Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-07-06
MINNIE DALE.
BY ROSE .GERANIUM

Minnie Dale sat on an upper porch
in the stealing chill and blackness
of far-spent, early spring twilight.
The faint, slim moon, that glided
swiftly over its track over marvel
Gus, dreamy flakes of white cloud
and mysterious, quiYering, blue
black, had dropped behind the bare
forest, aud a thousand stars, like
wind-tosscd crocus petals, seemed
to alight and float upon the half
liquid expanse.
An almost audible hush anear,
creeping, zephyr bearing, in sill
very whisper, from the meadow
stream, and following the pathway
of the sound went the maiden's
straining gaze, to rest on the water,
which shot forth a faint, tender
gleam. There had been work in
her hands and a book upon her knee,
but all had fallen to the floor, and
her fingers, unconsciously clutChed
the great masses of dark hair, draw
ing it over her bosom like a scarf.
She was half crouched, half kneel-
ing, her slender form leaning upon
nothing but itself, and look, part
loneliness, part defiance, brooded
over her features.
And Minnie was dreaming; dream
ing of the ocean; fancying the white,
distant flash a CLEAN from some
hightOssing billOw, and the indis-
tinct murmur an ofsecho from the
weary sea, complaining to the crags.
Back as far as recollection bore her
into vague shadows of childhood,
reached the longings for loveliness,
and failing nearly all types of the
real, her fertile brain caught every
floating shadow and seasoned imag-
ination.
How she slid into her musical
name cannot divine. Plain, straight
forward, useful, suggestive of moth
ing but angles, were her honorable
parents, bearing about them, withal,
4 limiting of Quaker. Eighteen years
previous to the date of my story
they had ended their deliberation at
the cradle-side by declaring "the
child shall be called Minerva;" sole
witness to-day, family record; for
by insinuating degrees the title
which was born with her gradual
ly found grace before her parents
eyes, until from toleration they
slipped into practice.
So she was called Minnie, and, as
L have said before, she longed for
beautiful things, and also to be
loved, both of which desires were
yratiticd i'll a degree very moderate
indeed. l will not say her parents
did not love her; value they certain
ly did, both from sense of her use
tulness5 as q manual autOmaton and
vague appreciation of intellectual
worth. But in their hard, toilsome
lives good things were 50 uncom-
monty scarce that the news of an
active, live bit of talent alighting by
their hearthstOnC was believed too
good TO be true. So, half Of need
and half neglect, they shut their
practical eyes and unbelieving
hearts to the state of things exist
ing, and sought to train the dam
sePs hands and rivet her energies to
all the due housewifely theories and
practices. The restless soul that
sat enthroned in the brown eyes de-
clined steadfastly the honor, and
obstinately bowed to the bent OF
its own sweet viii, as well as the up
stream tendency and divers small
obstacls permitted.
"Sweep, cook, make garden, bed
quilts and grand dresses,-go to
church and listen to the preacher
preach his sermons" was the Code.
Sing, do work by violent, spas
medical attacks, read, think, talk to
nature and let her talk to you," said
Instinct. l think Instinct was a lit
tic wrong, but a great deal right.
You will be in bcggary by and
by menaced the Code; but the
sweet inner voice whispered: Fol
low on, seek the pure and with
divided aim she went through the
days, listlessly,- waiting for some
thing TO happen
1t is u fearful thing for this kind
OF dcsolate waiting to visit young
spirit uits uud-timc. Hcart-lOneli-
ness is sad, full sad to bear; but OH!
the fcarfulcst sigh ever wrung from
mortal lips is that which brcathes
the anguish of u young, faithless and
dcspairing heart. l know not
whether l should say Minnie had
never loved, or that she had always
loved. think she was born over
flowing with affection, and she Law
ishcd it freeley upon everything
that did not resent it. Birds, bees,
blossoms; things helpless and gro