The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-09-07
selected story.
=. = = 49,
THE WREATH OF MALLOW.


An Eneish picture of the fifteenth centu-
etury village green, three sided; around
the green three rows OF uneven cottages; in
its midst a POOL where ducks were taking an
evening swim; in the pool great shady oak
with seat and well beneath it, On the
rustic seat were two old men, chatting in
Old c. acked voices, and at the well girl in
RED kirt'e was drawing water The sun, be-
ginning to sink, threw fakes of bright rose
color on the girls head, the ducks backs, AMI
the shny side OF the oak leaves. At ono
sue OF the village 10 Il soft hill dotted WIN
jumper bushes and fringed atop with OAKS
ana peeche', among which proud castie hiu
all put its topmost tnwers from the loWer
world. Oh the other side stood chtirch Oh
I tree-Sown, grave-sown bank. III was
small chur b the chancel walls We're new
and as yet unfinished; the fresh clean stone
wore a rosy flush in the evening sunlight;
there was hum of voices around the build
ing; masons were packing up their tools and
leaving work for the night. Presently thew
came, laughing and chattering, into the vii
iage; some came TO rest on the seat beneath
the oak, and hailed the old men,
"Well, gaffer, how goes the world with
youa' ~ 'H0 " 'f WIN
Une or TWO began to help the girl with her
t pJchea' q couple, who had walked together
ea,n'us as iar as the well, parted there, and
ohe went straight to a cottage facing the
Snuicn. AT an open window of that house
poor thln little face was looking out at the
sweet country scene-a white face. sadly old,
Set saoiy young, with hollow thoughtful eyes,
anu Two INN hands 10 prop itup. When the
workman came to that window (which was
nothing more than square hole with shut
IerS) smile came over his hard countenance
as he nodded his head cheerilv to the owner
OF the pale face, who smiled back in his turn
very sWeetly. Inside the cottage, one could
see that this face, which was as delicate as a
gTfs, belonged to a boy, perhaps fourteen
years old, put crooked and stunted in growth,
who was half lying, half kneelinp on 2 wood
en- bench, with both elbows propped on the
WINDOW Sill: One could see this. indeed
lhough put ialntiy, for chhnneys were rs vet
yny iuAurieS lOr mOnasterieS and great Yn,an,s
houses ana the smoke from the eottaoe t;ra
ovel wnich the mason's wife was c0okin9
SUPPER ~ an iron pot, came wreathino and
ouinn9 ABOUT the room, all slow and graceful
siu gray, before it found its way out at the
Mm,huow, OF at the hole in the roof intended
81 - ~, 10 accommodation. The workman set
winch told that he thus laid aside not oniy
Jle burden OF their weight, but also the bur
zen OF his days labor Then he came nm tn
J Ile ooy ana laid bisIhand tenderly on the high
deformed shoulder. \ - ~ "' niS"
Mei' Martini" he sail No more for
"SS naIu tnihgs TO him; but the bow
~ o,as,s ~ nls Iatiier, and put up one hand
, 70 GASP tne strong, rough one which Law on
MS neck. The two hands made q graar con-
Irast, ana were a little history in themselves
ra.nef anu son looked out together at the
green, tne pool and the chattering ueonle hut
WARNS eyes rested most fondly on the
at last. q ttssi,f 'e' '"'nef' lie Sa'd'
r51 line mason gave a loud "ha-har n
70 you hear what the lad says, wife P"
tin, raising his look wanderipcIv to hid "a
theirs face. ~ MS Ia
uont Know. boy; one does't think of
work for bread" ~ - o-'e i''' W
but the happiness is that YOU can do such
Deautiiui work for bread, and serve the !, ord
WV, at Inc same time," said Martin, eagerly.
p mere the mother, who had poured from the
pUe ONO great wooden dish piece OF beef
Salnlsned WIN cabbage, and swimming in the
protn which it had been boiled In. came nm
70 her little sen, and, saying that snpper was
)a Eea1y, TOOK him in her arms as it he had been
sun oaoy, and propped him up en- an oaken
settie, with black sheepskin, soft and tIicly
Iolied into bolster to support him. Tbc
Iatner asked blessing on the food and then
they began 10 eat. ~ -
"a "a. supper fit for d prince said the mason.
1T Is a good piece of meat" answered the
wife. They have had guests at the castle.
and there was much flesh and good white
oread also given away atthe gates to-day"
fatner, asked Martin, presently, while
peckins at hls supper as delieately as bird.
Wild put little appetite for the meal NFath,
to the oak ?" .g9 y sS' --'D'' . van yoe'
Yes, boy, he did, = 8 ..[ .',, s.9. ri
He was talking to you like a friend. faith.