Year: 1871

and all you nave told me, seemI


like the shadow of a dream


SupposiDg that she would like


some time to compose her mind, anC


consider upon the matter, took my
leave for afew hours with the promise


to return to dinner. 1 strolled out


to view the city, and after lounging


about until / was Wearied with the


exercise, l directed my steps again


to the house of Mrs. Morris. I was


welcomed by the good lady, with the


warmth and affection of son, and


on entering the drawing room, was
presented to her daughter, the fail
minstrel of the preceding evening


She was not exactly what a superb


cial observer would call pretty, but 8


look of intelligence spread over her


features and rendered them interest


ing, and in her dark, bright eye


dwelt the spirit of noble nature.


l need not detail the conversation


that eDsued during dinner, but was


made to answer a thousand ques.
tions, and to repeat for the hundreth


time, every minute circumstance
connected with the hermit.-Before


l retired to my hotel, it was arranged
that on my return home, they would
accompany me as far as my native


village, and endeavor to discover


the fate of our friend. Ny depart


ure was fixed for the following day,
and at sunrise we commenced our
Journey.


On the evening Of the fifth dsy,
we reached the summit of the hill,
that overlooks the little village Of B.
The sun was just setting-throwing
over the landscape it's richest light,
and investing the scene with all the
magic charms of an evening in
autumn. We gazed in silence upon
the quiet village, spread out below
lika a map-and all the feelings OF
Imy boyhood came rushing through
my bosom, bringing back the mem
ories Of other days, with the fresh
ness of reality. The old village
church stood towering high above
the surrounding buildings. and as
my eye caught its lofty spire a thrill
of deep feeling passed through my
heart, for there by its side, in the
stiffness Of the grave rested all that
was mortal, ofmy once loved mother.


As we entered the Village, /
pointed out to my companions, the
old mansion where my father once
lived-the little Office with its green
window blinds, where 1 first opened
my eyes upon the pages of Bacon
and Blackstone, and the neat village
inn, at which, in due time our car
riage was stopped.


When supper was over, a consul
tation was held in regard to the man
ner Of proceeding the next day. The
hermit was known to none Of the
V llagers, and knew that inquiries
of them would be useless. 1 there
fore resolved, that as soon as it was
light, to proceed to the mountain, in
search Of the old cave, and if time
had dealt kindly, with my friend,
| was almost certain Of meeting him
there.


That night l slept little. l was
impatient to meet with Mr. Morris.
and pour into his bereaved heart the
glad tidings was bearing 70 mis-
ear. l had also, recently made an
other discovery, which haunted me
day and night. Bachelor as l was,
1 could not help thinking that Emily
Morris was at least an Interesting
girl, though the fact is, was so alb
sorbed in my pursuit after her father
that had thought but little about
it.


l arose early the next morning,
and after partaking of a slight break
fast, prepared to depart. provided
myself with a light fowling piece,
and long before noon I stood upon
the rock where I had so narrowly
escaped death.


1t was the utmost difficulty that l
could trace the path from this point.
The brush had choked up the way,
and impeded my progress, and when
l reached the door of the hut l was
nearly exhausted. I pushed open
the door and entered. No person
was there. The embers were flying
upon the hearth, the bed was gone,
the seat and table destroyed, and the
only thing the room contained was
bundle of clothes tied up in a hand
kerchief and strung upon stick.
While l stood surveying in mute sur
prise these various changes, a man
entered the hut. / turned and saw
a gentleman apparently forty years
Did, dressed in the style of the day,
though his clothes were made of
coarse MATERIAL, and in his hand he
held a long rife ornsmented with
silver. He seemtd astonished at
inding a stranger there, and rudely
demanded the cause of the intrusion.
The sound of the voice was familiar
Ind upon a closer closer scrutiny 1
discovered in the metamorphosed
gentleman before me, my old friend.


held out my hand, exclaiming
Do you not know me? Though if l
lad altered as much as you appear
o have done, l should not ask the
question:


After a moments hesitation, he
eemed to recognize me, and grasp t
ng my hand, he wrung it almost
rom my arm.


oh said he, 4 am rejoiced at i
his opportunity of seeing you once t
more. and had you come one hour s
ster. should have been as one dead {
o this place and you. l see by /
our looks that you are surprised at I
he change in my appearance, and I
yell you may be, for l should scarce l
now myself. l have come to the