Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-09-16


ginning
Time grows not old with length Of years." etc.
The singing was congregationa1, a
method very beautiful in theory, but usu
ally something fearful in practice. Good
Deacon Goldthwaite sounded the first
note it can hardly be said he led the
tune, for certainly no one followed him.
The tune was "Hebron," so sweetly sol
emn and, despite some jarTiAg discords,
there was real music in the performance
There were all kinds of voices-the dea-
cons cracked and trembling tenor, which
played him such odd tricks at some of the
nigh notes; the rough bass of some of
the young farmers the quavering treble
of thin faced matrons, singing with more
of pious ferver than of Correctness; and
the loud, ringing tones ofthe young girls,
sweet with the sweetness of youth and
health.
When The hymn was given out, Hardy
had turned to the page, and, as the peo-
pie rose, he moved up the pew and held
the book for the stranger, who, with q
gesture of acknowledgement, looked over
the page with him. The first verse was
not half finished when a sweet, clear
voice took up the strain, anu seemed to
fill the whole church with melody. When
it first fell on his ear Hardy looked quick
ly down at the singer beside him; but
her eyes were fixed ON the book. At the
second verse he too joined in, with voice
rich, strong, and as perfectly modulated
as the ladys. 1t was now her turn to lit
her eyes TO see what manner of man it
was with whom she was singing. She
saw pair of fine dark eyes looking down
into her own with glance of undis-
guised, though respectful admiration. She
met his gaze steadily for an instant, and
then her eyes were calmly turned to the
page again, her face still wearing its Sc.
ronely unconscious look, as if she were
too we'll used to being looked at and ad-
mired to be disturbed in her quiet and
devotional frame of mind. Sweetly the
two trained voices rose and fell with the
majestic measure; and uncoHsciously the
rest were led by them, until something
more like harmony prevailed than was
often heard in the little meeting house.
The "long prayer" was indeed long,
and the sermon longer and then, with
one more hymn, the service closed. Hardy
stood holding open the pew door while
the LADY passed out, bestowing upon him
q grave bow as she did so. He followed
with his eyes her graceful figure as she
moved down the aisle, and hsd some
thought of joining her III her walk back
to the tavern; but when he reached the
door she had disappeared.
He spent the rest of the day lszily lying
on the grass under the apple-trees. Al
twilight he took long stroll, thinking
tenderly the while of mis- dark-eyed ab
sent charmer and, after that, sat at his
window and looked at the stars till ht
grew most unromsntically sleepy. AS he
leaned out to draw together the shutter:
he heard low voice in the next room
singing part of the hymn of the morn
ing:
"spring flowers renew their rich perfume,
But ere another spring they fly;
Our lie is longer than their bloom
Our bloom is sweeter, yet we die.'
He listened insently, but there was nc
more. "a marvelously sweet voice" he
said. 81 wonder who she is"
The next morning he was awakened by
a great noise and confusion below, and
looking out, saw the Gathering stage
coach once more at the door. a stout
gray haired gentleman was handing into
II lady in travelling dress and a greer
gauze veil. The coach rumbled away
and an hour later Hardy himself departed
Benton, its church, and the fair-faceC
stranger soon fading from his thoughts
u.-MooNLIGHT, MUSIC, LOVE, AMI
FLOWERS.
The time is a year later-the scene thu
small town of c., which lies on tht
Ohio river, in the good State of Pennsyl
vania, and which ia remarkable only fo
its exact resemblance to ten thousan(
other small, thriving towns scattered al
over the land. The steamboats, from
Pittsburgh to Wheeling touch there, whiel
is the only Circumstance connected witt
the place necessary to mention.
In pretty wooden villa in the quie
outskirts of the town lived Mrs. Horten
sia Barlow, charming lady, whose TIVE
passions were music and match making
A very moderate amount of musical talen
was sufficient TO open alike the doors o
her house and her heart to almost any
body; and she was always finding somt
new wonder. At present the object o
her enthusiasm was Mr.. Hunt, a gentle
man OF some thirty-five years, the owne
of handsome estate few miles fron
c., and the possessor of gloriou
bass voice, which, when exerted TO its ut
most, fairly made the ornaments on tn
chimney-piece of the Barlow cottag
tremble in their places. He was a larg
clumsy man, with large head-whicl
perhaps had not great deal in it-bu
with large, soft heart, fair share o
good sense, the breeding of gentleman
and the best temper in the world.
Mrs. Barlow had a party Of gay younl
people staying in her house, ana among
them was the beautiful Miss Ada Morris
the daughter of wealthy citizen of Phil
adelphia. Mr.. Hunt had met Miss Morri
in Washington the previous winter, and
like great many before him, had fallel
deeply in love with her. He had con
| fided the state of his affections to Mrs
Barlow, who loved nothing better thai
| forwarding the matrimonial schemes @
her friends, and readily promised him al
! the aid in her power. Such, indeed, wa
| her confidence in her own abilities ths
she deemed the match as good as settled
1t might have been with some girls
| but Miss Morris was not quite an cas-
person to manage. Accustomed to be ad
mired and wooed, the situation had n
novelty for her. She could be as COOL
critical of suitor as ii the handsOm
head she carried on her shoulders ha
been many years older than it was. Sh
had warm heart though, and was n
doubt willing enough to fall in love shoul
the proper object present himself; bu
Mr.. Hunt was not that object. She like
the man well enough, enjoyed his fin
singing, smiled secretly at his awkward
ness, and amiably helped him out of th
absurd situations he was always ge
ting into; but that was all. Mrs. Bal
low managed to throw the two constant
together, and-most important of all, i
her stimaLion-contrived that the
should be constantly singing togethe
AS the good lady heard, day after da
Mr.. Hunt'S magnificent bass mlnglin
with and sustaining the pure soprano
her friend, she mentally declared that
girl must be more or less than human
resist voice like that
But Mr.. Hunt was less sanguine. I'll
poor man felt, through all the charmiI
and gracious kindness of Miss Morris
manner, the subtitle infusion Of certai
silent but irresistible prohibitoryl force, Il
weapon of defense which woman of u
world knows how TO use so effectiyel
If he chafed against this silent barrier,
showed any disposition TO oVerstep it, 81
pitilessly turned him over to the tend,
mercies of Miss Laura HatheWay. who WI