Annie recovered rapidly, and soon the time came for Edward’s departure.

He could only speak of the future, seeming to think little of the past or present.

“I shall write to you often, Annie, and you are mine till death do us part, just as much as though Parson Bates had told us so.”

A faint smile rested for a moment upon the lip of Annie—­then faded away, leaving a sadder expression than before.  There was a melancholy foreboding at her heart, and she at least did not feel willing to sacrifice present happiness for future wealth; and she feared the ambition of Edward would not be easily satisfied.  But she strove to subdue the feeling, and when their lips united in the parting kiss, a pang shot though her heart, and “it is his last kiss,” passed involuntarily through her thoughts.

She turned hastily away to wipe the tears from her eyes, and bury her grief in her own bosom.

Edward, after a prosperous journey, arrived safely at his place of destination, was settled in a lucrative business, even exceeding his most sanguine expectations, and was constant in his promise of writing to Annie.

When winter returned with his winds, the aged grandfather was stricken down by death.  He fell like a sturdy oak before the stroke of the destroyer, for he too had buffetted many a winter’s storm, having lived beyond the age of man.  They bore him to his grave, when the winds of winter blew fiercely round, and the drifting snow almost obstructed their passage to the grave yard.  He was deposited in the place alotted him, and left to his repose, with the bleak winds of winter pelting fiercely upon his grave.  He heeded them not—­that weary sleeper, tired of looking upon the world, with all its changes.

Capt.  Somers settled in that country before the woodman’s axe had felled the forest trees; and when they must pursue their way to Gardiner by spotted trees, and frequently did herds of Indians wrapped in their blankets, call at their door and exchange the moose meat which they had dried, for beef, bread and other eatables.

These were times that tried men’s souls, for during the war they were frequently alarmed by hearing that unfriendly Indians were coming upon them, which would fill the early settlers with dismay.  So it might well be said, as they laid the aged man to rest, he had seen changes, for truly, had he seen “the wilderness made to bud and blossom like the rose,” and the temple of the living God supplying the place of the Indian’s wigwam.

The grandson, who had come in possession of the property, decided to break up house-keeping, and placing his grandmother in the family of a son, soon accomplished his purpose, leaving Annie and Ellen to look out for themselves.  Ellen went to reside with her mother, who had erected a little cottage in a distant village.

This was a severe trial to Annie; she scarcely knew what course to pursue; but, procuring board with an intimate friend, she entered a cotton factory with a number of her young friends, thinking that would be a respectable, and an easy way of obtaining her livelihood.