Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-08-12
looking for all the world like barn buit Nv

contract. OoiiI ny
simon supported this singular frame nv tbo
SAFE OF garden seeds, which he raiced ~
summer, and carried to various parts of .t -
Union, during the winter. In travelI;na. INC ho
rlvalled the boosted cheapness of mn5o ny
stages and steamboats,, for he asserted 49,.
ne mad made many comfortable iourna,,
from Boston to Montreal without exnend;uy ).
more than plstareen. Simon's neiobbonrs
called him " close, unsociable man - ,rS
perhaps 1t was too true,-for the little ba
earned was obtained.by hard labour and rig-
ia economy and he had small compassion for
those who had less industry, and oreater
desires than himself. But unpromisino as
simon was In temper and aspect there were
not wanting danes, who were eager to nm.
dertake the task of meliorating his cbarac-
Ter. The most prominent amonr them w. 9
betty Towers muscular, raw-boned dam
sci, to whom nature had proved a most crnal
step-mother; for never was love frirbtened
away Dy more sour and malignant face
and never was maiden so anxious to secure
tne good will OF that capricious little urchin.
HOOD would have filled volume with the
" Whlms and Oddities" of Betty's amours !:
but am tain to pass over all save the last
and most successful one.
Simon Stevens had a cat and dog, on which
he lavished some of the kindness, that warns
every human heart, and which can never he
utterly driven away. When Simon took a
tramp" as he termed it, this cat and dor
led most forlorn existence and when he
returned from a long journey, it grieyed him
to look upon Tab and Growers dissipated
habits, and to observe how reluctant thew
were to stay quietly at home.
Betty Tower scraped acquaintance with
these perverse animals; and, by dint of ca.
resses, and spare bone, now and then. thew
became more than half domesticated under
her solitary roof. Hence it was necessary
for Simon to go there frequently to claim
property, it was likewise incumbent
upon him to thank Miss Betty for her perse.
vering kindness-so the acquaintance went
on by little and little, till Simon at last went
Tor his dog and cat, and brought home wife
to keep them in order. On such slioht
events does matrimonial destiny often de-
pend
Betty was an ambitious, strong minded wo-
man. Had she been the daughter of Henry
the Sth, she would have acted her part as
well as her renowned namesake so mighty in
her passions, but mightier in intellect: but
Betty Stevens had no subject, save her hus-
band, and though she acquired almost I'M
bounded influence over his narrow and timid
mind, it was generally believed that her
administration made him better and a ham,
pier man. But there was another being. who
did more toward outstanding Simon's heart
than Retty and all tn . ,>.-rachers could have
done-this was little Elizabeth-the child of
his old age!
In the days of Simon's bachelorship. the
cats and dogs knew, by instinct, that it was
death to set foot in his dominions. and were
tam to content themselves with barking at
Tab and Growler through the fence the
very chickens had learned to do no more
than stretch their necks under the gate to
snap at a sleeping worm; yet Elizabeth's
foot-tracks were all over his garden-ana
though the doating father would inwardly
groan with vexation, when he saw her little
feet go pad, pad, over the very places he had
just planted, yet he could never summon
resolution to send her into the house. Eve
ry where the pretty innocent was at the old
mans slde,-at the hearth-stone and in the
church,-in his garden and his bed. So
much had his rugged nature been subdued
and softened by the artless prattler, that
poor chubby little rogues, who in days gone
by would not have dared to peep within his
doors, now frequently went from thence with
pockets full of nuts and gingerbread and
the little creature, who had proved so pow
ertul In her helplessness, was such an one
as father well might love; for though Eliz-
abeth Stevens was the offspring of such IN
slightly parents, she was, from her very
cradle, perfect cherub in beautvs The
tlrst time saw Simon with his new charge,
he was wedding his garden, while his wife
sat knitting at the door, and happy little
Bettywas trotting round with her tiny water
pot,-doing a vast deal of mischief, but
imagining herself very useful-just like a
multitude of busting politicians, who are
taught by the crafty and experienced to be-
lleve they are turning the crank which
moves nations machinery. / then thought
that the child's dimPlcd face had the most
gushing expression of mirth and happiness
had ever beheld. Six or seven years pass
ed before | saw Elizabeth again. When
dining at the princely mansion of the wealthy
George Cartwright, my attention was one
day particularly attracted by pretty little
waiting maid, with pink calimanco petticoat,
and short baize gown, in whose expressive
features I instantly recognized my favourite.
The struggle between her parents parsimo-
NY and affection had ended in putting her
out at probable service, with the privilege of
spending her Sundays with them. A happy
day it was for Simon and Betty Had Mr..
Cartwright himself been expected to spend
his Sabbaths at their humble dwelling, the
floor could not have been more neatly sand
ed, or the fresh strawberries culled more
nicely, than they were for this darling child.