The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-25

The Earl OF Halifax benignly smiled.
As with her heavy burden she passed on,
Looked back, then turned the corner, and was
gone.
What next upon that memorable day
Drew his august attention was gay
And brilliant equipage, that flashed and spun,
The silver harness glirterlng in the sun,
Outrders with red Jackets. 1.-the and lanS,
Pounding TIE saddles as they rose and sank,
While ali alone within the chariot sat
portly person with three.cornered hat,
A crimson velvet coat, head gh in air.
Gsld.headed cane, and nicely powdered nair,
And diamond buckles sparkling at his knees,
Dignided. stately, horid. much at ease.
Onward the pageant swept, and as II passed
Far Mistress Stavers confessed low and last;
For this was Governor Wentworth, driving down
To L:trle Barbor, just beyond the town,
where his great house stood looking out 20 sea-
A goodiy place, where was good to be.
It was pleasant mansion, an abode
Near and yet hidden from the great high road.
Sequestered among tees. noble pile,
Ba!onial and colonial In its style;
Cab eS and dormer windows everywhere,
And stacks and chiDlneys rising high In air;
Pandean pipes. on VIII ch all winds that blew
Made mourn ul music The whole winter through.
Within, unwonted splend0rs met the eye,
Panels and hoc-s OF oak, and taoestry;
Carved chimney. pieces, where on brazen dogs
Reyelled and roared the Christmas nre o: logs;
Doors opening into darkness sun unawares. ~
Ny .telious passages and flights OF stairs;
Aud on the walls, in heavy gilded frames,
Tue ancestral wentworths with old Sculpture
names.
wl,lower and childless and he ielt
The one.in' IS, the uncongenial gloom
That like q PRESENCE haunted every room;
For though not given 10 weakness, ne could reel
Tue pain Of woun , that ache because they heal.
The years came and the years went-seyen Ia ell
And passed in cloud and sunshine O'er the hall;
The dawns their splendor through Its chamber
shed,
The sunsets hrshed its western windows red
The snow was on its roofs the wind, the rain
Its woodlands were In leaf and bare again;
Moons waxed and waned the liacs bloomed and
died.
In tie bro d river flowed and ebbed the tide
Ships west 10 sea, and ships came home from sea,
And the slow years sailed BY and ceased 10 be.
And all these yelrs had Martha Hilton served
In the great house not wholly uuobserved:
BY day, by night, the silver crescent grew,
IN. ugn hidden by clouds, her light Sill shining
Amaid OF ali wo k whether coar;e or fine.
A servant who made service seem divine
Through her each room was fair 10 look upon,
The mirrors g,ts ened and the srasses shone,
The very knocker oA the outer door.
II she but pa':e !, was brighter than before.
Aud Row the ceaseless turning CT the mill
or Tine At never for an hour stands still,
Ground out the governors siXt!eth birthday,
And powdered his brown hair with silver gray.
The robin, the f0rerunle[ OF tue spring,
TIE blue bird with his Iocund carcfng,
The restless swallows building In the ewes.
The geldtn buttercups. the grass; the leaves
The lilac tossing 10 The winds OF May
All welcome this majestic holiday.
BE gave splendid 6anque,: served on plate.
Who represented England and the King,
And was magnificent in everything.
he had invited all his friends and peers
The Pepper the Langdons, and the Lears,
The Sparhaw. s, the Peuhallows, and the rest
Eoy vhv fha 0f 0naatS
But must mention one. In bands and gown.
The rector there. the Reverend Arthur Brown
OF the Established Church; vii smil ng face
BE SAT beside the gIvernor and said grace:
And then the feast went on. as others do,
But ended as none other e'er knew.
When they had drunk the king with many
The governor whispered In servants ear,
who disappeared, and presently there stool
within the room, In perfect womanhood,
maidep, modest and yet s.l!-posse sed,
Youthful and beautiful, apd simply dressed.
Can this be Mar ha Hlton' r. must be
Yes Martha Hilton. aId no other shel
lowered with the beauty Of IN her TT twenty years.
The pale thin crescent OF the da- gone by
Il Dian now IN all her maj 'sty
Yet s,arce guest perceived that she was tcere,
Until the & vernon, rising from his CHAIR
Played slightly with his ruffles, then looked down,
And said unto the Reverend Arthur Brown:
"1his ia my birthday; 1t shall likewise be
Nv wedding. day, and you sha n AIRY me !'
Toe listening guests were greatly mystined
None more SO than the rector, who replied:
"MaIry your Yes. that was pleasant task,
Your excellency: but to whom. ask :"
The governor answered. ITO this lady here;"
And beckoned Martha Hilton TO draw near.
She came and stood, all blushes, at his side.
The rector paused. The impatient governor
cried:
"This Is the lady; do you hesitate?
Then com and you as Oh ef magistrate"
The rector read the service loud and clear;
'.Dearly beloved, we are gathered here"
Al SO on to the end. At his command,
On the fourth finger OF her fair left hand
The governor placed the ring, and that was all;
Nartha was Lady Wentworth OF the Hall
january atlantic.