Milford chronicle., 1883-10-12

found himself ere long opposite a ittl'
graveyard, whose monuments had moth
ing to arrest attention, but whose quie
beauty entranced one at a glance. Reu
ben leaned with folded hands on the
white stile and was soon lost in fresh
thought. Memory carried him back tC
the day his mother died, and he saw
himself again in childish grief, bending,
half in wonder, half in awe, over the
open grave, and then kissing white
rosebud from neighboring bush and
casting it on to the coffin, and then he
thought of the after visits he had paid it
whenitwas green and fowery, ,andremem-
bered how many times he had wished he
could have slept beside her. Tears
streamed down his cheeks as he leaned
there; those holy tears which come un-
hidden to wash the heart of the dust
that has gathered ON its beauty.
Suddenly he started A low, sweet
strain fitted by on the evening breeze,
and to his highly-wrought feelings it
seemed at first like the angel voice of
her he mourned. But he soon rallied
himself, and listening closely, discerned
that it came from locust grove in a
distant corner of the yard, and he felt
intuitively that it was the night hymn
of the Lily sung over the grave of her
buried loves.
He forbore to disturb the solemnity
of the spot by seeking the acquaintance
he desired, and so he turned from the
stile, and passing on, threw himself on
bank of violets beside the stream, and
was soon lost in delicious revery.
ga beautiful spring night, sir" said
a mild voice soon, and starting up the
young man found himself face to face
with the aged pastor, on whose arm
leaned the fair young mourner.
'You are a stranger, sir, take it,
here. I noticed you in church, and I
should have spoken to you there, but I
had no chance. We are plain, simple
people here, but mean to do our duty,
and if while you tarTy I can be Of SER
vice, you may command me.
1t was a courteous greeting, not so
much in words as in the fatherly man.
ner of the gray-haired man, and Reuben
offered his hand warmly and expressed
his thanks for the kindness, and as he
walked back to the village with them,
charmed them with his high-toned
thoughts, and the three were each re-
gretful when the pastors gate was
reached.
'Let us see you here tomorrow, "
said he, as he led the Lily in, for she
was his dove-like blessing, cor tonight,
even, if apart from home, family altar
should be longed for.
"I have longed for it since my mother
died, said the young man with a touch
ing pathos.
"Come with us then, sir. We have
few forms, but we trust our hearts are
rights" and he ushered Reuben into the
little study, and for a while they sat
there in the calm moonlight, not con-
versing with each other, but uttering as
they CHANGED, the holy thoughts which
begged for an expression.
At an early hour an aged female do
nestle entered with lights, and drew a
stand to the pastors side. BE turned
over the leaves of the family Bible till
he had selected a chapter, and then
passed it to the young man, saying:
"My eyes grow dim; let me borrow
yours
Reuben took the holy volume rever-
emily, and read in clear, thrilling tones,
those glorious passages from st. John,
commencing: "Let not your heart be
troubled" When he had closed, the
pastor turned to Lily for the hymn. 1t
quivered on her lips, but the sacred
emotions of her heart were too powerful
for her weakened frame, and the words
hung there in uttered music. Reuben's
keen ear had caught the strain, though,
and his rich voice harmonized fully with
the lofty words as he sung it through.
Then the aged man bent his knee and
prayed. And while he took in the
whole world in his petition, he yet
pleaded earnestly and individually for the
gentle girl he had taken to his heart,
and for the stranger who worshiped
with them, and subdued as his human
feelings were, the young man was yet
conscious of a sudden thrill of Joy when
he heard himself thus coupled in solemn
PRAYER with the beauteous Lily.
Only snatches Of sleep came to him
l1 .:14 ..,.,nt nf it rrns snent in