Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-01-27


was beloved by all for his genteness, am.
liability and singular quietneas. He never
was heard TO complain of his illness, nor
anything else; but there was still that gen.
tie expression of the eye and the smile upon
the lip, on any and every occasion when
he spoke. My brother, however, was of
keen sensitiveness, and had tender heart
beneath that calm exterior.
We'll, time passed on. was intended
for the profession of the law; though being
lazy in my studies, it was not until my
twenty-frst year that entered the office
of an eminent practitioner, rigid man,
with whom was TO study and drudge.
The very first day Of my appearance
there, about the middle of the morning,
there came to see my master large, OBJ
fuse looking woman, with strong foreign
accent. Her broken English, and pecu-
| liar expression of the eye, excited the risi-
biities of couple of young gentlemen,
Mr.. Harry Wheaton and Mr.. Frank Brown,
| felow-students of mine, and they COM
menced toward that lady what is called
quzzing-a process which is generally the
sure sign of soft and pitiful brain in the
originator.
| rebuked them, and, asking the woman
into the adjoining room, sacred to our mas
ter's own use, | requested her TO wait
few minutes and the lawyer would proba-
bly, be there. With female tact, she made
no allusion to the young mems imperti-
nence, but thanked me with dignity and
politeness which | certainly did not at all
expect. Before she went away that morn
| ing | found that she was Swiss imm-
grant, a widow, and kept little ale-house
on the banks of the North river, at about
two miles from what is now the centre of
the city. Though the spot was then quite
out of town, surrounded by trees and green
fields, in these days it is we'll covered with
buildings, and resounds to the clang Of
carts and the noise of traffic. The widow
invited me, when had leisure afternoon,
to come out and paw visit to the ale.house;
including in the invitation, alas the other
students--a piece of civility of which their
rudeness had certainly not made them
worthy.
II NAV not be amiss for me to describe
more particularly my two companions in
martyrdom--for that was the term which
we unanimously voted as most applicable
to the condition in which we were placed.
Each was of the same age with myself.
Wheaton was a handsome, ed-cheeked,
iovial fellow, full of mirth and spirits, and
as generous and brave as any man | ever
knew. He was very passionate, 100; but
the whirlwind of his temper was as quick
in passing as it was violent, and, when over,
unlike the whirl- winds, it left no desolation
or wreck in its path. Frank Brown was
a slim, tall, gracefully formed youth, but
by no means as handsome in the face as
his companion. He was fond of vague
metaphysical speculation, and used to fall
in love regularly about once month with
any pretty girl he come across. The half
of every Wednesday we had to ourselves,
and, accompanied by my brother Matthew,
who was studying under French teacher
in the same building, we were in the habit
of having sail, a ride, or a walk together.
One Of those Wednesday afternoons, of
pleasant day iii April, bethought my
self of the Swiss widow and her beer,
about which latter article had since her
visit made inquiries, and heard spoken OF
in terms of high commentator. men,
toned the matter TO Matthew, and my
brothers in martyrdom, and we agreed that
there was no better way of filling up the
hours than visit. Accordingly we set
forth, and, after a fine walk, arrived in
glorious spirits at our destination.
All! how shall describe the quiet beau
J ties of the spot, with its long, low plaza
: looking out upon the river, and its clean
homely tables and the lankards of rea
r silver, in which the ale was given US, and
the favour of that excellent liquor itself
f There was the fat Swiss widow, and there
I was SOBER stately old woman, half ser
2 want, half companion, Margery by name
. and there was good God my fingers
culver yet as write the nameD young
r Ninon, the daughter of the widow. o
. through the years that have passed, my
!, memory slrays back, and that whole scene
d comes UP before me again; and the bright
e est part of the picture is the strange ethe
D real beauty of that young girl! She wa
but sixteen, and the most fascinating. art
. less female ] had ever beheld She haC
4 soft blue eyes and light hair, and an expires
sion of childish simplicity, which wa
r. charming to behold. have no doubt tina
IS ere half an hour had elapsed from the time
;. we entered the tavern, and saw Ninon
q every one Of the four of US, with the feel
n ings of our age, loved the girl with the yer!
n depth Of passion.
t, We neither spent as much or drank a
# much beer, by three-quarters, as we hao
:, intended before starting on the launt. Thu
: widow was very civil 10 US; and Margery
r who waited upon US, though not quite
n Hebe, behaved with great deal of polite
y ness; but it was to Ninon, after all, tina
d the afternoons pleasure was attributable
kac