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Swot t waxen fingers c la.-f
I'ear, dimpled hands, for
< Hi. pitiless death
With eold. ley hrcath
Blighting my blossom, my sweetest and bast.
ttow I yearn for one kis* from those lips as of old
Ak I pre» to my heart those bright ringlets of gold
My darling arise,
Open wide your bine eyes.
Awake from that slumber so deep and so eold.
tan it be that my tears and my cries are fn v.
Von were always so ready to sooth mamma's
Yea, yea, they are jK.werlesa,
Those lips cold and pulseless,
Can oarer respond to my pleading again.
Oh merciful Saviour bend near me and heat
M y anguish and wailing o'er this little bier,
HoaJ my heart's nailing
Ti'a so near breaking,
illouonly ennst nave me from utter d
Oh! now. through the gloom and the darkness
1 see
fits hands in comjKWion stretched out to me
la accents low falling
Ilia tender tones calling,
foot stricken one, east all th
touch to her room. I want one of
your heliotropes for her window."
, ‘‘Certainly, get it; you can call Jim to take
] it up for y u.”
In a few minutes the happy girl was again
in the pantry relieving Maura Patience of a
telicate part of her work, which the
il v soon accomplished very nicely
“Look in the pantry, Angie: tic
think those cake
Some da vs?"
oung
bread wi
y burden on Me.
your dear child, no .
sheltered safe in My a
more
*haJl sicken or suffer earth's ills ere all o'er.
Wipe away all your tears
few and short are the years
Till you'll meet your lost babe on I be
shore.
SOUTHERN PLANTATION LIFE.
\ True and Ahsorhiog Story »*
Southern l.ile and South
ern Experience*.
Saints Laid on the Savannah River, i:
ijia and South Carolina.
BY <lk(d: HKMISTEAlt.
Utor-
CHA1TER XXVI.
■ How oft the wisest on misfortune's shoi**«
Are wrecked by errors most unlike themselves.
A year has past since we left Meta < Henri
in the summerhouse with the strange, errat
ic soldier. This year had brought bitter ex !
jwrk-uces. The fresh, earnest spirit, though
unbroken, was chafed, bruised and weary.
Thwarted in every fond endeavor, mortified
in her best aspirations, cheated of the com
panionship of her only parent, Meta was like
one far out at sea. reckless of waves and
winds and storms, though without rudder or
sail Her warm, voting heart was chilled
and the hardness of the dominant nature of
the house was warping the fine emotional
chords of the gifted girl.
Mrs.Glenn. ifshe ever comprehended the high
n. dREVY. Prenidein of lli«'
and she spoke so all?
•Gen. Stinsons. He., has been sent by j >n^e Clyde, and she spoke so affectinnately j
went % « • ‘ - **“
the sidewalk to scan the “.heers. that ; she , £his there was ffisap- -^ ilevom.
might see the one form she knew amidst
them all. They all passed her. except the iast
rll „. few companies ot a regiment. Was /**
Stamp Of her step-daughter’s nature, found th ,, re! Must she call and ask one of the ot
that very excellence food to ieed her petty | fi ,. erti who came so near her? She was tini
envv, hate and malice. A great love is pos- id; but ,,1,1 if they should go °«t <« ^ a
si bit* t'i few. but the multitude can dive to j t . lke the ca rs perhaps, and she should mis.
the depths in hatred. ; him entirely! ,
There w as no relief from the tyranny which 1 slu , fc a d nerved herselt to as ‘. ‘. m<1 " ,ih
followed its victims in all the nnmitire of
everv dav life, and as tar up to those higher
endowments of nature as the groveling hands
could reach.
There were two avenues of rest and recre
ation. where Miu Glenn could scarcely in
vade—the study of books, njtenet! to Meta in
her father s library, and the delicate neetlle-
work taught her at school. The gossamer, ,
beautiful fabrics were wrought for no espec
ial purpose, but the employment was a recre
ation from books, anti afforded a certain
quiet pleasure.
Gol. Glenn, harrassed and tortured trom
his own especial inflictions, was distracted
the more on account of his daughter.
“1 wish vou to visit your sister, Meta, and
si-end several months with her in Baltimore.’
said the colonel one evening tv Meta, when
he found her in the room which had been her
mother's boudoir, but which his present wife
turned into a sewing room for the servants.
“No, dear father. I beg you not to send
me there. I much prefer staying here with
pointment lurking
' The father looked inquiringly into his
daughter’s eyes. “The life here is not pleas-
and. my child," he said.
"No. sir; but I cannot see how my going
away would make it better for myself, un
less you went also." . .
••That you know I cannot do Is it be
cause you know that I would miss you tlmt
yon prefer to stay, Meta?
“Yes. father, and I am much happiei than
waiting for an officer to pass near her, as
they often did in commanding the Loops
Finally one was approaching, and she opened
h**r lips to si>eak, when her e> u*ste<i <m
the form of another who had followed close
behind the officer, and was intent on watch
ing his men. Worn from fatigue, and look
ing strange in his well-worn Gonfedeiate
grey.yet familiar, and dear was the fate that
“Mr**Stinson! Oh! I'm so glad to see you"
She had rapidly walked over the sand to j
where he stood, and had grasped his hand in
! tw>th of hers. ]„*«. n#w I
He gazed down into her lace m bewilder |
e<l surprise. , u . j
“Meta*’’ He uttered the one word and ms
tongue refused to speak. She was like an
angel to him, lighting upon bis path of rough
soldier life. , , , .
“I cannot tell vou how glad I am to see
vou. Oh! will you not slop here a day nt
’ least? Please, if you can!"
Speech came to him at last, but he did not
j answer her question.
“Meta vou have surprised me. 1 am s
! rejoiced to see you. Meta! Meta
Jm shone in his eyes as he gazed into the
sweet face, sweeter that there lingered up
on it traces of sorrow.
“But you will stop here* she pelsisted.
“A few minutes, yes: the cars will not
leave for half an hour yet."
* ()h' ym will not remain here an) time
King, uiuugu m —-i * „ *, f i~f V her velvet robes, and
ed by Meta. When she told him of her own , unfit 1 e f ,„; r soft , enticing ways, or
thoughts of him. l.ow precious her U'nh.rcl'l dignity, whichever she chose
were! When she generalized these same sen- ume were m'ccptably received by the
though « r U j i^-bout tlu*. hearts ofthe . people who met
that goal he had attameo hiwm'ib er. | when fm ^,-^puloaswotiiaustrikes blow
Write i against a high-toned opponent,** walk
alks j
to me often, and always remember Meta that j aI tf MwhootMbe can strike a thou- I
of all my pupils that I taught for four.y««. ; S^fAile her honest foe is seeking a
tionatebz ‘regard. "Sffiye;* God bless | single argument.to oppose her
I ltdt utn, p, — ■ w _
I It had all occurred so burnedly, that she I ineof 'the inmates of -
was bewildered with the mingled f nations of j upon the t ^ Meta utterly blighted m
I the joy ami jwiin at seeing this valued < hauDiness, was given over to her
I She was relieved by a fit of tears that came | domestm happiness waa out-growing
unbidden. She passed back to her tousmb i > 4 0 manly requirements which her fath-
weeping. It was no strange %%£ possess H was one of
davs of war m this old city to witness u use | .. ., ,H**ns to 1
u 1 am uiu™ ,, y 1 'i"V‘. 1 I * Tam so disappointed!”
1 could be away. Please remember tins and > And , am s() thankful to have met you.
don’t urge me to go . . vo ,„. I I have thought of you often—was thinking
“I oidy didsomthehc.peoflietteni, your.l . times to-day; tor I knew 1
condition, my daughter Mouldy -u like to n()t ; asK far from your house,
go down to Savannah to-morrow, then . l I .... --■*■ '•“*
i \\ ♦» will VlSll
will drive there by twelve. M e will visit
your cousin Kate and spend the day and
night with her.”
“Yes sir. I will lie glad to go. .
The ride to the city was exhilerating m a
high degree to these two, who at home were
ever in the shadow of a direful domestic an-
scene.
■\Vhen Meta returned with her father to
their home, it was harder to take up, again,
the broken thread of daily existence and go
on This one little rift in the cloud, which
the dav and night in Bavannah had opened
this coming face to face with her beloved
teacher, brought hack the old. happy hie—-
the unclouded hopes, the respectability ot
her condition ami feeling. But as she looked
on those days, the comparison w ith her pres
ent life liecamo intolerable. Fettered, bi oki u,
dishonored, she saw herself a victim, van
quished and w ithout hope. >\ hat was life
when her every movement was under tne
servailance of"a remorseless tyrant? Btie
was iinleed a prisoner, in chains, ami her
keeiH-r, in cold and jiitiless cruelty, was Ul
at ease, if but the joy of a moment crept into
the wounded heart.
The door of escape was ever open, but she
was held back by her faithful affection for
hertather. The bitterest drop, m her c up
was the anguish she felt for his sufferings.
With the low cunning of depravity. Mrs.
. —. ■ —, ........... We will not need to
make more until next, Friday.”
“I hope not. for I know you will not be
disposed to leave your friend long enough to
j stay much in the pantry.”
! “I daresay not, mother. You are so
thoughtful to provide against that. I won
der if Meta has one who thinks so carafu.lv
of her pleasures as my mother does. ”
“I hope she has one who Is wiser and tet
ter, Angie.”
“Khe is always silent about her home, al
ludes to no one in it except her father. How
glad I am that she is coming! You will see
what a splendid girl she is, mother, so smart,
and vet so unpretending.”
“You have already excited my curiosity
my danghter, and I fully expect to see a very
lovable and charming girl.”
Angie had completed her light task, and
went bounding away to the sitting room
w here Jim awaited her with an armful of the
fragrant wild myrtle with which she was go
ing to decorate the fire-placo.
"Miss Angie is happy, sure enuff," said
maum Patience, as she dusted her table and
shelve**. “I nebber knowed her to be so jubi
lated. Hat’s a fine young lady I spec."
“Angie loves her very dearlv,” said Mrs.
Clyde.
“fine of de young ladies from de college ?’’
“Yes. A room-mate and a classmate of
Angie’s.”
“Hie! den day was mos’ sisters. IVell. de
house is fairly shinin' for her. ami de pantry
is mos' broke down <* id vittuls. Ebery wav
dere’s life and contamination. I hopes Miss
Angie will ’jov it. for she’s a fine gal. Missis,
certainly.”
“I hope so, and I believe she will, Patience.
iYurAvaV: , 7 e7Eapjr’. n’Ti?r, , -'sifid uiV my
tress, who thought so much of tins lavonte
negro that she indulged her questions.
"There, now, mother, my tasks are all
done. I’ve only to dress ami wait.
I The dress, dear reader, was made of home-
I spun woven by the dear girl herself. It was
! drab and black, and fitted her well-moulded
form as beautifully as velvet or silk. How
•m. H lest how tasteful were those few new
1. s invented bv the Southern women dur-
' those years when they were shut m from
, outer world! The least vestige ot dis-
was discarded and the rich, lustrous
eves the peach blossom cheeks, were only
more beautiful for the exquisite chastity < f
their apparel. Angie Clyde in her prettv
drab and black homespun, snowy linen ' -el
and blue Confederate braid, that was
nrst, wound around her head, then coiled
around her heavy suit of hair, was a picture
of beauty that needed no other addition to
s quiet simplicity.
\t dusk the carriage rolled up to the t.oor.
and in an instant Angie had bounded down
gravel walk ami was embracing her
friend. There was no place for mere formal
ity in her happy joyousness, and Meta soon
felt the vivifying effect of the .warm, htnrty
welcome. , ,,, .v.
Bv the candle light Col. Glenn saw the
glow of pleasure on his daughter s face, and
the sight touched and pleased him. How sel
dom in the past tw.. years had he seen a
smile like that on her face.
In the early, sunny morning Mi s. Clyde
could not resist the temptation of luring her
friends into her flower-garden. W hererer a
s ,„,t could be found that a flower could stand.
' one was there. There were beds of portu_
laccas verbenas, alvssum and numbers of
| others', where the flowers were in one mass “f
! perfection. The teautiful order evinced the
work of a tasteful and industrious hand.
: “Here are mementoes, Col. Glenn, of
Angie’s father and grandmother This gate
was made by my husband when I fust came
here a bride See. each piece is a little km*t
: of wood selected from the forest. 1 do not
know how many kinds of trees furnished the
i material, He peeled the bark from everv
— piece with his pen-knife, then \ai lushed
for me to come to vou." "You have certainly ns pretty a garm « «■
.‘Then 1 wish, if I find a permanent board- , I ever saw. Mrs. Clyde. It mus. * - -
place, that it be where you can soon reach ; muchjabor j ^ ^ cal] Mch deli ght-
m “That Ls preferable, but this visitmust come f„l recreatimnabor.
accompany you, and then return due. tly to eager to get *■-ut here ° M ®. Clyde
“JSfes, sir: I am ready any time you say ” ' " '
“Then write that to-day week you vv u
leave for her home. I feel greatly relieved, m\
dear child, that you have at last consented
to take this recreation. A ou hav e staid her
until the roses have left your cheeks '
is nothing which has brought me such sor
row as the Isolated life you have led.
He never referred to the cause of this drea
ry life, to his daughter; never alluded to th*
woman who had made many a thorn rankl*
in his heart. It was one of his chain, ter.
tics never to mention a womans nam* nme
french Republic.
the quarter. I wish to walk down tliei
speak to you of a plan 1 have m mind.
1 When thev* were out of sight, Meta
, ........ — .. — z. ; - whom she letter from Angie Clyde, contaminf
though it was unpe*’" 0 ’”- sh " ' >as - ' et
hearted girl,"
drew a
an ur-
very warm and true-
ueaivc*. -■*•, said the father as he finished
the letter and handed it to Meta.
"Yes father, and I think the time has come
when it is best I should go away—at least
while you are absent.”
“I shall only be pleased to gratify yom
wish daughter. You cannot visit Bertha m
Baltimore now, and this friend is so urgent
in her wish to see vou, I advise you to gs>-
“There is one difficulty in the wa). * he
only invites me for a visit, and I might wish
to remain for months."
„ “Yes.” said the father gazing silently on
It was a the ground for a few moments. How eier.
u was a | „ i{ fin(i the visit pleasant
as. as | r sss | —
“““
ft her. gazing at h» . etreatmg forou „ pafiS ed, and left their impression ls ren iote from ra
When you wrote to me last you thought
you would remain in Virginia perhaps du
ring the war. This removal is sudden.
,.v K the country is ill such a state of war- I With the low cunning ok '.-e*. j ■ ,
Inn* that we know" not where the army will Glenn soon discovered what course would
r , t r one week to another.” best serve her desired ends toward ea-h of
' K “Tani so sorry Mr. Stinson you are going j her victims. The fine, chivalnc sense of feel-
to the West. I always think of the counti-y
noyance. reached the city, she . s un ,i e veloped in the ways of social hfe, and
wi w^ing effing one of the principal bus'- | ^ people as reckless; men and women
ness hdreet-s when heard ^tbe^nmw : al 'ke. ^ ^ (lifferent from Virginia, but I
crowd of. slmv . of g C(>I1 ^.<lerates. Meta stopped (think w e will find our soldier file equally as
j -S& .h„ i. ..»■»» tart 1 r'. '.rfsS
— b " nl •s^'tts.isr'sss
very cold and stormy, and if I could l«n e
myWishes you would soon be comfortable.
•‘Thank you, thank you M**ta A ou do not
k„„. ; bow I value you*
weaiber-l«.tti* 1
serv i* e. * , j s he seen them before ? j
familiar. When had ■ when he
“Price Will have a t, e g who
bi. IT*-' .*'« *l~-
where Meta was.
“Whose brigade is it, sir.
r victims. The tine, cmvainc sense *** *> * *
fei'ling, the candid, unbiased spirit of honesty,
that Colonel Glenn had fostered in himselt,
afforded her means of achieving manv an
easy buttle. She could become a helpless
woman, at his mercy, a yielding pious crea
ture, who but craved a single boon, which
strength of mind or purse, enabled him *.0
grant. In this way the acts that were 1 lack
in vice, were clad in velvet softness, anil a
S ood man gave bis hand to their execution.
[is very honor was a mere tool in her nimble
fingers to accomplish purposes from which
he would have recoiled in horror. From sel
fish motives, she refrained from making
er ilesireu sue ’ ; .. . •
Mr*. Glenn’s prime ideas to keep all that in
teresting knowledge concerning housekeeping
lar beyond her step-daughter s reach.
The terrible years of war and Woodshed
were passing over the land The Southern
neople—the women and children. »eie sacri
ficing liberty, luxuries, even comforts that
the remnant of the great army might go on
in its conflict with the foe * air maidens
took the jewels from their lily fingers and
nearly necks; earnest matrons searched their
household treasures and plucked therefrom
the choicest comforts that the soldier on the
march, in the camp, or on the hospita. bed
I Ght not suffer the pangs ot hunger and
—1,1 This grand, general immolation, how
ever was a rule which hail its exceptions.
Mrs. Glenn clung to her jewels, her silks, her
delicate fare and luxurious easy*, while hei
Southern sisters were robing themselves in
homespun and assisting to produce the home
ly food on which the army subsisted Now
and then the temptation to wm popular ap
plause arose beyond her cupidity, and liei
name would appear in “a handsome dona
tion," in one of the newspapers of the day
The spring of i»*M was almost passed. Still
hopefhl, though bleeding at every pore, the
Southern army stood its ground.
I (’< *loiiel Glenn had been for eighteen months
ia the araiv, with many hundreds of hoary
heads who'had gone at the call to aid the de
plete.! forces in the bitter struggle.
If home was thorny in her father’s pres
ence it was doubly so in his absence. I here
was no incentive now to stand at her post and
suffer since he was gone, and Meta was de
termined as soon as she could meet him again
—~>W how 1 value your thought,™ “’mpTent victim, he was too necessary
.S' ThaVeU had a letter Horn | to aid her',,, victimizing others. A bfe time
“s our nauuuwi
in having a mother to teach her these things
Now I have grieved over the neglect m Meta s
education of housekeeping. She is willing,
know to obtain the information, but—— h*
became embaras-e.l and paused,
Mrs. C lyde with ready tact said.
“But everv girl is not so circunistan* ed
that she can learn these things. Now Angie,
teffic only moderately welf -iff, knows she
must acquire this knowledge as a necessity .
.‘Theii while my daughter is with you w ill
you Jiennit her to join yours in her domestic
tics never to mention a womans n = HZ'n^an supte^bolh to nteandhe^elf.
he did so respectfully. This was an n ben nt , than y ou. an . uj 1 ^ svUi , h cau
trait in his character which a thev ! ,,le.ise or orotit vour daughter that we will
M. J. Glenns could not uproot th* u gh hm , ,iber. I think, too, she will
plucked at his heart-strings with feel more at home aud happier with Angie
talons. i d her work, though I expect very little
! f rom iKitb of them, they are so happy to-
CHAFTER XX\ II. | ^finally they found their way into tlie sum
Angie’s face shone like a sunteam. 1 j mer hoU9e . which had employed the elder
think, dear mother, she will be here to-mgUt Mr- Clyde in his old age. . ...
yes, to-night.” , . | “Youmust value this;beaut.ful wort..ladies
Th. mother wl > fully shared the daugh- f its singular perfection and trom tl* fa*
teris liappv aidicipatioiis, turned from her | that the hands that did the work were those
tei s hai i y * stirring in the mgreili- 0 f an aged kinsman. I can well understan*!
enTs of a fmit-cake" and looked into the ani how the geometrical arrangement of these
sti&stgfer—r.
"'“y daughwi', I > ™ i “KSSSSIR -S*
be ter youfbut ^1'P^ ^"fe^Icethat applTteiTbSt ttle^d bke chddren, are often
"^s^ffiustng^ce At las t Colonel Glenn -sjust tengenoughjo telpl \ to amuse and eh*** the nnnd.
with me to j Ca “Yes, mother dear, as soon as I «•««*, To be Continued.
1 tjiFLjvt wr