The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-02-19

a moment, said, quletly-"My
father-he is dead!"
CHAPTER VII.
"Oh my son Absalom would to God had died
for thee !-oh Absalom my son !"-Sanuel 1s- -333
About year had passed away
since the mysterious disappearance
of little Rose, and no trace could be
discovered, no tidings heard of the
lost child.
The vernal season had robed and
decked the landscape in all it's
voluptuous splendor. The soft
breezes of early summer, laden with
perfume from the Towering mea-
dows, swept quietly and sweetly
through the lattice, through which
Mrs. Greenberry, seated by her
husbands side, was gazing on the
witching and voluptuous prospect
of sloping lawns, widening meadows
and green woodlands that lay ex-
panded and inviting to the admir-
ing view.
But the lady gazed in sadness on
the scenes of lovliness that smiled
in their vernal bloom, wooing the
heart away from life's dull cares to
a realm of ideal beauty, where the
soul, mounting on Fancy's airy
wings, may disport and bask in the
heaven of poesy. But instead of
joyous and pleasant sensations,
feelings of melancholy and depres-
sion pervaded the breast of Mrs.
Greenberry, for they brought
back anew the reminiscence of
poor little Rose. Where was
she now9 She, who had gam
boiled over these green lawns in
childish mirth, and rolled amongst
the flowers. And the balmy
zephyrs, playing with the tender
foliage, and signing softly through
green arbors, had once played with
the sunny curls of that fair daugh-
ter, who was now lost! lost and
fan d the damask rose on her cheek
fairer than the rose of the garden.
CHOW beautiful these scenes, yet
how sad the recollections they
awaken" remarked Mrs. Green
berry to her husband, after she had
mused long in silence, "and what
train of calamities are about to fol-
low fast in the footsteps of that ter
rible misfortune which deprived us
of poor little Rose! Truly it has
been said that evils come not alone.n
"Emeline," said the husband,
and he looked into his wife's face,
eve should not murmur against
seeming misfortunes that have be-
fallen us, nor dread anticipated
evils. The upright are promised
light in the midst of darkness, and
we should act in a manner that the
past will always be bright and
pleasant spot for memory to turn
tO.n
"Though," replied Mrs. Green
berry, eve have ever acted from
the promptings of virtue and benev-
olence, yet these scenes-though not
from any act on our partly their
very lOvliness create a feeling of
sorrow and gloom"
''But you should find consolation
in the teaching that all things work
together for Gods glory, and their
own good. Rose has been doubtless
snatched away, that the Christening
rod of adversely may prepare us to
receive some more precious and
valuable gift"
"NOthing at least that the world
can bestow," returned Mrs. Green
berry, "can bemore precious or more
dear to me than that which thedying
had placed under my protection,
and enjoined me, with a parting
breath, to deal tenderly with, and
yet | have lost her-and how? Not
by the unaverting stroke of death,
to which all must quietly submit?
yet in her health and bloom has
she gone-but where and how who
can tell?"
"Think not, however," replied
Mr.. Greenberry, "that little Rose,
on the earth, or slumbering
in its bosom, is lost or deserted
the pure and innocent are never
or abandoned. But
who are those two men that ap-
proach the mansion 20 and the
speaker directed his wife to two
persons who came slowly up the
road.
"One is Mr.. Riley" replied the
lady. ga kind friend we have in
him, at least. What a great pity
he is carried away so often from the
path of rectitude by the temptations
of intemperance!" !"
But her lord made no reply, and