,
some solace and alienation for his
public g1iefs and the woes that had
befaIlcn his once happy country
And he found it.
Ere we bid you adieu, friendly
AO$@AOA1 8So N LII ttS WIG h4OVcs 1oI u
moment, to the valley of the Massa-
ponix, aud We will show yon scene
that will ravish Your heart. Though
the bloody tide OF war surged near
and around the old mansion, IL wa.
wonderfully and fortunately spared,
having been occupied respectively aS
headquarters by the contendiug
hosts; and as soon as that section ot
the country ceased to be the theatre
Of active hostilities, Mr. Early re-
turned, collected some Of his seat
tered servants, replaced some OF his
stock, and endearored to repair his
losses as well as he could. Much Of
the beauty of the place has beeu re-
stored, for the rccuperating energie,
Of the ion-hearted Old Dominion ale
wonderful, and there is life in the old
land yet. 1t is now.the delightful
home Of Mr.. Early, Ellen and Harry
1t is one OF those lovely May even
ipgs again, the green wheat and
clover are waving in tue fields, the
flowers are in bloom anu the cherries
are ripe. We are acquainted With
the place: let us step lightly OF, The
veranda, the same ON which the
hearts OF the lovers were plight,d
There they sit, enjoying the baInv
breeze, fragrant with the odor of
Flora's offerings, and Watching a
pretty child. with his fathers face
and mothers curly head, that is ca
pering aboat the floor in one of those
sportive, Joyous moods, in which the
sweet babes Of happy mothers sr..
wont to indulge. Mr. Early Iooks {,
little older than he did when We first
met him, hit Iis face still i,es,ur,
with the same genuine smile. Harry
is somewhat stouter, but in every
other respect he IS unchanged Ii
len Is still as beautiful rs ever, though
she is more dignitied and matronIy in
her bearing, and there is n darker and
deeper light i'll her glorious eyes.
And there, in the possession of the
greatest comforts and purest pleasures
of life, we will leave them. fully ex-
employing the truth Of the Doct's
words,
'Domcstic hsplincss, thou only bliss
or Paradise that has survived the fali.'
A few words in regard to some Of
the other actors that have figured in
these scenes. and the story ends.
The two young Minors and William
Gillespie sleep in soldiers graves.
Brave boys! they did not live TO Wit
ness the extiuguishment Of the bright
hopes that carried them through so