Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-10-03

"
That all this radiant world was wrought for
One blissful faith his life divinely cheers II las
-. With heavenly joys and fears, 49,, ,fse:f =
That sometimes leaves his sight in: wholly
And through his soul, ricll-warmea by sacred
heat, ,~s,,...,.,ay4ss s7,.s ,-,,.
Dear memories move and meet, Il" : 4
Like shadowy ripples Of golden wheat.
THE EVE OF ST. JOHN. 8 s 49,.
1t was warm June day. The sun was al
ready halfway down his western slope, NOV;
ing lazlly, as If weary. with the long march OF
the summer solstice. gauzy haze yelled
without obscuring his Brightness and lent a
dreamy charm to the scene below: Soft roll
ing hills; stream winding between green
willowy shores; seen far away, broad blue
river, and the spires and roofs of a town;
these were the outlines OF the landscape. In
the cool piazza of the old white farm house,
her home for half century, stood my grand
mother, smile on her placid face, and her
mild eyes drinking in the serene beauty ofthe3
scene. Alice and I came flying down the hall
stair case and stood beside her,. Il =.
I'VE are going to leave for little WHILE
"Must you,g osto DAY, my dears The horses
are away, and it is long walk to S..
Why net wait until to-morroW?"
"You forget" said, shat Frank comes to-
morrow; andhe shall be SO busy with pack
ing, and all the last things. And it is only
two miles to town, after all. ! 60
II suppose you must 80, dear; but it is a
long walk for Alice in this hot sum-" grand
mamma added, glancing from my. gray walk
ing dress to my sisters cloudy muslin and ship
ers. 49,.
"Oh, am not going, grandma; shall only
walk with Charlotte down to the thorn-trees
to take that sketch have promised so long.
We shall both be back early to- spend long
evening with you. This lis my birth night
you know-just think! am nineteen-and
want you to make festival of it."
BE sure we will. And good-by, now, my
children, for you have no more time to spare"
Alice and walked slowly down the green
path which wound its way across the fields to
the brook. Following this for some distance,
we came to g rude wooden bridge by which
VIC gained the other shore; and soon sharp
bend in the stream brought us to the thorn
trees of which Alice had spoken. A miniature
prOmOntOry, covered with the most sOftest
and most velvety turf, was washed on two
sides by the waters of the brook, while the
gnarled and twisted thorn-trees: A belt of
similar trees upon the opposite shore render
ed the seclusion of the place perfect. 1t was
a spot which Titania might have chosen for
her court, 50 still, so secret and so green.
Through partial opening in the trees was
which Alice, who draws with rare skill and
fidelity, proposed to take in my absence. Seat
I'd here on the warm grass, the stream MUIR
muring at her feet and the leaves fluttering
over her, left her to her pleasant task; and
regaining in O few moments more the fire.
quented path, took my way by the long yellow
high-rOad to the distant town. =. ~
Alice and had been spending some months
with our grandmother, and were to leave in a
few days for our home in Philadelphia. Our
zkl> ool. flnx hnnx }11
though rather gay and fashionable step-mo-
Their who had taken her place did not come so
near to our heats as did the gentle old lady
at the farm. part Of every year we spent
with the latter, always leaving her with re-
greet. should mention that my steD-mOther
had son, the fruit of a former marriage, who
had been absent several years in India, and
at this time had just returned As we had DO
brother OF our own, Frank Baldwin, who was
few years older than I, had filed nearly q
brothers. place to Alice and myself. He was
now to be our escort home, as our father was
prevented by some business from coming for
US himself. =
This afternoon I had to make some trifling
purchases at the shops, and pay few parting
VISIT, of friendship or ceremony. We had ma
ny friends in s., and the farewell calls con-
sumed so much time that nine o. clock was
ringing from all the steeples before was able
to leave the town and turn my steps toward
home But the way though lonely, was safe;
and enjoyed the quiet walk ia the evening
air. 1t must have been ten O. clock when l
reached the gate which communicated with
the foot-path across the fields. OF course
had no idea of meeting Alice at that hour; for,
though she had promised to wait tor me, it was
I'm the expectation that my return would be
much earlier. Yet when I came to the turn of
the path leading to the thorn-trees, my steps
half involuntarily took that direction ~. J.
Walking on slowly, had reached the brock,
ond rIN1DdiO tho mint where hOnrs before
had left my, sister, when was startled by
perceiving what seemed in the uncertain star
light TO be herfgure reclining on the grass
under the thorn trees. InYoluntarilyI paused
there came from far away, in the south the
first low breath Of the night wind signing
across the fields and stirring the stiff leaves OF
the old thorns with sound as of innumerable
airy footsteps. With sudden thrill, as if
had been conscious of some invisible presence
I called her name, but in low, frightened
voice. There was no answer; and, sprlnging
forward, knelt beside the figure Of my sister
lying fast asleep upon the grass. Her flushed
lcheek rested on her round white arm, and q
smile like that Of dreaming infancy parted he1
beautiful lips. LIFTING her long hair, on WhicA
claiming, "Alice! Alice Vane! what are. you
thinking OF, asleep in this damp night air"
Slowly she opened her large eyes and gazed
around with bewildered expression. &C.,:
"Dear Alice, do rouse yourself" cried. ut
is past ten O'Clock. and grandma will be
crazy" ..,. --,u..
She obeyed the movement of my hand, zsat
up and allowed me to wrap my shawl about
her. l gathered up her scattered drawing
materials, and again begged her to rouse her
self and 20 home.
Eyes, VIC will CO." shesssids hut {haveb been
dreaming. so long, I ean.ssears fpdY the
.boundry line between my DREAMS andrealfey. y
NWhat were Won DRAINING ofS
"Oh so many things! must have been
sleeping q long time, for the last thing I can
remember the sssun was setting, and
thought you you'd soon pehere. I was awake
then, and 1safa"sureS its*ssAll at once there
came from far up the glen a faint sweet strain
of music. Then distinguished voices sing.
ing and presently was surrounded by crowd
Of people thronging all about me- Their gar
ments brushed me, and their fingers touched
my hair, but they never seemed to SCI
lady alone remaining. She stood just there
behind thatlong branch. She was allin greer
and I could scarcely disting uish her from the
trees. shesspekei to- me With aEcharmine
smile, and then Hitting her white hand, waved
it slowly through the air. i looked and paps
stood beside me. I could not move or speak
but his dear eyes looked into mine for mo
ment; then the figure slowly ~faded4 AS
gazed other figures came by, Frightening ant
fading before my eyes. Isaw yourself ant
Frank, mammal Mst asshe used 70 look. &nt
many more, allfamiliar faces, all personswht
have had some part or influence in my life
Last OF all came one did not know / turned
to ask the lady who lewasE She mode moan
swer, but smiled and held up ring. though
Iknew him for my future husbond, and turned
to look at him again. As did so though
he bent over and kissed, me on the lips; ,thel
slowly faded as the others had done: FIJI
next remenber, You were calling me, Nov
don't laugh; CHI lotte,S she added, sfabcKf6i
the expression Of my eyes.
Indeed, love, shoultn't think of such,
thing. / am too deeply impressed by you
doubtless prophetic VISION ~ ans rrsa
aWeli, dear, why nots Remember this il
the eve Ofv6N oJQMT and YOUR hirthnight
Everyone knows that children born On Mid
snmmer.eye are the especial fayorites Of tn
fairy foil. lind bdbject 70 siheirI infineacs o,
that night. It il plain to be seen that tn
lady in green wa. yoir fairys s,mothef, an.
your vision must be prophetic 90.
Alice laughed, but In q shy,. absent way
and her pretty 3a6l sxx61 zsyisihjeS satl1
starlight In answer to my rallleries, she ad
=