The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-02-12
CHAPTER III,

CHAPTER III.
| "Lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and
gone. The flowers appear on earth--the time OF
| the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the
turtle is heard in our land d'-So1omon's Songs.
Mr.. Tomlin's death occurred in
the early part of March, and for a
space shed its wonted gloom over
the family. But the wave of Time,
rolling onward to eternity, soon
sweeps the traces of sorrow from
the past, as the ocean surge cblite-
rates the stroller's footprints from
the sand. The angry dirge Of
winter was lost in the balmy breeze
of spring-the flowers again ap-
pear upon earth-the woodlands
put on their green robes, and the
sylvan songsters awaked their soft
notes among the blooming bowers.
Three years of genial health
twined the airy ringlets about the
infant brow of little Rose, and
tinted her dimpled cheeks with the
ruby flush of childhood. Her
volatile gambols with little Ernest,
her twin brother in every other re-
spect but by birth, were beginning
to delight the maternal eye, and joy
the parental bosom of Mrs. Green
berry.
But it too often happens, where
affection chains the heart to an
object, disappointment bursts the
links asunder, dispelling our
blighted hopes, and frustrating our
fondest desires. Mrs. Greenberry
was destined soon to feel all the
anguish of a bereaved mother, in
the loss of her too fondly cherished
flower; and with tenfold force did
that blow seem to fall. on her, who
had been enjoined, as it were, by
IL voice from the tomb, to bestow
her maternal regard on the desti-
tute Rose.
1t was soft, balmy evening, in
the blooming month of June, that
the two children, attended by their
nurse, were at play on the bank OF
small stream which meandered
through the Towering meadows that
margined the sloping lawn, stretch.
ing away, with a gentle declivity,
from the mansion, till terminating
in empowering woods and deep
tangled brakes. The road leading
to the dwelling of the late John j.
Tomlin,,, now occupied by Mr.
Greenberry and family, held its
course through the forest, and
crossed the brook near the spot
where the nurse, with her tender
charge, was Willing away the hours
) in childish sports. A peddler,
= worn and weary with his ponder
Gus pack, happening along the
read at this time, disengaged him
self of his miscellaneous burden,
when he came near the girl, and
wiping the perspiration from his
brow, seated himself OH the way
side, and commenced chafferine
with her for the sale of his wares,
81 say, my pretty maid, don't
you want to buy some fine tings?
commenced the peddler. "You
wants tress shawl sell you one
sheap."
81 believe not, sir" replied the
girl; 81 have no money!
woman's invariable reply when she
is about driving a bargain-"but
I'll look at some of your goods, il
it is not giving you too much
trouble"
"Oh, no trouple, no trouple-me
show te ladies tie fine tings."
And the strolling dry goods
dealer commenced unbuckling his
shop, and displaying a great variety
of female trickery. Accordingly
the goods were all unpacked, com
mended by the merchant, and ad
mired by the maid, and repackeC
again without the poor peddler be-
ing able to effect sale. Then thu
desire was expressed to look a
some of his jewelry-perhaps ther'
was something in this department
she W, ,uld like to purchase, round
= ing off every period still with pro
testations of regret for the unneces
sary trouble the gentleman wa
: putting himself to on her account
] and with a delicate hint at the low
state of finances. The peddler mex
produced his trinkets in grea
variety. Breast pins, clasps, fnge
rings, plain and with sets, gol(
pens, silver pencil cases, guards
chains, pearl necklaces, and, il
short, every thing of the specie
that has powerto attract female eyes
and capitivate the feminine heart
were displayed in glittering array
examined by the girl with man!
enconiums, and replaced in thei
casket again, as new objects o
admiration appeared. The girl ha'