The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-01-19


to withdraw the invitation
Mrs. Merrill could not help this di
lemma, and Mr.. Gilmore left tn
, house IN a very uncomfortable condi
s ton of mind,
E The very next Sabbath, Miss Bry
!, sou took her seat in the choir. TIL
church was crowded when she enter
ed, and, as the choir, seats were il
, front, she was observed by the con
gregation True to her word, Miriam
Merrill arose and left the choir. Tn
sensation occasioned by this act car
!, be better imagined than described.
The young lady who sat next t
Miss Bryson turned her back to he
ank made no offer of her note bool
when she arose to sing she seemed t.
be avoided as one with a plague He
face burned crimson and then turned
as pale as ashes. What had she done
what could be the meaning of al
this?
Mr.. Gilmore had got himseli into a
pickle. The young lady members o.
the choir notified him that they woulC
sing no moe unless Mary Brysoi
: Wis ICtHO GU . anu III was n OIoS
greeable task he was obliged to per-
form.
He wrote her a note, stating thai
circumstances unforeseen by him wher
he invited her to become a member o.
the choir, compelled him to Withdraw
the invitation. 1t was a very rude
proceeding but she would pardon
him,
Many girls would have rallied af,
ter the shock, defiantly met the in
hospitable world, but not so with
Mary Bryson. Whenever she went
into society she was treated with scorn
and contempt; so that at length she
remained at home and grieved herself
sick over it. She was one of those
fragile blossoms that a rough wind or
unkind frost will SO easily destroy.
Very few persons called at the
white cottage /; but lynxed-eyed neigh
bors noticed that Squire Gregory
was there with parcels and bundles,
and that was enough for them. For
had they not been so evil disposed
they could have easily a~scertained
what those bundles contained, will be
seen presently.
Perhaps the consciences smote
them when DIR. Green told them that
the young lady at the cottage was
sick with the brain fever, caused by
some KIM of worrying trouble and
that no persons were lending assis-
lance.
Several volunteered. Mrs. Bryson
treated them coldly, politely, but II
night when Mrs Grant Mrs. Merrill and
others were engaged in the little bed
room performing the last sad offices
for tine dead, the bereaved mother
said bitterly:
You people in this town have mur
dered my child ; tell me now before
her corpse why you did it.
There was 10 reply.
i heard yesterday continued the
old lady, ''that it was because Squire
Gregory was seen to call on her. Shall
l tell you what caused his visits ?
Had you ascertained ere you spread
broadcast the shameful report that
broke my childs heart and cIazed her
brain,i it would have been far better.
We were poor; that is, We were in
moderate circumstances. We rented
this house the owner promising TO
take his pay i'll sewing. We neither
OF US were aware of any thing being
rumored against Squire Gregory's
and l must do him justice to say that
he has treated us with more human
than all of you have. If this be
the means of teaching you n lesson
my child has not died in vain. yet
pray God to forgive you. Pm afraid
L eve can.
Too late now--the tongue of slam
der has triumphed Wha; a lesson
this narrative should teach. They
snowdrops in her hands and
looked, with tears, in her face the
members of the choir that had shun-
ned her with contempt so shortly be
fore. Too late now-tears of repent
ance could not bring hei back again.
They had murdered that fair sweet
flower when they should have protect
ed it from this cruel world-if not
her own sake, for the sake Of her
who sleeps in his bloody grave
at Shiloh.
There are many. such cases. When
you speak evil of any one, and CON
1emn harshly, remember this over
story /; also, never forget that
with whatsoever judgement ye judge
ye shall so be judged and with what
soever measure you mete it shall be
measured unto you again"