Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-10-23
From the London Metropolitan.
AN ELIGIBLE MATCH.
A TALE OF A COUNTRY norsE. DY Mns. ABBY,

ny Incidence OF having nothing to do, which
would have been the heaviest punishment
that malice could have inflicted upon me, but
in the luxury of abundant and pleasant &C.
cupation. My guitar was on my knee, a
stand of new songs was before me, a table
at "A little distance was covered with books
and drawing materials, an embroidery frame
stood beside it, which was only at present
cmbcllishcd by three leaves, and a half fin
islcd rose; and in the distance, was a small
writing table, on which lay alist of the names
of ten friends from whom | have recently
received letters, and a quirc of Lavenuc's
most exquisite paper, on which | intended
to indite my answers To all these sources
of delight, was added the consciousness of
unbounded leisure to avail myself of them.
We only had arrived IA few months ago at
my fathers country house. ] was rcjoiccd
to think that the hustle Of an unusually gay
London season was over, and that | was free
to repair my faded roses and exhausted spir-
its in the pure air and among the green leaves
of the country. My parents had wisely de-
tcrmincd to invite no company by the aid Of
whom they might transfer the habits Of Lon
don to the quiet of tie rural shades and |
looked forward to a summer Of liberty, peace,
and wcll-mineled and ~favorite cmploymcnts.
| was interrupted by the entrance of my mo-
thor she moved and spoke with remarkable
animation, and held an open letter in her
hand.
eva, my love, said she, you have often
heard your father speak of Sir Terrence Or
mond, an old school fellow of his, who re-
sides in Kilkenny"
| had not often heard my father speak of
him, but | knew there was such a person,
and | bowed my head in assent. "Ilc has
lately come into a fine property, added my
mother, and your dear father who %rcioiccs IN
the prosperity Of others, wrote to congrat,i-
late him upon it a short time ago, and to tell
him how much he wished to renew the friend
ship of their former years, and to become
acquainted with his eldest son, whom report
had mentioned as a fine young man. This
letter is a most gratifying and warm hearted
answer from Sir Terrence and lie says that
his son Capt. Ormond, is now travelling in
England and will be happy to come and stay
a week with US. The letter was enclosed in
a few lines from Capt. Ormond, and he will
be with us at dinner time to-day.
l felt rather Disconnected that my scheme
Of quiet and liberty should be thus unexpcct-
cdly broken in upon by the introduction Of
4 stranger.
Is it not rather free and easy, I asked, to
take people so Immediately at their word,
when they utter a word of invitation?
"IIow drcadtully cold hearted and inhos-
pitablc Eva is" said my mother, turning tc
my cousin Penelope, who had just entered
the room.
Now Penelope was not a young lady, bu
of that age when
"The green leaves all turn yellow"
and as she possessed neither beauty, money
nor talent, she chose to imagine that he
footing in our family could not only be sus
tanned by paying the most obseqnious cour
to every member Of it. Consequently, sh'
only answered this appeal by kind of com
menting shrug, which my mother might in
tcrprct into acQuicsccncc in her ccnsure O
), GOODNESS, and which | might construe int
n. surprise that any fault would be found wit
al so exemplary a daughter as myself.
81 like the manners of the Irish, exceed
ingly,' pursued my mother, and their free
dom from all the English reluctance to mi
u! in society, without "A formal invitation"
" "You did not think SO mama said |, smi
'c' ling, when Miss O'IIaIloran came to spcn
III a month with us last SUMNER, on the pie
r. that you had once said to her you wished ST.
" could sec orr tulip beds"
lg, "The cases are not all similar, Eva, re
'et piled my mother; an acquaintance with Mi
he O'IIalloran could lead to nothing; bat CAP
on Ormond, as the eldest son of a baronct
ar. large property, must be allowed to be an cl
on glblc match"
"Very likely, said |, but he may not be
~, more agreeable guest in a country house
-, that account"
'' eva, | have no patience with you,' e
u, claimed my mother, you put me in mind
ne the spirit of the frozen ocean, in Lewis's Il
me mantle tales"
ley Do not utter such a libel ON me mama
it have just been looking over some new BIZ
ose lads of Moorc's, and | am sure they a
ere enough to thaw all the ice of the frozen ocea
rod. touched the strings Of my guitar, as lspok
and began to sing,
so do not look so bright and blest,''
de- hut | suddenly stopped myself, fearful II
urS the words might be supposed a personal $;
The ire on my respected parent.
one "You seem resolved, Eva, never 10 do a
one thing to obligc me" said she.
t to "Wilingly, | replied, if necessary,
hen what preparations have | to make? An
non to strew the floors with rushes, like the da
in. sells of antiquity, or to hold a c~olloquy
no ways and means with the cook, like the /
= =, table housewives of modern times }"
"iou ought to practice your last new 1t
ian song, Eva, and to select a dress to W,
this evening"
ices Oh mama, have pity on me; | have be
r'y' so wearicd all the spring with blond q
iud- gauzc, German airs and Italian cahonc
that that | had made up my mind to wear moth
lese but white muslin, and sing nothing but f.
the lish ballads for the next MONTH"
5 of eva, the subject is too serious for railc
quite your father lives up to his income, and
tran cannot give you a fortune /; you are one
,hich twenty ; your sister Arabclla is scvcnto
be and will come out in another year; al
9 tho know she thinks it rather hard that YOU she
last not be already married and leave "A clear (