The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-01-12
Contri b butions.
Written for the Sumter Wn tchman.]
THETWO ROSEBUDS.
NY L'INCoNNUE
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We we're seated, Gerald and I, in the
moon lit piazza Of ono Of those 8ne MAD
sous which adoru the islands lying aes,
the "Queeu City Of the South" Althe'
years have passed, yet that scene is still
fresh in ny memory; but who can paint
it2 ]
The long low piazza, with ite trailing
vines, the starry jessanino and ruby
tinted indian oreeper, playing. at hide.
aud seek around the great grey pillars,
aud under the caves, and then lifting
their buds saucily to the brilliant neon
light, as if wooing the kisses Of the Eeph.
yrs which breathed upon them the
balmy moisture Of the blue Cooper.
And that moonlight Il! Who over saw
such moonlight as that which shone on
Wave Hall, and was reflected 10 thos.
sand sparklcs from the waves which
broke iu murmurs at the foot of it's
grand old oaks? have seen tho moon.
light lie upon many beautiful seem g
succ, but its rays have never touched
my heart like those which fell upon the
dear old place, where were spent so
uauy of the bright unclosded days o.
my happy young life We wero not
"Hholly in the busy world, not quite be.
yond it," for just beyond tho phosphor-
escent sparkle OF the waves, cleaned the
nyriad lights Of tho beloved city, and
vc could hear
"News from the humming city,
lu sound Of funeral Or Of marriage bells.
And sitting muffod in dark leaves you'd hear
Tho windy changing Of the minister clock"
Wave Hall was the residence of nv
uncle, IIartly Rivierc, a perfect speci,
men Of a model class of gentlemen-.the
Southern planters. His genial, ye,
courtly manners, his unbouuded hospi-
taty, and his ample fortune, rendered
his beautiful home the centre of aGtrac.
ton for all within our circle OF acquain-
tancc. His only daughter, EtAel---pet
rOmp and tease-aud l., loved each other,
more us sisters than cousins. There was
slargc party gathered to celebrate the
birtl'-nisht ola nephew of my aan,'s,
Gerald Grey, who having been left a
orphan at au early age, was q ward OF
my uncle, aud almost brother to Ethel
aud |.
Hc commanded company which vol.
unteercd for service in Virginia, direct.
y after the stars and stripes on Font
Sumter were lowered to our triumphsut
Palmetto, aud had been on dxty ever
since, except when he paid short, yet
dearly priced visits home. During
these visits, short as they were, a deep.
erafcction than that OF brother and sister
had stolen into our hearts, aad although
he had now been home but few days,
already there was tacit understanding
between US.
We had been spending most
delightful timc-Gerald, Ethel and l.
riding, fishing and taking long strolls
through the dim woods, lounging for
hours under one Of the largest oaks,
listening to the breeze playing amid its
'remulous leaves, and as we listened,
almost imagining that, like Tennyson's
talking oak, it had found voice. Or
VIC would wander in the cool of the
afternoon along the beach, watching the
tossing OF the waves, or looking afar out
70 where the white sails we're catching
the last level rays of the setting sun
oh: what bright days those we're! Each
hoar seemed filled with tho life,
'ovc anu rapturous enjoyment Of year
VI ordinary existence. A lifetime of
happiness seemed to have been crowded
'"'o those days, few in number yet fated
20 exercise powerful influence upon
our lives. For does not FIRST love
'e"d a coIouring to the whole of our
snort lives? l ask not those whose
fancy is caught by beautiful face, an
''esant person, or by rank, wealth or &C..
eompl'shmcnts; who mistake the
s'eam of gold or the sparkle Of jewels,
'ofa spark Of the true fire. But I ask
|| 'hosc who have really come within the
magic circle drawn by tho wand of the
great enchauter, Love-who, like that
s'eatalchymist, the Sun, throws his rays
around him, transmitting into gold all
upon which they fall.
o"c day, on my uoclc's return from
Wv oi MS frequent trips to the city, he
'c'a US he expected friend from Vir.
s'"la' Col. Haughtoa, to dine with him
a"a after telling us laughingly to make
ourselves as'"fasciuating as possible, p
.'''u oy saying it would bo of no use
however, for although tho Col. had
,sa'"ea the age Of thirty. five, he bat
V' ,e't the power Of the blind God
a"' believed himself invuln erable to hi,
'"a'ts. In an instant thera As,hos