The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-10-02
MISCELLANY.
From Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life.'
--~-.s~aso9aNC SO<eeAo-------

hCiC was d CHc6TIul anu even NOISY
evening party in the parlour of Croft
head, the humble residence of Scot
tish Laird, who inherited small estate
from long line of obscure ancestors
The family consisted of himself, wife,
and only daughter, and about half a
dozen servants belonging to the house,
the dairy, and the farm. A good many
neighbours had now been gathered to-
.gether at tea-drinking; and the table,
on this occasion, exhibited various other
liquids, in tall green bottles, and creak-
ed on its old legs under the weight of
world of yiands. Not a few pretty
girls and good-looking young men were
judiciously distributed round the board :;
and from the frequent titterings and oc-
casional hearty bursts of laughter, it
could not be doubted that much deli
cate wit, and no little broad humour
was sported during the festive hour
The young ladies from the Manse were
In excellent spirits, and the comelv
daughters of Mr.. M'Fayden, retired
Glasgow manufacturer, lent themselves
both to the damned cookies, and the
POPULARITY of the evening with even
more than their usual animation. But
though she was somewhat more silent
than common, and had even a slight
shade of sadness on her face not quite
congenial with the scene of merriment.
not one of them all looked so well as
the daughter of the good old people !;
and her simply braided auburn hair,
with no other ornament than pink rib
band, had an appearance that might
well be called elegant, when gently
moving among the richly-adorned love-
locks and ringlets that waved so seduc-
lngly round the brows and cheeks of
the other more ambitious and unmerci-
full young ladies. There was not one
IN the whole parish, high or low. rich
or poor, that could for a moment be
compared with "sweet Jane Nasmyth :"
this was so universally allowed, that she
had even no rivals; and indeed had her
beauty excited the envy of her COM
panions, her unpretending manners, and
the simplicity of her whole character,
would have extinguished that feeling,
and converted it into willing admiration
and affectionate regard. g Sweet Jane
Nasmyth" she was always called and
that expression, although at first hear
ing it may not seem to denote much,
was indeed just the one she deserved in
her loveliness that courted not the ewes
which it won, and in her goodness which
flowed on uninterruptedly in its own calm
and unconscious course of home-born
happiness.
1t was now beautiful moonlight
night, and Jane Nasmyth contriYed to
leave the merry party, whether unob-
served or not is uncertain, and glide a.
way through the budding lilacs into
small arbour in the garden. 1t could
not be supposed that she went there TO
Sit alone and read the stars; friend
joined her in the bower, and she allow
ed herself to be taken into his bosom.
For two years bad she been tenderIy
and truly beloved by Arthur Crawfurd,
ayoung man OF an ancient but decayed
family, and now Lieutenant in the Ma
Wy. He was to join his ship next day
and as the frigate to which he belong
ed had lighting character, poor Jane,
although it was not the first time she
had parted from him, was now, more
than she had ever been, depressed and
disturbed. The din of merriment came
from the bright uncurtained windows of
the cottage parlour to the lovers in their
arbour and the sailor gayly said,-
" How could you leave so joyful a par
ty to come and weep here % IN few
minutes Jane Nasmyth dried her tears ;
for she was not one who gave way
nedlessly TO Responding thoughts and
the manly tenderness and respectful af-
lection Of her lover restored her heart
almost to its usual serenity, so that they
were both again quite cheerful and hap
py. He had often sailed away, and
often returned; he had been spared
both in battle and in shipwreck and
while that remembrance comforted her
heart, it need not be said that it like
wise sent through all its strings yibra-
tion of more thrilling and proiounder
love.
II was mild night in Spring, and the
leaves yet upfolded, might almost be
heard budding in the bower, as the