The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-04-02

strains OF a low warbler might b'
heard at intervals, borne slowly OF
the autumn breeze like a dirge
the sea. The Wallo-wish rolled
along the waters with a hoarsel
flow, as they swept by the fading
drapery that festooned it banks
and
| ''The fowers-the gay young flowers,
| That lately bloomed and stood,
| In brighter light and softer airs.
| beauteous sisterhood,"
had dropped before the whitening
breath of the destroyer, strewing
their beauty On the ground.
Mournful and sad was the sigh
of the wind, as though it were the
wall DER Beauty's bier, sweeping
the scared foliage from the boughs,
and scattering the brown leaves
with faded flowers along the wood
land lea. In a word-all Nature
owned that soft impulse-the first
whitening touch of decay which
steals over her in the fitful and
hectic blush OF autumn.
Ernest and his betrOthed, for such
now was Rose, were straying along
the dark stream, in one of those
delightful days peculiar to the
season, viewing the old familiar
scenes among which Rose had pass
ed her lonely hours of childhood,
and grown up tender and beautiful
as one of the wild flowers that
bloomed among the rocks of her
secluded home. The two lovers
gradually drew near the mansion
which had been the home of Roses
infancy. They paused and gazed
in silence on the crumbling pile
the deserted Hall.
For gloom had gathered DER the gate"
and desolation seemed to have
passed over, leaving its footsteps of
decay on all around. A small blue
thread of smoke quietly curled
above the cliff from one of the
chimneys, the only sight that be-
tokened life about the desolate spot.
"Ah let's enter the old Hall, -
said Rose, sadly, "and see old Nina,
and, if possible, persuade her to
leave this lonely place and live with
u.s."
The young couple entered the
decaying pile. In the smoky
kitchen they found the old woman
seated, solitary and alone, on her
Old chair, resting her forehead on
her hand. A faint blaze fickered
on the smoke begrimed hearth.
At the entrance of Rose and
Ernest, the old woman looked up,
shading her eyes with her hands.
"Gor bless you, honey!" she
said. "Hab you come to see old
Nina? l was just thinkin' about
you, honey, an wonderin' if you
had forgot your ole nuss, that used
to tote you about in her arms; an
here you've come to see the old
woman. Well, dat is kim, dat is
kim not to forget me altogether. :"
"Oh, no, we have not forgotten
you," said Rose, affected by the old
woman's simple speech, "but just
come to take you with us, if you
will go, where you can be provided
with everything that will contrib
ute to your comfort and happiness" F"
eyes, come with us, old MOTHER"
said Ernest, ''and you shall never
want while we have anything to
bestow."
"De Lor' bless you, children! ye
mean to be kim to ole Nina-I
know ye do," replied the old
woman; "but let me stay here-no,
no, don't AK me to leab de ole place.
| want to lay my ole head down in
desc walls, when de Lor' please to
call for me, an die. Misses is gone
now, an Massa Davy, an ole Massa
of all, died here-poor man! All
gone, gone away to der long home,
where old Nina must soon follow.
All, honey, dat was a sad business
to tell about de grave. Poor woman
You oughtn't to tole on your
nanny; but you didn't know
honey"
"Oh, well, come with u.s." said
Ernest, with an effort that required
all his manly fortitude to keep from
giving way to the sOrrowful i'm
pulses of the moment, while Rose
stood weeping by his side. "Come
with us, and leave these scenes
which awaken so many sorrowful
rememhrances; forget what is past,
and have everything you wish to
make you happy"
"Ah, Lor', honey, dis ole head
can neber forget de past till it
sleeps in de silent grave. No, no,
children, l can't go-ye mean to be
kim, | know ye debut let me lib
an die among de ole scenes. Ole
Nina'll soon sleep along wild de
Missis and Massa, an all. Poor
woman! To come to such an end
it makes a body cry to think of it"
and the tears ran down her with
cred cheeks.
'Tis pleasant to see the young
waaD- -thair transient SOrrOw naSS