The Irish standard., 1888-09-29

st. s,5e Clair; as BIT it f sas
MGXg1Nf5A. eastern shore Of Mich
NNr"' III igan, crystal clear,
mile wide, two hundred feet deep-a very
epic poem written in WAGER by Natures
own hand
At q bend il its course, half way between
the two lakes it connects, stands q substan-
tial farmhouse surrounded by neat outbuild-
sngs and blossoning orchards 1t is from
Che latter feature that it inherits its name
1.-The Orchard House.
And In that pretty dwelling lives family
which has history.
When you look at the little summer-house
In the garden, which was evidently once
Che pilot-houss of steamer, aud SEES the
Boating in this breeze, you are prepared to
10 told that II is the home of q sailor.
Il very old, weather beaten hulk is Daniel
Winthrop now, but in the year when my
htory opens, nearly three decades ago,he was
hals, well-preserved man Of sixty, whose
a:lvery hair was the only external Fremont
kicn OF advancing age.
Hhan the glad spring sun Of 1861 was tint
Ing the surface of his beloved river with
every huc OF the rainbow, who had q creator
Eight 10 say: "The Lord has prospered mo
sud my CUP is full Of joy" than Daniel Win
Shyop?
Nor thirty years he had sailed the LAKES as
captain Of his own ships. Before "the PES
hy railroads. IS hs expressed it, had
s'dropped tie bottom out of ireights," he
had maaa money 'tIland ever dst," and
while yet enjoying tho yigor OF man
hocd, had settled DOWN to retirement
in 81 sailor's Elysiuua-a .vell-stocked farm
house, where he could sit on his OWN stoop
and watch the vessels glide by and the
ever-changing beauty OF the lordly river.
Eut he had bigger treasures than bank
Attacks, bread acres and shares in ships
his wife, Martha, who was the sweetest,
simplest helpmate that ever made sunshine
in mans home; his daughter, Nell, jnsS
5wsnty years old, whom he had done ms
best to spoil, but whose gentle 1aature he'd
been proof against every indusgeace; and
mis- son, Harry, four years older than ais
darling daughter: who had never given
him az hours anxiety, but had been stu
aiously Inclined had taken fair degree at
college, and was now occupying well paid
o distant city
Moreover, during that winter bis home
had boen Enlightened by the visit Of radi~
AuG EAlt n.tttC II AUIAopo@4A3 oIIo <""sS eAoSA
CT s. distant relstive of his wife, who had
ynarrlcd % Southern gentleman living in the
Shenandoah valley, aud the cid sailor had
learned to Love the beautiful young Virgin
fan maiden, who became especially dear to
sim ;vhan he learned that che had promised
to become his son's wife,
I,ut lightning came out Of O clear Sly and
struck the Winthrop homestead--as 1t did
the whole fair land, which had for years
been baskiug in tbs sunshine Of prosperity.
Fort Sumter had surrendered, and the
terrible war OF secession was q reality.
An american Of Americans. coming Of an
al6 Puritan stock OF New England, Daniel
Winthrop's heart was aftame with honest
Indignation.
Thus, cue day in spring, just as the big
ice barriers of winter had been swept away
and the glorious waters of his loved river,
rejoicing to be free, were once luore rolling
Ia their accustomed grandeur, Daniel Win
throp SGT in the ''best room' Of his farm
housesiu council with his women folk.
In his hand he held & letter, which a boy
had brought from t. neig hboring post-otace.
eyes," he said, in reply to the appealing
locks Of the ladies, as be hastily Skinned
It's contents; sit Is from Harry, sure
enough. Don't take on about it, mother
bnt he's done just what Winthrop should
do whoa his country calls on him; he's"
s'Not euhsted!' Martha gasped, her face
willis as her snowy apron.
'"rhat is just what the high spirited lad
has done, God bless hinl!" the farmer
ehuck}ed. "Pshawl Martha, am aston
ishea at you. What is there to whjmper
abnuta 1t won't take more than month or
two to bring these stubborn reos to their
knees, ind them
He paused abruptly, for Kate Frobisham
was standing before him with flashing eyes
ana heayiug bosom.
"Captair Winthrop" she said, speaking
more calmly for her suppressed passion,
sslas nue. retire before you have said what
would make me forget all your kindness.
Ghis night I leave your house to return to
my own people; do not make my parting
more bitter than is necessary"
:Why, God bless my life," winthrop
stammered, "you don't mean to say that
you are at heart q rebel-you, a gentle
toyable girl not six months out Of school
The thing is preposterous. %
"I am Southerner,' Kate said, quietly;
"and I never was so proud Of tho land Of
my birth as am at this moment The
mssnest trooper in my brothers. regiment
Is, III my eyes, a hero.''
t:And Harry; my boy, Harry'" the father
pleaded. ..
"Is no more to me, Captain Winthrop
than any other Of the band Of marauders
whose ranks he has joined''
"Oh, Kater' Neil sobbingly reproached
Hsnd he loves you sop
"And loved him, Nell. All, God knows
how loved him. the girl Acknowledged
with tr6m17lous lips,
"Then, surely you will
"Never Of my own accord set eyes OF
him again. It is my one hope that may
be able to forget his cruelty aud mourn fol
hum as one who is dead.''
aHush, child, hushp Martha WinthreI
interposed; "you do not know what you ar
Aye added the Captain, soothingly
edo not say In haste, lass. what you vii
repent of at leisure. And, IS for your 60
! sing home, that is matter which"
Is all provided for, SIR"
"Eh, how soi''
There was q flush Of indignant surprise q
81 & he asked the question, for it was hard To-
IL lim to believe that the girl he had though
Ca 10 Harry's wife had delberatel!
Sher plans 70 return home witho t