LOVE'S WINTER. Verily, from others' griefs are gendered sympathy and kindness; thing. The next whiff of smoke was speechless with astonishment, and that gentleman whistled it away as if he were rejecting the statement of his spouse. "That can't be, sure enough," said he with fond Patience, humility, and faith, spring not seldom from thine incredulity. own.- -Tupper. I. "Ain't it though-read that." Here Mrs. Nance flung the affirmation in his face in the shape of an invitation card. The article fell on the floor and Nance stooped to recover it; he thereupon read it over-may be twice-then fell into a profound reverie. He might have remained so until the end of time—or at least until the wedding-day, had he not been interrupted by an untoward circumstance. "See there!" exclaimed Mrs. Nance. "Lord love the man!" "How in the wide world came it so?" Now if Mrs. Nance had been conscious that in the very act of taking her eyes from her work and fixing them on the bright fire, and at the same time uttering this question of latitude, she was metamorphosing herself into a Sphynx; and that neither coals of fire, nor the andirons, nor even Mr. Nance, who sat opposite with his pipe, were derivatives from Edipus, nor even resem- Now the cause of this startling invocation was bled that individual in having swollen feet-we after this wise. In stooping to pick up the card, say had Mrs. N. been conscious of these things, Mr. N's pipe had heaped coals of fire on the head she would no more have asked this question than of an unoffending crane, which had been standshe would have gone and thrown herself, like the ing knee-deep in the carpet ever since it had real Sphynx, into the sea; which would scarcely been a carpet, or at least until its feet had become have been more disturbing to the good woman immovably fastened in the water; either because than the ocean of uncertainty upon which she was now tossed. This we affirm from our knowledge of this lady's character. they were too numb to be lifted, or until its ancles had become burthened to the anchoring point with feathers brought about by the action To one who did not understand Mrs. Nance's of the water, (vide PALEY on the Mechanism of peculiar design in asking such questions as this- Nature,) or else from real affection for the cloth, which in truth was just no design at all,-the which was of the first water. Of all the tribe present interrogatory might appear inconsiderate. of Grallatous which were pictured upon the carDid she not recollect that it had been a topic of pet, as if there had been a sort of Egyptian conversation in the neighborhood for two months? plague there, none was so unfortunate as this Nay, that for a month past it had been an object one, which had lost its cranium and part of its of particular, incessant and careful investigation neck by fire from Nance's pipe; for the future on the part of several maiden ladies of age and compelling that niche of the carpet to go neck experience, whose insight into such matters had or nothing. Mrs. N. had never been a scold. never, thank fortune, been questioned for an in- So far from it she and William had gone on tostant? How then, we ask, could she dream of gether for near thirty years, as she frequently obtaining satisfaction on that point, and at such reckoned from the age of her eldest son, now in a time; and more especially as Mr. Nance had the army, during which time nothing harsh or just returned from his trip up the country, and unfeeling had ever existed between them-we had heard no item of the home news? We re-state this on the authority of Mrs. Nance; now peat, that if we did not know Mrs. N. we should and then, though even that scarcely-she might think this inconsiderate of her. Mr. Nance must have been a little pettish and he a little sullen, have thought so, from the celerity with which his but such feelings were not fed by either, and so mouth parted simultaneously with pipe and ques- found no existence between them. But to-night tion-which was unusual. there was really unusual temptation to fretfulness for the good woman. In the first place Mrs. Nance liked to see things done right; but can the intelligent reader say that it was in accordance therewith for Andy Eppen to come and get mar "How came what so, my dear?" 66 Why now just hear the man! Did you never hear of such a thing as Andy Eppen's being engaged to Melanie Tuck?" "Yes," responded the whiff of smoke which ried to a 'great favorite of her's' in the cold, issued from Mr. N's pipe. gloomy, windy winter? In the second place Mrs. Nance was remarkable for her neatness and completeness withal; and it cannot be denied that the loss of the crane's head was a ruthless violation of both of these, Mrs. N's commendable "Well, and did you never hear of such a thing as Andy Eppen and Melanie's being married next week-yes, right here in the dead of winter when every thing's freezing and nothing thawing!" Mr. N. had obviously never heard of such a predilections. In a moment of extreme trial she exclaimed, "Pon my word you're the stupidest | the company was in course of convergence at man living; when pray did you see me do any old Parson Tuck's it delighted to steal away this thing so very careless as that is?" one's veil and that one's hat, and neglected not "Just now when you threw this card a foot to dance a minuet or a reel with each one indiover my head on the floor!" vidually by way of pre-paid compensation for "See here, William, you'd better hush, or the lack of that amusement in the parsonage. you'll make yourself out a regular fool." "It'll all be o' staying with you if I am one." Mrs. Nance was up'-bodily and mentally. Her eyes flashed-her faced flashed. She was on the point of venting her indignation in abuse. He was prepared for this; but it was more than he could stand to see her burst into tears and seat herself, as if her heart were broken-it was'nt in Nance to stand it. Oh don't now," he said, very much discomfitted; "there's a precious, please now, I did'nt mean it, indeed I did'nt." Such was the very exceptionable emotion of the wind on this occasion, and the emotions of the company were proportionably pleasing as they bade him good night, for the time being, at the door, and came in the parlour to breath hard over the fire. There was every thing to make the wedding that night at Parson Tuck's a very cheerful and a very blithe one. Both parties knew every body and were both universally known, and no one could be found in the whole parish who would be so perverse as to deny that it was a "Nor I either," sobbed Nan, "I didn't mean love match, and that Andy and Melanie suited to get mad, William." each other to a T. Such a match in that day of "Don't say that, Nan, you were right and I mercenary marriages was a something both cuwas all wrong." "No-no, you were right and I was wrong." "Well now, say we were both wrong, and say no more." Mrs. Nance assented to the contract, and confirmed it by wiping her eyes. rious and lovely to behold, every body said. Andy was evidently very happy indeed. It was a positive prodigy to see how he was in every corner of the room at one and the same time, as one might say. However great your infidelity in other things you could not help believing him happy as a king-and indeed much happier than said potentate in these days of de "The fact is, William, I know there's something boding ill for Mel Tuck's marriage. Here this card has come in like an evil spirit, and thronement-for his mouth, and eyes, and feet, caused a sad passing between you and I who were married on a bright, sweet spring day and so have always lived happy-have'n't we?" Mrs. Nance spake thus triumphantly; as if by natural sequence the life were to derive its brightness and sweetness from the quantum of those qualities in the wedding day. "It'll do no good or comfort to make folks trudge through snow and cold to see them married. Fine chance too for catching one's death. I should think they might put it off a little later if it were only to have a bunch of flowers in the bride's cake, or a bird to sing at the window.” 66 and hands confirmed the thing in absolute credit. Melanie too was so happy that it reminded one of what the dove's joy might be when it found a green spot to rest upon. But Mel after the ceremony ran straight and threw her arms around her "dear Nan's" neck and kissed her. The good Mrs. Nance couldn't help, in her weakness, dropping a tear as she said "God bless you." Unfortunate tear! it quenched a good hour of ardent happiness in the lovely bride that evening. This was certainly very thoughtless in Mrs. Nance. And indeed now as we look upon the party assembled, and every thing glowing with bright reflections, the roaring fire and the chandeliere, and mirrors, no less than the laughing faces-all of which lit up the parsonage that night-we say as we look upon these things we are half inclined to suspect that Mrs. N. is a contrary-wise somebody, and that no one but her could see any thing in or about the festivities Very bleak and agitated was the wedding day. which was not radiating bright prospects, and A day when nature had a cold in her head which that nothing short of suspicion could see any made her very irritable indeed. The wind was thing hovering about the amiable couple, but love. in high glee; sometimes screaming a tune for Who, pray, has taught us how to love, or whom, dry leaves and dead limbs to dance by, slam- or when, or where, or why, or indeed to love at ming people's window shutters, and then again all? Why, every rake from Ovidius Naso to as if tired with farce, it would whirl up with Henry Fielding. And who, pray, hath inculcasomething tragic by giving some inoffensive one ted otherwise? Why, a very fair and love poeta prostration, à la Pecksniff. And then when ess who, from the misery of her heart, has fur "How came it so, I wonder?" said Mr. Nance. 'Just as if I didn't say the same thing half an hour ago?" laughed Mrs. Nance! II. comfort. "This is dreadful weather, ma'am," said Mrs. Nance to Mrs. Hornet. “Very bad indeed-especially for a wedding," replied that lady. nished a pleasing entertainment for social com- | the same time told Mrs. N. that she must have a panies which do not recollect that in it the wail roaring fire for the folks that he would bring of a Lucretia and a Josephine were mingled with back with him. She was no less prompt than her own sigh. If the company had recalled this he; but bless Mrs. Nance how she did cry! She to-night as Melanie sang and played "Love Not" certainly intended washing her hands of all the they would have stopped and shuddered as if it guilt connected with a wedding on such a night, were the howling of the tempest outside. On and that too in her tears. Every thing was very the contrary one exclaimed: "Fine advice from comfortable and tidy when Mr. and Mrs. Hornet Mrs. Eppen!" and another-"You can talk to and all the little Hornets, like so many of Grius so now!" And all joined in the expression of maldi's blossoms stuck about in the snow, aradmiration which very heartily ensued, for Mel rived in Mr. Nance's carryall; Mrs. N's. tears sang and played delightfully, such was the uni- had ceased to flow, which was an additional form consent. By a strange fortuity some very temporal personage looked at his watch and discovered that it was after midnight. No one, when the fact was whispered about, had ever dreamed of such a thing, doubtless for the simple reason that no one had been asleep. Hereupon all the ladies kissed and went out into another room to put each others shawls and cloaks on, for from the miscellany of habits therein no one could hope to recover his own that night; it was unreasonable. The wind was at his old pranks again. He had obviously been peeping in at the key hole, and seen all the kissing of the bride with envy. So now he luxuriated in kissing the whole party on their noses, and eyes, and ears, for they had entirely muffled up their mouths. But we can't go home with all, so well just escort home our old acquaintances Mr. and Mrs. Nance. But indeed we are almost sorry we came; for to see Mrs. Nance set down crying by the fire and go to bed crying makes us feel like crying too from sympathy. 66 So it is!" said every body. Mrs. Nance accommodated every body very comfortably that night. No one in the borough could have done it better, if indeed as well as she. Next morning all who had been at the wedding got up late; when they did rise it was because the scraping of snow from all the steps in the neighborhood would not allow the inmates to sleep. There were likewise a great many late breakfasts next morning. And in many families things went on wrong all day long in consequence. We must mention an exception to this however. At the Parsonage family prayers, and breakfast, and duties were resumed as usual in every respect. Andy and Mel had left with the five o'clock mail for a trip; according to a modThe good couple had been in bed about two ern usage which implies that if man and wife hours. Mr. N. had been asleep about the same can travel happily together in a stage coach or length of time, but his wife had been awake as on a steam boat, they can do the like on the sea long. All at once a loud and violent knocking of matrimony. was heard at the door. Mrs. N. immediately "Ah, Hornet-is that you, Hornet, wait one minute." Mr. Nance went down quickly and opened the door: whereupon the wind seized the opportunity and blew out the candle; 'twas a night of blow-outs. III. It was in the very freshest of spring and the weather was as sweet and salubrious as it had been on Mr. Nance's wedding-day, when Andy Eppen and his wife returned to the Parsonage. Their trip had been a long one and a very pleasant one. They had a wedding dinner for them on the day after their return, at which there was another merry-making. Mrs. Nance could not complain now, for the mantle-piece and the table were hung with flowers until they fairly groaned Yes, sir, we're at a stand-father and all-and the birds fairly split their throats with singclogged and can't find the way-quick, sir, ing. Both were fresh and cheerful, but no more quick." so than the couple whose honor they served. It Mr. Nance ran out and ordered his carryall-did Mrs. N's heart good to see how very happy then went up stairs and dressed hastily, and at Melanie Eppen was in her new relation. She VOL. XV-93 738 came over to pay her a call-did Mel-and told | And they who do it not unto the least are cast her all about her visit, what and whom she had into outer darkness, where perchance their doom seen, and never failed when an instance present-will be to spend the ages of eternity without one ed itself to speak enthusiastically of her hus-glance of pity from the hosts above or sympathy band's kindness and attention. All these minu- from their fellow-fallen! tiæ put Mrs. N. in a good humor which would have withstood the attacks of every snow storm or crane's head in the universe. Her tears had all been dried by the spring sunshine which, by the way, was the thing which the good lady took to more than any thing else on earth. a We have said that Andy Eppen did not treat his wife harshly; indeed he was so respectful that Melanie was for a long time at a loss to find out whence the loneliness that shrouded her heart was; or why it was that she could not be lively as of you. The fact is, she had in her loving fancy clothed him with a depth of feeling which he did not possess. And now when there was his fine and interesting boy to meet him at the door and set upon his knee, he forgot the wife of It is sometimes a pleasure to the traveller to his bosom in devotion to his son, until he was pause upon an eminence and glance back upon ashamed to turn again and bless her with his afthe way he has traversed. If it has been rugged fection. Sometimes a shade of remorse would and uneven it is sweet to look upon its smooth- occur to Mr. Eppen when he saw his idolized ness in the distance; it almost makes us think we little Andy playing with his little daughter whom have not passed through as much as we had sup- he also loved dearly. We say sometimes his posed. And then again there is a delight in dis- better genius would suggest such thoughts to cerning some shade when we have had rest, or a him in the beginning of his coldness; thoughts cool spring when we have found refreshments. of how it would do to rush forward and give vent The brightest blessings of life are those which to his feelings on the bosom of his wronged wife, are subjective. asking forgiveness; but such thoughts made him Let us imagine ourselves, one and all, lifted sick almost, and he would rebuke their unmanliten years forward, from the wedding season to ness by mixing in the scenes of busy life. These green hillock in the course of time and look over reflections however annoyed him so repeatedly those years as so many miles in the past journey that he had to set himself to find out someof life. To one who looks upon it, the way has thing in her that would justify his coldness. At been far wearier and more rugged than she had last he did, having a great deal of penetration, anticipated, so much so that had each mile been and was worried no more. But whilst Andy ten it could not have been more tedious. That was happy in giving his whole heart to his son, one is Melanie Eppen! She sees two bright spots with some of its feeling to his sweet little daughon the way, one when she lived at the Parsonage ter, and little of its warmth to his wife, Melanie before her father's death, the object of every was obliged-poor thing! she thought so—to one's love; the other the birth of her twins, love all three. And when she felt sometimes two fair children, a girl and a boy. These have that perhaps she did not care enough for any one been thenceforth the sole relief to the shadow of them, or dreamed that she had seen some one over her path; a shadow not of harshness or of of her family in danger or distress, without tears insult, but of NEGLECT. Neglect! Shame on man- or effort for their relief, she would start frighted, kind that the word has not been blotted from the and would in her anguish pray God that her earth; that worst violation of human relations. eyes might sooner be closed in death than that Severity may be grateful, for it shows that our they should behold human suffering unweeping. fault was unexpected and is felt; but action Sometimes she would think that the fault was without censure or commendation is sure poison with her, that she was much worse than other to the spirit. Is there a bosom under heaven in women, and that her husband saw it, but felt which blooms not something worthy; it is be- much delicacy in telling her so, though he could cause the half-dimmed sun of apathy has hard- not love her. Oh! how intense was the sufferened the once soft soil. The human heart is a ing and grief with which such moments and flower (we hope the reader will not set us down at thoughts were fraught. the simile as too sentimental) which yields no fragrance unless it be cultured or trampled on; But there was one that silently noted all these things. Little Andy, though under ten years of age, saw with grief his mother's care, and set "When God himself complained, it was that none re-himself to find the cause. No one knew that garded, And indifference bowed to the rebuke. Thou gavest me whilst he was playing with his little sister his mind was running off upon some hastily dried no kiss when I came in." "The very same fine lad. He went off Heaven knows whither, Nan, and nothing's been heard of him. Nobody knows anything." tear that he had seen fall from his mother's eye- | "Heaven help us! Not the little dear that was lid, and which to him was an ocean in which here yesterday evening-" days of pleasure were drowned. And when he sat upon his father's knee and gaily talked and sang, oh! none dreamed of the thoughts which crowded upon little Andy's mind. Something whispered to him at length till it almost ran him crazy, that he had stolen his mama's love or that which was due her and that he should return it to her! But we do not like to dwell upon these things, it is very painful. We shall remark an incident here, however, which took place one evening in the tenth year of Melanie's marriage. She had been sitting a long time alone, thinking over her circumstances, and had wept until her eyes were very red. It was the birth-day returned, of her twins; how could she but think? "Where are the children-I've birth-day presents for them?" said Mr. Eppen entering. "Mrs. Nance sent to ask me if they might come down there, she had a fruit cake to give them on their birth-day." It was strange! Like the memory of a dark deed which cannot be undone, the old thought that Andy Eppen had rejected long since, recurred as he looked upon the sad expression of Melanie; the thought, we mean, of becoming once more her loving husband. It staggered him, and the only way in which he could recover was by uttering his first harsh intimation, "I do believe you try to get the children out of my way!" he said. Mel rose hastily and went from the room; she saw little Andy start back from the door as she hurried on to her chamber, there to weep as many tears as her good "dear Nan" did on the wedding night. 66 IV. "Oh, dear-dear-the li-t-tle love!" Mrs. Nance was sobbing. "And there's his father flying through and skirting the old woods for miles and miles like madman, now leaping the fences or jumping a ditch and never stopping to do any thing but light a fire, and every now and then, Nan, he grits his teeth and says wildly something about 'trying to get the children out of his way?' "Oh! save us," sobbed Mrs. Nance. "And then there's Melanie standing all night long at the window watching the lights and crying and praying for little Andy. You can't tell how it made my heart ache when she called to me as I was passing and asked me if they'd heard nothing yet, and I had to answer nothing!'"' "Little Andy's gone-gone!" said the good woman. I'm off to look after him.” "Yes, but William how came it so ?" Mrs. N. was off her guard evidently. "My wife, my dear wife, don't you know that question can never be answered in this house!" Thereupon Mr. Nance rushed from the room, leaving his good wife to her thoughts of stormy weddings and presentiments. It would almost seem as if the last harsh word of Eppen to his wife, which has been recorded, were a suspicion prompted by some foul fiend; which now assumed the form and nature of its origin, to curse the utterer and all connected with him. Sleep visited not the Parsonage, for the house where Melanie's father had lived, and which he had left his son-in-law at his death, still retained that name. Perhaps there was not sleep in the village. All night long the parish church bell sounded; bonfires were kindled on every steep; and the fearful cry of "Lost Child!” echoing through the solemn hours of thut fearful night, caused a shudder in the hearts of tearful mothers, as they pressed their infants closer to their bosoms. Alas! where is little Andy? So shrieked Eppen as he dashed through the wild woods like a maniac; and such was the burthen of the wind as it moaned through the forest; and such was the theme of the bonfire as it roared and cracked. Half frantic Melanie listened from the attic window, if perchance she might hear "Good gracious! what's he at; why you talk a cry of joy from any amongst the crowd that in riddles, William." sought her precious boy. And in her anguish My dear Nan, have you heard the news?" "Why bless me, William, what news have I to hear?" Mrs. Nance looked up. "My dear, my dear, this is a bright and pretty day outside, but to some it is the darkest day that ever shone since the days of Moses' rod." "Who are they, William?" "Parsonage folks," making a hasty gesture over his shoulder, he continued thoughtfully. "Ah yes! to them last night was drearier and windier than the wedding night." "Why, didn't you know that little Andy was stricken-ear the maddening sentence still rang― gone-not to be found!" "I do believe you TRY to get the children out of my |