Year: 1861

! "aipliug VoiCe rlVallnS tnem anu making
richest music for the car of her loving ia
ther.


But one so pure and lovely as our sweet
Lena was not always to live fancy free
the one that should sway her heart, would
soon take possession of it. Henry Lorng,
came to spend summer at Elmdae to
regain his health which was seriously i'm
paired when Lena had completed her sew
enteenth year; he was southerner by
birth, Of good family, wealthy handsome
and the object of envy with the rival bellies
OF Elmdale. He soon met Lena and at
once surrendered his heart 10 her keeping
and Lena--well she soon learned that
sweetest of all lessons---to love, for Harry
was skilltul teacher and Lena was an
apt scholar and she prospered so well un.
der his teaching that in six months after
their first meeting she had promised to be
his pupil for life. Henry Loring was in
deed all that was true and noble, and her
father felt that in giving his daughter to
him, he had given her to mc that was
worthy the trust, and that would make his
darling happy; yet, as he witnessed the
vows they took upon themselves on their
bridal eve, he felt the warm tears roll
down his check for now she must leave
him, leave the fond sheltering arms that
had SO lovingly protected her that the
winds of heaven did not blow to roughly
upon her. Yes on the morrow she was to
follow her husband to the south there to
commence the lesson of life.


Turn again with us to the opening scene.
Fairy forms were Citing to and fro through
the windings of the merry dance /; happi
ness beamiug in every eye and smiles
wreathing every lip, for Lena the pot of
every one was happy, so happy that she
seemed to inlusc her spirit into every one
that looked upon her love.lit countcuancc.


The morrow came, carriage stood at
the door, all things were in readiness, and
nothing more remained to be done but to
utter the last farewell. fearful indeed
was the parting scene. Lena cluug to the
parent as if the parting would sunder her
very heart strings, the Judge pressed her
to his heart and with "God bless and
keep you my daughter resigned her to
the arms Of her husband and returned to
his now lonely and dcsoiate house.


A pleasant journey and husbands dc.
votion soon dispelIcd the gloom from the
heart of the young bride, and by degrees
she became as interested in the description
of the home to which she was going, a, the
delighted husband would have wished and
was ready eyclaim with the moabites
"whithcr thou goest will 1 so and thy pco.
pie shall be my people and thy God my
God"


Pass We over the scenes of the next two
years, and now reader go with us in i'm
agination to the south, the sunny south,
and as we journey along through the Old
Dominion; let us approach yonder plan.
tation. As VIC roll up the broad avenue
we behold numerous descendants of Hams
down trodden race performing their allot
ted duties, and as we approach the man
sion We are greeted by grin an doff Of
an old beaver, as the owner thereof steps
forward to take care of the horses. Let
us enter. Beauty, elegance, luxury and
comfort, are the first impressions We re-
ceive as we wander through the deserted
rooms, (for we see no one but servants)
but we mount the broad stair case and en-
ter the chamber which We see throu., h the
half open door. Seated near q window
through which steals the sweetest perfume
from the flowers below, we behold oar lie,
ma. Time has made no alteration in her
she is the same beautiful and child like be-
ing we left her two years ago. yet still there
is CHANGE the deepest holicSt emotion of
her womar's heart has been drawn out,for
she is now mother. Oh how her heart
thrills with rapture to cxquisit at the
thought, and as she presses the little help
lass form to her heart, she wonders why
such trust was reposed to her keeping,
her, so little experienced in the ways OF
the world, but she would try SO earnestly
to guide Alright the immortal soul, aud
raising her eyes to heaven she uttcrs the
thanksgiving of her heart. Ithauk thee
for this thy gift my treasure. son !
Father give me wisdom to guide this little
one arIght, that l may have coed account
of my stewardship to give when thou com.
est to make up thy jewels" But manly
| stnn is lnnrd OH The staircase and in annth.