The Twin Beech Trees.*

"Here is a medal on which I have sketched some rude fines , ancl thus , clear Ellen , I break it . When this portion which I have reserved for myself , is presented you by the hands of a stranger , mourn for me as dead , and believe that your lover has gone down to death , blessing you to the last . " And then each knelt clown and wrote upon the trees the fragmentary lines which wc have already seen .

Daylight bore him from their anxious eyes . Time blunted the keen impression of their grief , and the affairs of that quiet household resumed their accustomed course . The neighbours soon forgot that such a person as Oliver had ever existed , and the most inveterate gossip ceased , ere long , to inquire concerning him . Occasionally they received a letter , brief , but affectionate , and always enclosing a remittance for his auntancl a more length

, y epistle for Ellen . So passed away the first year , and as the anniversary drew nigh , a paleness began to be evident upon Ellen ' s check . No letter had come for several weeks , and she feared some hidden evil . A sleepless nig ht , preceded the clay , and punctually at the hour she directed her feet , trembling ancl unsteady , to the appointed spot . Did her eyes deceive her as she crossed the little bridge ancl turned from the path ? Was it her lover rising from

between the twin trees and advancing to meet her ? It was— -she could not be mistaken—itwas Oliver—but how changed ! his eyes were all bloodshot , his cheeks bloated , his nerves quivering—Oliver had bowed to the idolatry of the bowl ancl become a drunkard ! Staggering back at the sight , Ellen would have fallen to the ground had he not sustained her . He led her forward to her own scat , placed himself opposite , and hiding his face in his

hands , burst into tears . Then , after a long silence , for all voice was denied her , he told his tale of sadness , the same that is found on every page of human history . He had gone out with a heart strong in self confidence , yet ignorant of the world ' s ways . He had put bis trust in men , and men had again and again deceived him . Then he had despaired , and instead of returning to find sympathin the faithful hearts left behindhe consigned himself to

y , forgetfulness , and sought it in dissipation , "! n drink , in gaming—in worse than that . Ellen listened for hours to his melancholy story , anil then the lovers parted , she to her maiden pillow , he to the world , yet , both bearing the pledge to meet again on the anni- »

versary . The twelvemonth rolled slowly by , for his letters were few ancl contained no cheer . Her aged companion sickened and died , the little property was claimed by nearer relatives , and Ellen left the neighbourhood to take charge of a small country school . Her step was no longer buoyant , nor her voice the voice of early clays . But where ivas he , to whom Ellen ' s misfortunes

were to be attributed ? Alas ! where was he not ? Amidst all things evil , breaking jail after jail to engage in further enormities , at times the victim of the drunkard ' s madness—once an inmate of the asylum for the insane—never in any scenes of good—Oliverwas hurrying- down the hill of fife with fearful rapidity . Tet the second meeting came round ancl he was there , there to renew his first vowsto promise amendmentto to his le lips the

, , press purp tessera which had never left his breast , to call on God to witness his honesty of purpose . And the third meeting was full of hope to both ; for there AVUS a spring in his step and a li ght in his eye that spoke of reformation commenced , ancl the good angels whispered comfort to their hearts as they arose at midnight to say farewell . Once more now , clear reader , listen to his words' Bride of my heart , all this I owe to you . Your love was the

only fixed point in the shifting scenes of my evil career , and but for that I had long since found a hopeless grave ; and now the promise of the future is yours . T have become changed , I am now experienced in the things of life , and shall be able in another year to accomplish the object with which I first set out . Prepare yourself then , clear Ellen , to become 1113- wife when next we meet ; God's hand will lead us out and bring us in , in safety . Farewell

. " Ancl so they parted again , Ellen to her school , by this time a school of character ancl profit , Oliver to fill . » responsible office offered him by a kind friend who had witnessed his capacity and trusted in his promises of amendment . Another year passed , not on tedious pinions , and except that Oliver did not write so frequently as her loving heart demanded , there was not a cloud in her vision . Fondly and stealthily she prepared her

wedding dress , gave notice to her attached patrons that her school would terminate at a certain period to be resumed no more , and as the fourth anniversary came round , you would have thought , to look upon her , that there wns no happier heart in the creation of God . Cruel fate to confiding love ! Oliver was there , but intoxicated ; and his swollen features and emaciated appearance indicated a total relapse into dissipation . Oh , that she had died at the first glance ! Ob , that she had no

The Twin Beech Trees.*

more sat opposite to him between those fair trees , or consented to hear his words ! Thoy parted ; there was no more light in the sun for Ellen . She drooped visibly day by clay ; a broken heart , a thing rarely seen , yet in her case all too real , inclined her soul to God , and " in faith she waited her summons to depart . She received no message from Mm whom she could not loathe , and dailprayed to forgiveAs the well rememberedhour again

y . ^ came round , she became impressed with an irresistible longing to visit , the twin beeches once more . It could do her no harm . Surely he would not be there ; he would not presume to desecrate that holy spot again . Fortifying herself with these thoughts she took the path to the glade , crossed the little bridge , and turned her eyes towards the trysting place . She had guessed rihtl : the lace ivas solitary— -but lo !

susgy p pended by a ribbon over his own scat there hung the tessera—the broken medal—the pledge of love ; and with it there was a letter , which once again brought peace to her troubled heart . " When once more 3 ^ 011 visit our trysting place , dear Ellen , I shall have gone before you to the world of shadows ; but not in a hopeless departure . For near this close of life I have found One who was always waiting to be gracious , ancl his staff supports me now even but

in the valley of the shadow of death . Farewell , dearest , come to me soon . I have seen 3 * 011 more than once through the past 3 ear , although unseen by 3-011 , ancl I know that our parting is not for long . The christian brother who supports my dying head has learned all our sad history , and lias promised to perform this last kind act , which will notify you of my . fate . I feci that you have forn-iven mefor Gocl has accepted illy repentanceand his acts

, , may well be sealed by one so pure as you , FnrcwelL beloved—wc meet again . " ^ ' "' - Now there is a grave near the Spring Creek church , and its stone is inscribed with the name of Ellen Littleton , with this passage below— " Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil . "

Poetry.

Poetry .

W IK T E R . SCENES . BY S . II . BRADBURY . Tin-: leaves have fallen from the trees , Tiie alder trembles at the door ; And .-like the surge of angry seas , The mail storm moans across the moor !

The frosts arc pencilling tho panes "With many a quaint aud rare device ; About the leafless village lanes Aro seen unbroken spots of ice . The rime upon the hedgerow scorns Store purely white than eniiiuo robe , The solemn sun but weakly beams —•

Hangs in tho sky like blood-rod globe . The poor birds flit from spray to spray , A dense mist hangs upon tho wold , And in the day-light waxes grey , Like smote from heavy ordnance rolled ! Deep silence reigns in every vale , A ' o streamlet tinkles as it flows

, Save when struck by the northern gale , That harps iu thunder as it blows ! The ivy round the cottage door Looks perished iu the dim cold light ; Aud round our homes the rniul winds roar , And strike with all their groaning might ! The holly ' s muffled with the snow ,

Thro' which the rubied berries peep Like drops of coral , while below The river ' s bound iu icy sleep ! We list tho north , with thunder-tone , Hock giant trees from root to crown , While massive clouds look sad and ionc , And with a sullen grandeur frown ! The snow-flakes fall hi reeling showers

, In many wild ancl grotesque forms ; And soon the hills appear like towers—The bulwarks of the rolling storms ! And day , storm-vanquished , coldly dies . Thou night ill savage glory reigns ; With snow-bound earth and linstarr'd skio . 'i Amid tho howl o £ hurricanes .