The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1841-04-15

MISS MODE,

IN enc % tAc tof1nrst Valleys Of me
xesi of Eaglsnd. sssnds q smsll town
called Gfeysione. or corruption (sccord-
Ing 70 The Antiquities Of the piaeel Of lis
original name Of GFasesione. Near lie
market place. not far from the town hall.
and a The corner Of The street llhs name
Of which We are not permitted 10 resesI)
dseli . Mr.. Simon Raven. undertaken ;
20 this profession Mr.. Raven had former
" added those Of suclioneer and spprais
sr; bui whether The two latter branches
brought him bot small profits. or that his
genius Jay exclusively in The former. we
know noi; certain il is. that a. the time Of
which we write. Mr.. Raven was only an
undertaken, but 70 that he enlhusisslical
~ devoted himself, mind and body.
Every morning his spouse. Mrs. Ra-
ven. might be seen. dressed in black
velvet cloak. leaving her home with the
ehsrilsble intention Of visiting the sick.
Ia ilIs ART Of closing The eyes OF The DIV
ing and rendering them The LAST sad of
ess. she had By long practice acquired a
wonderful address. Her appearance in
q house was almost . sure sign Of ap.
proaehing death, and some Of her neigh.
bors were unchsrtabla enough 10 say
that she had been known 10 occupy her
self with the funeral preparations even
before The breath was out Of the body.
All the happiness Of this thrifty cou.
pie q happiness paIieking. however. Of
their moody temperament was ceniered
in an only daughter. Miss Niobe Raven.
who also shared the gloomy labors Of
her parents. Her greatest delight was
10 reading. She delighted in The SOLEMN
pages Of Sherlock. Hersey. and DIR.
Dodd; sometimes. 70 give lilile variety
70 her recrsations, she tried the poets.
II 10 unnecessary 20 add that young's
might Thoughts" andlBlair's I" Grave"
were preferred 10 all others. In music,
she had grea, prediction FOR . The
Dead March in SAUL" and the bell lolIing
Cor funeral had for her a silver sound.
Bot 10 the cause Of these melancholy
tastes.
For many years past I've will not say
how many Miss Niobe had been Of age,
yet she stIIl remained in the sorrowlul
state al angle blessedness. For many
years she had hoped 10 establish herself
il msrfmonisl life with some swain Of
her native town. or the nsighboring pa
rishes. or. indeed. Of any oiher-for the
feiis, she was not particular as TO where
he came from. 50 that he did come. But
alas! no one had presented himself. and
This tender cypress found no prop TO sup
port her.
Several years had elapsed. as we have
been crsdibly informed. since young
Roots (lhe son Of market gardener al
the end Of the town. thinking thai Mr..
Raven had gather more profitable har.
YES, IRON the church. yard than his father
was ever likely 10 do from his garden.
had intended 10 pay court TO Miss Raven;
but TOO discreet lover. he bad only pro.
ceeded as far as few tender glances.
Strap, the barber, TOO, The most pune.
tual as well as the most busy man in the
town, had been known 10 spare few
minutes IN his rounds to address COM
pliment to Miss Raven; but lalterly he
had been heard 10 declare that he never
had the slightest intention Of converting
Miss Raven into Mrs. Strap.
Things were 10 this state when Miss
Niobe arranged plan TO put an end 10
her stale Of desolaiion. She had tried
in vain 70 gain husband by assuming a
genileness Of manner; and she was nov
determined 10 act with decision.
Exactly opposite 10 the house OF Mr..
Raven lived Mr.. Narcissus Nonpareil,
draper. This Mr.. Narcissus Nonpareil,
unlike the measurers OF clolh, had an as.
piring mind. No iradesman 10 The town
carried bis head so high, nor had any
better reason TO do so, for his stature wa:
only four fee, four. He might be seen
every morning standing a, his shop door
rubbing alternately his hands and hi'
chin. while inhsling the morning air; fol
tyranl custom. as in most small towns
confined him oil day TO his shop. Mis-:
.Niobe had seen "and marked him fol
her own" Mr.. Nonparei had retire.
TO his parlour one evening after the care'
Of The day. when his shopman entered.
"Any thing wanting. Mr.. smith,
mo. sir; Mr.. Stoa.'s clerk has jus
lefslhis letter, and has since gone owe
10 Mr.. Ravens"
Wondering what Stoat, the lawyer
could have TO write TO him about, Non
pareil opened the letter and read as iol
lows.
"Sir--I am ins,ructedsby my client
MIR. Simon Raven, to inform you that
You any longer refuse to fulfil the en-
gagement contracted by you with Mis-
Raven. that legal proceedings will b
forthwith commenced sgains, you.
Il am, sir, your obedienslservans,
"CAyMAN SToAT.
To Mr. Narcissus Nonpareil &c.
u Is not necessary TO paint the surprls
lnto which this sin nular enistle threw OF