Year: 1869

lily. At the head of the table sat the
venerable grandfather, now eighty
one years of age, who is yet charming
picture of health and strength preserv-
ed in wonderful degree. He had
come alone thousands of miles, from
the distant West, to meet his descend
ants around the festal board of mar
ried daughter. After the dinner,
what could be more appropriately in


order than the narration by the grand


sire of some of the interesting events
in what had proved to him a very ro-


mantle life? His story was long and


fascinating, and some of its main fea-


lures we have gathered for this letter.


We suppress names, but the facts are


already known to not few of the


many constant readers of the Journal.


The hero of the story was born in


the State of New York, and passed


his youth on a fertile farm in the val


ley of the Mohawk river. In the


course Of time he was engaged to be


married. Before the nuptials were


celebrated he became interested in


another young lady who also proved to


be engaged, but between them there


soon sprung up a strong intimacy,


which on the part Of both was careful


ly concealed from the other parties


concerned. They both were convin-


ced that their existing engagements


were not the results Of any Deep


seated love, but that union between


themselves would be productive of


the highest earthly happiness. The


most solemn pledges, however, had


been made by them, and like honor


able persons they shrunk from the


idea of breaking their plighted vows.


In vain they waited hoping that some


thing might occur which would cause


the other parties to give them release


from matrimonial obligations. At


length they met, as they supposed,


quite probably for the last time, and


parted only after pledging each other


love which death only could destroy.


The man married and emigrated to


the West and the woman was united


in hymenial bonds and settled on the


shores of Oneida Lake. These occur


renccs happened nearly fifty years ago.
| The western adventurer proved a
| good husband and a kind father and


grew into middle age widely known


and influential citizen. Prosperity


attended him and wealth and many


friends came to him. After twenty


years of married life his wife was


taken from him, but children remain


ed to gladden. his heart and home.


Sometimes in the twilight hours as
| he gazed over his broad acres and


looked upon his over-fowing gran


aries he would think of his only love,


and that if she were living there was
never a leanness in her basket or store.
By and by several of his children


married one of them came to New


Hampshire. Years passed on and


his hair became silvery white, but he


had never again visited the East.
When certain sweet image foated
in his mind he would endeavor TO for
get it and to convince bimself that


quite likely she had long ago passed


away from earth. This conclusion
was strengthened from the fact
that he had never received in any
way single scrap of intelligence con-


cerning her. After repeated invita-
tions from his relatives he concluded
few months ago to spend with them
; in New Hampshire the then approach
ing festival of Thanksgiving. He
reached Albany at the time Of the
; height Of the late great food, and
: travel being much interrupted he stay
ed over a few days and accidentally
met some old acqualntances of his
youth. During one conversation
there was casually mentioned the
name of her from whom he had many
years ago so sorrowfully parted. Ea,
gerly he asked if she was yet alive,
and when answered in the affirmative
tears came to his eyes, and he told
his friends that he must at once set
out in search for her.


He was told where she was living


only six months previous, and thither


he went with all possible haste, but


she was not there. Only month be-


fore she had gone away. He learned
the direction it was supposed she had
taken, and again with all possible
speed he pushed forward. But fate
seemed against him, for farther and
> farther away seemed to him the object
; of his search. At last, after he had
travelled hundreds of miles, going Of
; ten by night as well as by day, he


found the lost angel of his youth
Words cannot picture the scene of the
!. meeting, and over it we kindly draw
the veil. In moment, as it were,
the history Of their lives went in re-
: view before them, and the sad part
: ing of forty-fve years ago was again
a living reality in their sight. The
! many years Of their separation had
not even dimmed their affection for
each other, and a bright and happy
future seemed dawning upon them.
The story of the woman was one of
: long toll and suffering. After ten
years Of welded life her husband had
!, died of lingering disease, leaving her
: with three children. One after anoth-


er of these treasures were claimed


by death until alone and friendless


she was left to battle with the world.
For time the thought of one whose
> picture was ever in her heart gave her
!. some encouragement and strength
! !. but at length she experienced bitter


despair and to death alone she looked
for relief. In such circumstances was
she found by one who renewed the
; pledge of his youthful affection and
asked that to her happiness he might
devote the remainder of his life
: Such was the grandfather's story at
the happy Thanksgiving dinner and
: he closed by saying that one week


from that day he was to be married


to her who had been so long lost but
7 who was at length restored to him.
a The preparations for the marriage
are now in progress and nothing will
2 L. r.,o nod II, mo- lro 4ho naoocin,, nno nf