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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