American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-06-14

a little spring bubbled up and wander
ed off into an adjoining meadow. There
were more signs of improvement than
Susie had expected, but enough of Wild
ness remained to add to the rural beau
ty of the spot.
sour new home," said the Judge,
will be on the top of this knoll when it
is built, and our present quarters, such
as they are, will be little further on"
A sudden thought seemed to have en-
tered the brain of Susie.
"Father, won't willows grow from
slips?"
"Yes, my dear; that's the usual way
of setting them out"
"And they want water, don't theyp
Is this one fresh enough to growP"
II should say it was"
swell, then, may be we can have
something growing here to remind us
of our old home"
In an instant Susan was down from
her pony, and the willow switch was
carefully planted, just above the little
spring 1t would have all the water it
wanted, a. all events. And then Susie
and her father rode on to their new
home; but there was warm f1utter at
the young girls heart and a blush on
her cheek ,as she wondered Will it ever
growa"
The new settlement was good one
for the Judge, and Susie's willow pros
pered famously. Even the rude farm
er boys had learned how it came there,
and respected it religiousl7, while a lit
tie paling kept off intruders. Susie's
heart throbbed high with hope and
faith, at times, as she noted the wonder
full vitality and prosperity of her leafy
favorite. 1t grew as If il had q duty to
perform and was determined to do it
well. And the little spring bubbled up
more briskly from under it, and seemed
to murmur softly, I" He will come! He
will oome!"
Still, one year and another and an
other went by and Charlie did not come,
and letters were terribly uncertain and
far between. All around the world he
had been sent, and Susie's heart at
times grew sick and weary in spite of
| the willow.
But she had other suitors, for her
beauty seemed to grow every day, and
her father was getting along well in
the world once more. Truth to tell,
Susie had something of Mother Eve in
her, and was by no means adverse to
admiration and attention.
So it happened that one day in June
of the fourth year of the residence of
the Mortons in their new home, just as
| the sun was setting, Susie found herself
taking a stroll along the shaded roadsid.
accompanied by the hansomest and
most favored of her numerous train of
worshipers.
They did not seem to be in a talking
humor, but walked slowly along until
they came to the forks of the road and
paused moment by the side of the
spring. Here, at last, the young man
seemed to have found his tongue and he
pleaded eloquently and passionately for
the half-reluctant hand which he had
seized in both his own.
Still Susie was silent, and it may be
that the bubbling spring and the signing
willow were talking to her; but just
then they heard the sound of horses
hoofs coming at a quick pace up the
road, and in a moment more . rider
drew his rein beside them and asked
politely if he could be directed to the
residence of Judge Morton. The young
man had dropped Susie's hand, and,
half-vexed at the interruption, was pro-
ceeding 10 give the desired information,
but his words were not listened to.
TIE horseman was leaning forward
in his saddle, and had fixed gaze of
earnest penetration on the face of Susie
Morton, on which the bushes had given
way to deadly pallor.
''Susie, have come! The willow"
The light came back to Susie's eyes
in an instant, and, with long sigh of
relief, she pointed to the 1.-the branches
which swept her shoulder, and an
swered, Here it is, Charlie; it has been
growing ever since you went away"
Susie's other companion was not OBJ
fuse enough to linger longer in the shade
of such a tree as that, and before she
returned to the house Charlie had re
claimed his gift. The song of the spring
only changed enough to sound like s'He
has came-he has comet"
Thirty years went by, and the Nor
ton willow kept on growing, until it be-
came a well known landmark, towering
high in air above the little spring at the
forks of the road. But 80 years work
cnouEe--in other things besides trees,
and a slip from the willow had been dis
severed to grow above little mound in
the village graveyard, for the Judge
slept, like true American, not with his
fathers. Every thing else had under
gone changes, if not always improve
ment, and at last came the fearful
changes of the war of the rebellion.
1t was not many days after the Gettys-
burg fight and matronly lady in deep
mourning, supported by fair young
girl similarly clad, walked slowly and
feebly down the sloping road to the
spring.
If there is bough within reach,
dear, would rather gather it myself,
and then if can find where they have