The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-02-22
Che ataaeoek 5sffsrsonian
I'M THE OMEN. q IIT'

iHeTe WIS CllcerlUl anu eNel
noisy evening party in the parlor o
Crofthead, the humble residence of
: Scottish Laird who inherited small
estate from a loEg line of obscur,
ancestors. The family consisted o
/, himself, wife, and only daughter
and about half a dozen servants be
longing to the house, the dairy, and
the farIn. A good many neighbors
had now been gathered together at q
teasdrinldng: and the table, on this
/, occasion, exhibited various other
liquids, in tall green bottles, and
4 creaked on its old legs under the
weight of a world of viands. Not q
few, pretty girls and good looking
young men were judiciously distribu.
ted round the board; and from the
frequent titterings and occasional
hearty bursts of laughter, it could
not be doubted that much delicate
wit and no little broad humor was
sported during the festive hour. The
lyoung ladies from the Manse were in
excellent spirits, and the comely
daughters of MIR. MFayden, re.
tired Glasgow manufactures, lent
themselves both 10 the jammed cook
les and the jocularity of the evening
with even more than their usual an.
imation.l But though she was some.
what more silent than her wont, and
4 had even u slight shade of sadness on
her face, not quite congenal with the
scene of merriment not one of them
all looked so well as the daughter of
the good old people; and her simply
braided auburn hair with no other
ornament sllan q pink ribband, had
an appearance that might well be
called elegant, when gently moving
among the richly adorned love. locks
and ringlets that waved so sedacing-
ly around the brows and cheeks of the
other more ambitious and unmerciful
young ladies. There was not one in
the whole parish, high or low, rich or
poor, that could Tor moment be
compared with +" sweet Jane Ma.
smytll;" this was so universally al
lowed, that she had even no rivals;
and indeed Had her beauty excited
the envy of her companions, her un
pretending manners, and the simple
ity of her whole character, would
have eStinguished that feeling, and
converted it into willing admiration
and atrectionate regard. "Sweet
Jane Nasmyth" she was always call.
ed; and that expression, although at
first hearing it may not seem to de-
note much, was indeed just the one
she deserved in her loveliness that
courted not the eyes which 1t won,
and in her goodness which flowed on
uninterruptedly In its own calm and
unconscious course of home. born
happiness.
1t was now q beautiful moonlight
night, and Jane Nasmyth contrived
to leave the merry party, whether un
observed or not is uncertain, and
glide away through the budding
lilachs into a small arbor in the gar.
den. 1t could not be supposed that
she went there to sit alone and read
the stars; friend joined her in the
bower, and she allowed herself to be
taken into his bosom. For two years
had she been tenderly and truly be-
loved by Arthur Crawford, q young
man OF an ancient but dccayed tam.
lily, and now lieutenant in the navy,
He was to join his ship next day
and as the frigate to which he be
longed had a fighting character, poor
Jane, although it WAS not the first
time she had parted from him, was
now, more than she had ever been.
depressed and disturbed. The din of
merriment came from the bright I'M
curtained windows of the cottage.
parlor to the lovers in their arbor;
and the sailor gaily said, "How could
you leave SO joyful party to come
and weep here?" In a few minutes
Jane Nasmyth dried her tears; for
SHE was not one who gave way need
lessly to desponding thoughts; and
the manly tenderness and respectful
affection, of her lover restored her
heart almost to its usual serenity, so
that they were both again quite
cheerful and happy. He had often
sailed away, and often returned; he
had been spared both in battle and
in shipwreck; and while that remem
brance -comforted her heart, it need
not be said that IL likewise sent
through all its strings vibration OF
more thrilling and profounder love.
1t was q mild night in spring, and
the leaves yet upfolded might almost
be heard budding in the bower, as
the dews descended upon them with
genial influence. A slight twittering
OF the birds in thir new. built nests
was audible, as If the happy creatures
were lying awake in the bright breath
less night; and here and there moth,
that enjoys the darkened light, went
by on its noiseless wings. All was
serenity and pc zee below, and. not a
| stain was round the moon no dim
mess over the stars. 1--WE shall have
fair weather for a fortnight at least,
iJane, for thereis no halO. yonder T"
and as she lookedupat these words,
her head continued to rest upoI her
sailors bosom. To think on waves
land storms at such moment was
natural, but to fear them was impos-
sible; her soul was strong in the un'
disturbed quiet of nature, and her ac-
ustomed feelings of trust In Provi'
dence now gathered upon it, and she
knew her sailor would return well