The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1878-05-02
~ q l q CT II ale.
Three Nights by the Willow.
NIGHT THE FIRST.

NIGHT THE FIRST.
The mellow autumn sun was sink.
ing in tho West, tinging each bush
aud brake. with it's golden tint, and
throwing out tho fir copse black and
grim.
The birds were chirping their
evening hymsn, and the tired plough
man was slowly toiling homewarl il
his miserable hut couli be home)
when n youth aud maiden might DO
seen seated beneath q willow tree,
that bent its graceful foliage to kiss
tho dark and silent waters Of Asho
pool.
A favcrite seat this with lovers
Baneath the shade of that oil tree
lad many trotl been plighted, and
many 6resido in the village OF
Horton had its aged couples, who
TALKED fondly OF the carly VOWS they
plightod there.
pevchauco, afsw were broken -
for some are lightly given and the
grim hanl of Daath at times will
ainite tho ycuny rnd sLceng in the
noontidc of existence.
but with these we have nauSht to
do.
Far md vile was tho willow
inown--beloved by tho young aud
treasured in the memory of old
age
The youth, Harry Barton, now
seated there, WAR the son of u rich,
nnstere, passionate man.
He was frank and noble youth ;
but in the dali, motherless homo,
aul in the presence Of the harsh but
Just father, he found but little of
the sunshine Of lifs.
One morn, wan lering through tho
wood, he encountered his present
companion, char aing Annie Was
ton and u new era Of existence
dawned upon him.
lie saw her endeavoring to roach
tempting cluster of haze! nuts, all
unconscious Of his presence and
with his natural courtesy ho offered
his assistance.
From this hour they often met |;
and love sprang up in these two
Young hearts such as binds two
souls together to eternity.
Annie was the daughter OF "a game
keeper Ga common kind, Mr.. Barton
would have said but in her eyes
beamed love and frankness unsur-
passed by any lady in the land Not
classically beautiful, but naturally
,harming-free, happy, and inno-
cent as tho tender fawn.
Tho cold heart of Mr.. Benton re-
pulsed all confidence from Henry,
md Annie's timidity hid her love
rom her father so the story Of
heir young love was locked within
heir breasts.
A sorrowful time had arrived
Harry was bound for college,and this
heir night of parting.
"Oh, Harry !! Annie said, Il can.
pot lose. 1t is q selfish thought,
but fear the story of our love is
byer, and now we part forever.
mot 30, dearest, Harry replied.
Our parting will be brief. l could
pot live without your love, and will
be faithful and. Parting makes us
ad even tho nightengale's first
pote from yonder wood, q joyous
train we 30 oft have heard together
ounds like o warning knell but
uch love as ours should have no
oubts. It has mono, am sure !;
herefore, dearest, we will pass the
pw remaining moments cbeerfully.
he memory Of the happy hours
lsve passed together, and the hope
our next meeting, will tighten my
eudies, and urge me onward.
"Pardon, dearest Harry, rejoined
Annie, as the light ofhope brighten.
d her face. ~ have no doubt Of
|ou the sadness was but momenA
~. / love you too dearly to be q
indranos to your prosperity. Go,
nd take al the love 81 my poor
leArt with YOU"
x take Il lovc, end - bshind
" heart q u3n10 x6ot9 is no
pWee O. ~ 6olA yeneys ihfrom
m ~ ~ NJ hopse e NJ