Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-04-25


through these newly mown meadows,
just cleared Of the hay, with the bright
rivulet meanderng through banks SO va
riously beautiful; now fringed by rushes
and sedges; now bordered with little
thickets Of hawthorn and woodbine and
the briar rose; now overhung by pol
lard ash, or silver-barked beech, or a
lime tree in full blossom; now a smooth
turfy slope, green to the eve and soft to
the foot, and now again rich embroid-
cry of the golden flag, the purple willow
herb, the blue forget-me-not, and a
"thousand fresh water flowers of seve-
raj colours" making the bank as gay as
garden. 1t was impossible not to
pause in this lovely spot; and Sophy,
who had been collecting bright bunch
of pink flowers, the ragged robin, the
wild rose, the cranes bill, and the fox
glove, or to use the prettier Irish name
Of that superb plant, the fairy cap, ap-
pealed to Katy to "read lecture of her
country art" and show "what every
flower as country people hold did signl-
fy"-a talent for which the young maid
of the mill was as celebrated as Bella
rio. But poor Katy, who, declining Ed
wards profered arm, had loitered lit
tic behind gathering long wrcaths OF the
woodbine and the brieny and the wild
vetch, was, or pretended to be, deeply
engaged in twisting The garland round
her straw bonnet, and answered not
word. She tied on her bonnet, however,
and stood by listening, whilst the other
two continued to talk of the symbolic
meaning of flowers; quoting the well
known lines from the Winters Tales.
At last Edward, who during the con-
versation had been gathering all that he
could collect Of the tall almond scented
tufts of the elegant meadow sweet, whose
crested blossoms arrange themselves in
to a plumage so richly delicate, said,
holding up his nosegay, 81 do not know
what mystical Interpretation may be at
tached to this plant in Katy's country
art, but it is my favorite among flowers;
and if were inclined to follow the east
crn fashion Of courtship, and make love
by nosegay, should certainly send it
to plead my cause. And it shall be So"
added he, after a short pause, his bright
and sudden smile ilumining his whole
countenance. The botanical name
signifies the queen of the meadow, and
wherever / offer this tribute, wherever ]
place this tuft, the homage of my heart,
the p.offer of my hand shall go also
Oh, that the offering might find favor
with my fair queen! Katy heard no
more. She turned away to little bay
formed by the rivulet, where bed of
pebbles, overhung by grassy bank, af-
forded a commodious seat, and there she
sat her down, trembling, cold, and
wrctched, understanding for the first time
I-ner own feelings, and wondering if any
body irr all the world had ever been SO
unhappy before.
There she sat, with the tears rolling
down her cheeks, unconsciously making
"rings of rushes that grew thereby"
and Edwards dog Ranger, who had
been watching shoal of minnows at
play in the shallow water, and every
now and then inserting his huge paw in
to the stream as if trying to catch one,
came to her and laid his rough head and
his long curing ears in her lap, and
looked at ner with "eyes whose human
meaning did not need the aid ofspeech;"
eyes full of pity and of love; for Ranger,
in common with all the four-footed world,
loved Katy dearly; and now he looked
up in her face, and licked her cold hand
Oh, kinder and more faithful than your
master, thought poor Katy, as with
fresh gush Of tears she laid her sweet
face on the dogs head, and safe, in that
position as it seemed to her for ages,
whilst her companions were hooking and
landing some white water lilies.
At last they approached, and she arose
hastily and tremblingly, and walked on,
anxious to escape observation. " Your
garland is loose Katy" said Edward, lift
ing his hand to her bonnet. "Come
and see how nicely have fastened it!
No clearer mirror than the dark smooth
basin of water under those hazels-
come" He put her hand under his arm
and led her thither, and there, when me-
chanically she cast her eyes on the
stream, she saw the rich tuft Of meadow
sweet-the identical queen Of the mead
ow, waving like plume over her own
straw bonnet: felt herself caught in Ed
wards arms, for, between surprise and
JOY she had well nigh fallen, and when,
with instructive modesty, she escaped
from his embrace, and took refuge with
her cousin, the first sound which she
heard was Sophy's affectionate whisper
-"I knew it all the time, Katy! Every
body knew it but youl and the wedding
must be next week, for have promised