Year: 1861

|
the Young and thoughtless Harry Wood; pledge
with wine :" ran through the crowd


The beautiful bride grew pale-the decisive
hour had come. She pressed her white hands
together. and the leaves of her bridal wreath
trembled on her pure brow her breath came
quicker and her heart beat wilder.


"a Yes. Marion, lay aside your scruples for this
once" said the Judge, in a low tone, going
towards his daughter, F." the company expect it.
Do not so seriously infringe upon the rules OF
etiquette in your own home act as you please
but in mine, for this once, please me-"


Every eye was turned towards the bridal pair
Marion's principles were well known-Henry
had been o cOnvivialist, but OF late his friends
noticed the change in his manners aud the differ
ence in his habits and tonight they watched
to see, as they sneeringly said, if he was tied
down to woman's opinion so soon.


Pouring u brimming beaker, they held il with
tempting smiles towards Marion She was very
pale, though more composed and her hand shook
not, as smiling back, she gracefully accepted the
crystal temper, and raised to her lips. But
scarcely had she done so, when every hand was
arrested by her piercing exclamation of oh
how terrible ~


"What is it!" cried one and all, thronging
together, for she had slowly carried the glass at
arms length, and was fXedly regarding it as
though it were some hideous object.


"Wait |" she answered, while an inspired light
shone from her dark eyes, "w wait, and will tell
you see," she added, slowly, pointing one
jeweled finger at the sparkling liquid-"a sight
that beggars all description and yet, listen--l
will paint it for you if can. 1t is lonely spot
tall mountains crowned with verdure rise in aw-
| full sublimity around river runs through and
bright flowers grow to the waters edge. There
! is thick warm mist, that the sun seeks vainly
to pierce Trees lofty and beautiful, wave to
the airv motion of the birds but therc-a group
of Indians gather they fit to and fro, with some
thing like sorrow upon their dark brows Ana IN
their midst lies a manly form-but his dark chee K
how deadly, his eyes wild with the ttful fire OF
fever. One friend stands beside him-nay, l
should say kneels, for see, he is plllowlng that
poor head upon his breast.


| Genius in ruins-oh! the high, holy looking
brow, why should death mark 1T, and he so young
Look how he throws back the damp curls see
him clasp his hands hear his thrilling shrek'
for life ! mark how he clutches at the form OF his
companion, implorng to be saved. Oh! heal
him call pteously his fathers name-see him
twine his fingers together az he shrieks for bis
sister-the only sister-the twin OF his soul
weeping for him in his distant nativs land"


"See.n she exclaimed, while the bridal party
shrank back. the untasted wine trembling IN their
grasp, and the Judge fell overpowered, upon ms
seat" see his arms are lifted to heaven-he
nravs. how wildly, for mercy fever rushcs
! through his veins His friend beside him is
weeping awe stricken the dark men move
silently away, and leave the living and dying
| together"


There was hush in that princely parlor,
broken only by what seemed smothered sol
| from some manly bosom. The bride stood yet
upright, with qnivering lip, and tears stealing to
the outward edge of her lashes. Her beautiful
arm had lost its extension, and the glass with its
| little troubled red waves came slowly towards
the range of her vision She spoke again every
| lip was mute. Her voice was low faint, yet
awfully distinct she still fixed her eyes upon
the wine cup.


"It is evening now the pale white moon is
comming up, and her beams lie gently on bis
forehead. He moves not his eyes set in
their sockets dim are their piercing glances in
vain his friend whispers the name Of father and
sister. Death-and no soft hand, no gentle voice
to soothe him. His head sinks back one con
vulsive shudder-he is dead"


A groan ran through the assembly, SO vivid
her description so unearthly her look, so inspired
her manner, that what she had described seemed
actually to have taken place then and there
They noticed also the bridegroom hid his face
in his hands and was weeping.


" Dead" she repeated again, her lips culver
ing faster, and her voice more broken " and
there they scoop him grave, and there, without
a shroud, they lay him in the damp, reeking earth
The only son of proud father, the only idolized
brother of fond sister And he sleeps oday
in that distant country, with no stone to mark
the spot. There he lles-my fathers SONNY
own twin brother IA victim to this deadly poi
son Father" she exclaimed, turning suddenly
while the tears rained down her beautiful cheeks
" shall drink it now?"


The form Of the old Judge was cOnvulsed with
agony. He raised not his head but in a snothered
voice faltered-"no, no, my child, in Gods
namc--nO !"


She lifted the gittering goblet, and letting it
fail suddenly to the floor, it was dashed in a
thousand pieces. Many fearful eye watched
her movement and nstantaneously every wine
glass was transferred to the marble table on
which it had been prepared. Then as she looked
at the fragments OF crystal she turned to the
company saying, "let no friend hereafter who
loves me, ask me to peril my soul for wine ! Not
frmer are the everlasting hills than my resolve,
God helping me, never to touch or taste that
terrible poison. And he to whom have given
my hand-who watched over my brothers dying
! form in that last solemn hour, and buried the
dear wanderer there by the river in that land OF
gold, will, | trust, sustain me in that resolve.
| Will you not my husbandY'


| His glstening eye, his sad sweet smile was
her answer The Judge left the room, and when
an hour after he returned, and with a more sub
dued manner took part in the entertainment OF
the bridal guests one could fail to see that he,
too, had determined to Danish the enemy at once
and forever from his prncely home.


Those who were present at that wedding can
never forget the impression so solemnly made.
Many from that hour foreswore the social glass.


KEEP THE BABY WARM--An experienced moth
or tells the whole race of mothers that -