The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-12-22
From the .Nsio York Constellation.
MARY OF THE VALLEY.

III chdTmlng Vale In the State OF New
Jersey, few years since, dwelt most
charming being in the person of Mary May
flower, Familiarity called Mary of the Val
[ ley. 80 gentle was she, so modest, so ut
teliy Without guile, that this familiar APP
pellatlon was conferred upon her rather ms
an afieeilonate mark of distinction, than as
nick name of reproach or thoughtless lev
ity ana was equivalent to saying, of all the
inhabitants of the Valley, Mary was the
loveliest.
1t vas not wealth that gave her dIstinc-
ton, for she was in humble circumstances.
1t was not beauty, for she had not that fas-
clnatln55charm to boast of. It-was not wit
| Tor she Sever hazarded the use of that dan
gerous weapon. 1t was not learning, for
she had no more than the ordinary attain
ments ola common village school. Meth.
or was it gaiety or dress, or vivacity oil
manners, for she was plain in the one, and
| retiring in the other. What was it then
that made her emphatically the Mary of the
! Valley-the entertainer of all hearts-ofthe
nch anil the poor, the proud and the hum
bic, the sinner and the saint? It was
nothing else but the winning sweetness Of
her disposition, the conquering kindness Of
her heart.
! Mary Mayfower, was not beautiful, hut
sac was lovely, not striking at first sight,
| blt taking.the heart Ivy degrees, and win
nng tine affections, if may so speak, inch
by inch; never losing the hold she had once
gained, and daily adding something to some
ones stock of esteem and love. And all
this without the least effort, purely by act
ing out herself and appearing what gentle
nature, judicious bringing up, and good
mo1al culture. had made her.
Authors OF fiction are fond of regulating
the temper and disposition of their heroes
4 oy the color of their eyes; and with the
mid and gentle disposition, they have ~
greed to associate the blue eye. But in real
| lie lt may be otherwise, and nature NAV
take 1t into her head to connect the GEN
tlest disposition with the most sparkling eve.
But IN relation to Mary ofthe Valley, an adj
mIrer. Of hers told me, that after several
years acquaintance, he positively could not
pronounce with certainty, whether her eyes
were blue, black, or hazel. Indeed, said he,
one must have been lead to their express
sion, who could cody bethink himself of as
certaInlng their color. But the color, if
known. might easily fade from the recol-
lecton-the expression never.
With so much goodness, Mary of the Val
Icy rould not fail to be esteemed; for good
ness will attract esteem, not only among
the good, hut even amongst those who have
not the virtue to practice what they esteem.
With SO much gentleness, she could not
live and not he loved for gentleness is
sure TO win The affections, even of those
who are destitute of that amiable quality.
Mary had many sutors-not because she
was DESTROYS of many, but because the in
variable sweetness Of her temper, the guile
iess sincerity OF her heart, and the simple,
Inc naive attraction of her manners, ire
sisuoiy won the affections of many. With
the general esteem and love of her acquaint-
ance she could not fail to be gratfied but
the marked attentions of SO many signing
swans, were TO her rather painful than
pleasing. To meet the especial love ofone
who was her joy, her pride; to give her
own IN return, was her happiness. She had
none of the cruel vanity ofthe coquette, who
is fond OF grazing her triumph with dis
play of broken hearts; and it was her wish
to secure friend, where she was conpell-
ed to refuse lover.
But though Mary's unsuccessful suitors
could no less than acquiescc in their reiec-
ton, there was one thing with which they
generally took the liberty of being dissatis-
fied-and that was the nature of her choice
which 10 their great modification, fell upon
| one, whom, from his silent attention and I'M
| assuming manners, they had scarcely con-
sidered in the light of rival. To have the
prize carried off without noise or hustle, was
hardly to be endured.
james Columbine, usually called among
his more forward acquaintance, Difidenl
Jim, led to the altar the boast of the Valley
And wherefore his SUGGEST He had moi
the means Of competing with his rivals on
their own ground. Their circumstances
were affiuent, his were humble. Their ap-
parel was costly and gay, his was cheap and
plain. Their equipage was snowy and ex-
| pensive, his-alas! he had none. They
drove in gig and tandem, he walked on
| foot. Their manners were forward and
fashionable, his were modest and retiring
They pushed their suit by the offers of balls
parties of pleasure, and public attentions
be only by the silentlanguage of the coun-
tenance and noiseless assiduities. In few
words, nifident Inn, MS they eallod him,
had little else to boast than industry, hon
esty, good sense, and feeling heart. But
these were every thing to Mary of the Val.
ley, and she did not hesitate between the
sterling value of gold in plain box, and the
worthlessness of tinsel in gilded casket.
Such being the ease, need say Diffident
Jim and Mary of the Valley were made one
Need trace their footsteps to the scenes
ofdomestic life? Need speak of the chill
dren, which grew like plants around their
table? Need say they resembled their
parents-that every daughter grew up to
be in her turn Mary of the Valley-and
every son virtuous and industrious, if not
a difidcnt Jim? Need say, that the af-
lection of the happy couple continued I'M
impaired to the last gasp? that they passed
pleasantly the up bill and the down hill OF
life that Diflident Jim was for many years
the principal man Of the town, esteemed and
reverenced by all his acquaintance and
that Mary Of the Valley was the revered
and beloved pattern OF all good wives and
mothers, as she mad formerly been of excel
lent daughters a.t,a3
L