The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-04-06
WHOLE NO. 872.


upon any Of the great roads, believe
you have the reputation Of being a primi-
tive and unsophisticated race"
"Pfvtive and sofsticatod, did you
say, sr' Why, as 10 that, cannot ex-
actly speak; but il there ia no harm in il,
dare say we are. But YOU scs, sir,
am vintner, and don't tro, bile my head
much about thess matters"
So much the bctter," said the stran-
ger, smiling. " You and shalt become
better friends L may. stay Wits YOU for
sosne weeks, perhaps months In the
meantims get ms something comfortable
for supper, and desirel yop~ wife to look
after my bedroom"
Mr.. Cherryrpe made one Of his pro-
fouadest bows, ant descended to the kitch
en-, inspired with tt e deepest respect for
his unexpected gue.t.
Next day was Sunday. The bells Of
the village church had just finished ring
ing, when the stranger walked up the
aisle, and entered, as if at random, pew
which happened to be vacant. Instantly
every eye was turned towards him, for
new face was too important an object IN
Hodaet to be left unnoticed.
"Who ia he! }"
When did he. come"
With whom does he stay?"
" How long will he be here"
How old may he be!"
"Do you thinh he is hapdsoEie"'
These and thousand other questions
flew about In whispers from tongue to
tongue, whist the unconscious object of
all this interest cast his eyes calmly, and
yet penetraiingly, over the congregation.
Nor was it altogether to DE wondered that
his appearance had caused sensation a
mong the good people of Hodnet, for he
was not the kind Of person whom one
meets with every day. There was some-
thing both in his face and figure that dis
tinguished him from the crowd. Yoa
could not look upon HIM once, and then
tarn away with indifference. His feat
ures arrested your attention, and COM
manded your admiration. His high Ro-
naii nose, bis noble brow, his almost fem
mime lips, and beautifully regular teeth
! his pale but not delicats check, his pro-
fusion of dark and curling hair, his black
bright eyes, whose glance, without being
keen, was intensc--nli, taken together,
produced an effect which might have ex-
cited attention on wider stage than that
of Hodnet. In stature he was consider
ably above the middle height; and there
was a something in his air which they
who were not accustomed to it did not un-
derstand, and which some called grace,
others dignity, and others hauteur. When
the service was over, our hero walked out
alone, and shut himself up for the rest Of
the day in his parlor at the Blue Boar
But speculation was busily at work, and
ut more than one tea-tabie that evening
in Hodnet, conlectures were poured out
with the tea, and swallowed with the
toast.
A few days elapsed, and the stranger
was almost forgotten; for there was to be
subscription assembly in Hodnet, which
engrossed entirely the minds of men. II
was one ofthe most important events that
had happened for at least century
Such doings had never been known be-
fore. There was never such demand
for millipers since the days of Ariadne,
the first miliner of whom history speaks
Needles worked unremittlngly from morn
ing to night, aud from night to morning.
fYddies were scraped on in private, and
steps danced before looking lasses. AL
the preparations which Captain Parry
made for going to the North Pole were Il
mere joke to the preparations made by
those who intended to go to the Hodnet
assembly. AT length the great, the inn
porant night arrived, "big with the iate'
of many rustic belle. The three pro-
fessional fddlers Of the village were elea
yated on table at one end Of the hall,
and every body pronounced it the very
model of an ochcstia The candles (nei-
ther The oil nor the coal gascompany had
as yet pene,r ated so far as Hodnet) were
,astcfaiy arranged, and regularly snuiied.
The floor was admirably chalked by n
travelling sign-painter, engaged for tho
purpoee; and the refreshments in an adj
joining room, consisting of ncgus, apples,
oranges, cold roast-beei, porter, and bis
cults, were under the immediate superin.
tcndence of our very excellent friend, Mr.
Gilbert Chcrryrpe. AT nine o'clock,
which was considered n fashionable hour,
the hall was nearly full, and the first
country dance (qnadrilles had not peison-
ed the peace, aud stirred up all the bad
passions, of Hodnet) was commenced by
the eldest son and presumpiivo heir of old
Squire Thoroughbred, who conducted
gracefully through it- mszes the chosen
divinity Of his heart, Miss Wilhelmina
Bounccr, only daughter Of fTobIas Eoun-
Ger, Esq justice Of peace in the county Of
Shropshire.
Enjoyment was at its height, and tho
three professional iidalcrs had pot syirs
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