LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 522, 19 February 1876, Page 3

LITERATURE.

HOW MY GRANDMOTHER CAME TO MARRY MY GRANDFATHER. Continued, 1 When we got home—Fred moaned twice during the journey, without opening his eyes, or in any other way exhibiting signs of consciousness—John Pretyman, who had insisted on coming with us, much as I begged him not to, thinking that I had given him quite enough trouble for one night, bade me sit still where I was until he had broken the news to father and mother, so as not to alarm them more than was unavoidable. 4 After a bit—it might be ten minutes—out they came, mother carrying a candle, father with a bottle of brandy in one hand and a glass in the # other, and John Pretyman bringing up the rear. *No wedding to-morrow, my girl,’ said father, as he felt Fred’s pulse, and gazed into his bloodstained face ; ‘ it’s a rare bad job. *

‘ Then a gjeat wave of grief swept over me, for I knew that was father’s way of tellme he would die.

‘ They took him into the house, and laid him on the parlour couch, and Mr Pretyman rode off for the doctor, who lives three miles away at the Overstone ; but it did not seem to me much use. I was dazed and dull with sorrow.

* The doctor came, and strapped the wound on his head ; the arm, he said, could not be set until the swelling went down ; but his words went in at one ear and out of another as far as I was concerned. Somehow I knew that all was over—that soon he would be dead. •

‘ How that night went I have no recollection, People tip-toed into the room, and tip-toed out again. I sat on, and mother brought me a cup of tea just as the daylight struggled whitely through the blinds. ‘‘You will be ill too,’ said she, ‘if you fret on like this ; and there is no reason ; the doctor says he will be better presently.’ ‘‘ 0, yes,’ I answered with a smile; ‘he is sure to be better presently.’ ‘All the next day—our wedding day—he lay in that unconscious state; the doctor came and examined him, but he did not set his arm, the inflammation being too severe.

‘ About half-past six, however—l know it Was half-past six, because X remember seeing the reapers go down the lane; harvest was rather l{ite that year, owing to a wet spripg • 9

—he moved and opened Lis eyes. I was still sitting beside him with his hand in mine.

‘ At first he seemed hardly to understand where he was, which was not to be wondered at. Wefseldom sat in the parlour, save on Sundays, and when a neighbour came in to tea. Gradually though his mind cleared, and he tried to raise himself upon hi* arm.

‘ ‘Don’t,’ I exclaimed, ‘ it’s broken.’

‘ * What ! ’ he said: and then he looked down as it hung useless, swathed in wet bandages. * * Don’t you remember,’ I pursued, ‘what happened last night ? ’ ‘ He shook his head. ‘ ‘Not how you were knocked down and robbed ? ’

‘ He shook his head again. Then he seemed to doze.

‘ ‘ Darling ! ’ he whispered all of a sudden, tightening his hold upon my hand, —‘Darling ! ’ and he looked up in my face. ‘ I bent over him. My breath came quick. I felt that I was in the presence of something greater than love, than life. ‘ ‘Kiss me,’ he murmured; and I kissed him.

* When my lips left his, he was dead ! ’ ‘ Poor granny,’ I whimpered, burying my face upon her knees, young stupid that I was : ‘ poor dear granny ! ’ * Every one was very good to me,’ pursued she with a sigh at length— ‘ very. I was let to get well as I could. Some days seemed worse than others, such as our birthdays, and the day we were engaged, and his death day, and the nights were very weary ; but by degrees the edge wore off my trouble, and I came to take an interest in calves and crops and chickens and such-like things again. I think it was the Christmas after we lost him—‘l say ‘we,’ meaning it, for athsr and mother I’m sure loved him as a son from the day he gave them leave to do so by asking me to be his wife, —I think it was the following Christmas that Mr Pretyman looked in one afternoon on his way to Overstone to inquire how we did, and if father had any beasts at Smithfield that year, I do not know that I was glad to see him. It was so terrible to me to recall the circumstances of our first meeting. Even that picture, which I afterwards prized, and do still prize so highly—for I can never believe that it is either wise or well to make light of love and faith which once kept one warm and strong—even that picture, I repeat, was for long rather a source of pain than pleasure, and lay for weeks at a time unopened, for fear the sight of that which it held might reopen wounds I had already found slow to heal. If, however, I seemed dull and cold to our visitor, father more than made up for my lack of warmth, chatting with him, and entering into his plans for enlarging his shop and business, which he said was a thriving one, as thriving as any in Dorsetshire, lie believed, with a readiness and zeal which quite surprised mother and me, we not being accustomed to such volubility on his part. ‘ ‘ You must come over some market-day, ma’m,’ said Mr Pretyman to mother, as he got up to shake hands at parting, * and bring Miss Charity. Maybe a change would cheer her up, and I’m sure she and my sister Bella would hit it off finely ; for Bella’s as goodhearted a girl as there is in the world, and anxious to make her acquaintance, so do you see what can be done.’

* I thanked him, but said I had no mind to make new acquaintances ; for which piece of plain speaking I got a sharp rebuke from father. Mother, too, seemed vexed at my candour; After he was gone, I remember, nothing would do but they must sing hia praises till bed time. * Such a fine man,’ said one ; ‘ And so amiable,’ said t’other ; ‘ well to do, too, and of a robust constitution. I make no doubt but his wife will be a happy woman.’ * I held my peace—indeed they discussed the poor fellow so fully, there was nothing for me to remark upon, except, perhaps, that he was very red about the neck, and spoke so loud that you might have heard him in the cowbarten, which observations I felt would scarcely win approval in the present state of our domestic atmosphere. Swettenham market was held then, as it is now, on a Saturday, and I confess I was a little curious as Wednesday turned into Thursday, and Thursday into Friday, to see how things would happen; for mother took care to drop sundry little sayings, such as, ‘ I hope that shower we were caught in on Sunday didn’t spot the ribbon on your bonnet, my dear!’ and, * I should think Dobbin’s leg was well enough by now to let us have a drive,’ and the like, which led me to believe that in her heart she purposed taking advantage of Mr Pretyman’s invitation with all due despatch. Nothing, however, was said of any importance till Friday afternoon, when father remarked to me as we sat at tea, with a roguish kind of smile :

1 ‘ Well, my girl, and what am I to do all to-morrow ?’

**Do !’ I repeated; ‘ why, as you always do, to be sure.’ ‘ ‘.Left to keep house by myself,’ pursued he, ‘ while you and the mother go a-junket-ing like any two fine misses in the country. Hoo, hoo, hoo, hco!’ and he made believe to fall a-crying. * ‘ What do you mean, father ?’ demanded I rather shortly ; for somehow, though of a dutiful and obedient nature, it vexed me to be thus carted hither and thither, at one-and-twenty years of age, with as little ceremony or reference to my own wishes as if I had been a bundle of hay. ‘ ‘ Well, I think of going to Swettenham,’ said mother, cutting the plum-cake. * I want some matting and Irish linen, and one or two things which I can’t get at Overstone, and if its a fine day the drive would make a pleasant change ; besides, it needn’t cost us anything, as there’s Pretyman’s to go to if we do want a rest and a bit of something to eat, ’ ' ‘ I kept silence. It was not the fashion for young folks to gainsay their elders in those days ; but my heart burnt like a coal, and before I went to bed I said the Prayerbook prayer for rain as heartily as I could have if I’d been the owner of acres, and every stalk of corn I had was perishing for drought. But Providence saw fit to turn a deaf ear to my supplication. Saturday was as fine a day as any we had had that winter. ‘ Mother’s shopping over, we made our way to Mr Pretyman’s, as I knew we should, and he brought ua on here. « What! ’ I exclaimed, *to this very house ? ’ * Certainly, my dear,’ responded my grandmother calmly, * to this very house.’ * And did you come up into this room to take off your bonnets ? * (2b U dontifwdii)

AKAROA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The annual congregational and tea meeting of the Presbyterian Church of Akaroa and adjoining districts took place in the Town Hall, Akaroa, on Wednesday evening, 16th instant. The weather was favourable and the attendance good. The ball was decorated with evergreens and pictures in an exceedingly tasteful manner. The tables were provided and presided over by the following ladies, viz., Mesdames Brown, Wood, Hooper, Wight, and T. Penlington, and the Misses Armstrong and Duncan. .After the tables had been cleared, the Rev Wm. Douglas, M.A., minister of the congregation, took the chair, and, after devotional exercises and a few introductory remarks, called on Mr Henry Billens, secretary of the financial committee, to read the report for the past year. The report stated the financial condition of the congregation was satisfactory, there having been collected —in Akaroa, £lO3 11s 3d ; in Wainui, £l6 16s 5d ; in Le Son’s Bay, £9 10s 3d ; and in Le Bon’s Hill, £6 ; which, with a balance from last year’s account of £l4 5s sd, made a total of £l4B 3s 4d. After deducting stipend, and other expenses, a balance remained of £2 4s Bd. In making a few remarks on the report, Mr Douglas explained that it referred only to a portion of the wide district over which he had charge. He thought that, on the whole, there was cause to thank God and take courage. He found that there had been a steady improvement in attendance and finances as compared with the previous year. He regretted that the multiplicity of his charges rendered Sabbath services almost impossible in many places, and he commended to the consideration and liberality, especially of the friends in the more outlying districts, a suggestion that had been made of getting someone to assist him, and so extending the privilege of Sabbath services. He also specially referred to the Sabbath school, and pressed the request of the report for more teachers. Addresses, accompanied by selections of music, were also given by the following gentlemen, viz, Mr Dexter, on Sabbath schools ; Mr Johnston, Bangiora, on general church work ; Rev W. McGregor, on family religion ; and by Mr Reece, Le Bon’s Bay, on the importance of Godly companionship. A most enjoyable meeting was brought to a close by the usual votes of thanks, and the Benediction. The children of Akaroa generally were invited to partake of the superabundance of good things that had been provided in the schoolhouse, on the following day. There were gathered about 150 children, who partook of a substantial tea, served by the ladies as on the previous evening. Sports were engaged in in the playground, which were much enjoyed by old and young. This very pleasant gathering separated after a few words from Revs W. McGregor, Mr Johnstone, and Mr A. McGregor, chairman of school committee, who took occasion to express his sense of the kindness shown to the children by the ladies who had got up this tea party. It should be also mentioned that subscriptions towards incidental expenses were given by several ladies and gentlemen.