Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-01-13
BY w NJ. f.. r..
DEBBY WILDER,
OR, THE FARMERS DAUGHTER.
by sEBA SMITH.

farmer, well to do in the world, by the name
of William Wilder. He had wandered a.
way from Yankee land in his younger days,
to seek his fortune and having been en-
ployed by a respectable Quaker to work on
his farm, he contrivcd, with true Yankee
adroitness, to win the affections of the old
mans daughter, and had married her. His
wife having espoused one of the worlds
people, contrary to the rules of her order,
was Of course read out Of the society > but
William loved her none the less for that it,
any thing, he felt a little reioiced at it, for
he thought it seemed to bring her a little
nearer TO him. He had no particular OBJ
%iections to them theeing and thoning sort of
folks : he had always found them a pretty
good sort of people, but he had no idea that
he should ever Join them himself, and there
fore felt a sort of relief, a something that he
could hardly describe, when told that his
wife was read out
Mrs. Wilder, however, never overcame,
and perhaps, never tried to overcome, the
habits which had grown up with her child
hood and youth she always called her hus-
band William, and continued through life to
speak the Quaker dialect. But this from
her lips was never nngrateful or unwelcome
to Wilder's ears for one of the sweetest
sounds that dwelt in his memory was when
he asked her a certain question, and her re-
ply was, William, thee has my heart alrea-
dy, and my hand shall be thine whenever
thee may please to take it,
William Wilder was a thrifty and stirring
man in a few years he found himself the
owner of a good farm, and was going ahead
- .bo ,yOrld &c fact nc tho host IF hic nninb-
bors. Nor has the whole sum of his good
fortune been yet stated. He was blest with
a daughter a bright rosy-cheeked, healthy,
romping girl, full of life and spirits, and in
his eyes exceedingly beautiful.
This daughter, at the period which is now
to be more particularly described, had
reached the age of eighteen years. Her
complexion was naturally fair, but a little
Drowned from exposure to the sun, for she
had been accustomed from childhood to be
much in the open air. If this, however, had
detracted aught from her beauty, it was
more than compensated by the vigor and
elasticity it had impaired to her frame, and
the bright and deep lustre it had brought to
her dark hazel eye. She was an object of
engrossing love to her parents, and Of gener-
al attraction in the neighborhood.
"There's that Joe Nelson alongside of
Debby again." said Mr.. Wilder to his wife,
rather pettishly, as they came out of church
one warm summer afternoon, and com
menced their walk homeward. 81 wish he
wouldn't make himself quite so thick"
swell, now, my dear, | think thee has a
little too much feeling about it," returned
Mrs. Wilder. "Young folks like to be to.
gether, thee knows, and Joseph is a clever
and respectable young man; nobody ever
says a word against him"
ayes, he's too clever to be worth any
thing" said Wilder "and, by-and-bye, he'll
take it into his head, if he hasn't already,
to coax Debby to marry him. Pve no idea
of her marrying a pauper; Pye worked too
hard for what little property I've got to be
willing to see it 90 to feed a-vagabond, who
never earnt any thing, and never will. |
don't believe JOEL ever be worth a hundred
dollars as long as he lives"
"Well now, my dear, l think thee is a
little too hard upon Joseph" said Mrs. Viii
der "thee should remember he is but just
out of his time. His father has been sick
several years, and Joseph has almost entire
ly supported the whole family"
ooh, / don't deny but he's clever enough
aud kind enough to his father and mother, ,
said Mr.. Wilder call is, | don't like to see
him SO thick along with Debby. How
should you feel to see him married to Debby
and not worth decent suit of clothes 2"
"Well, | should feel" said Mrs. Wilder
"as though they were starting in life verl
much as we did, when we first married.
We had decent clothes. and each of US
good pair of hands, and that was about al
we had to start with. | don't think William
we should have got along any better or beer
any happier, if thee had been worth a hun
bred thousand dollars when we were mar
ried."
This argument came home with sucl
force to Wilder's own bosom, that he made
no attempt to answer it, but walked on il
silence till they reached their dwelling
Debby and Joseph had arrived there before
them, and were already seated in the parlor
Seeing Joseph as they passed the window
Mr.. Wilder chose not to go in, but contin
ued his walk up the road to the high grount
that overlooked some of his fields, where h
stood Illuminating for half an hour upon tn,
prospect Of his crops, and more particular.
upon the unpleasant subject Of Debby am
Joe Nelson. The young man had becom
so familiar and so much at home at hi
house, that he could hardly doubt there wa
astrong attachment growing up between hin
and Debby, and he began TO feel very unea
sy about it. He had always been so fond o
his daughter, and her presence was so nee
essary to his happiness, that the idea of he
marrying at all was a sad thought to him
but if she must marry, he was determined
should be-, if possible, TO a person Of som