Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-02-23
FANNY LINCOLN
or, THE VILLAGE AMANUENsIs.

y
ish crotchet into your head, the house has
been overrun. | wonder that you can find
nothing better to do than writing letters for
aose-stricken clodhoppets, or silly house
maids"
|'Quite flourish oftrumpets, sister mine :"
Frank Beverly replied laughing.
"No, but Frank, am in earnest. The
fact is, people are beginning to talk about
you |"
And what do they say %
.s"Why, they say-they say"
'What do they say, lsabella?"
%'Why, they say you must have but little
10 do p
"The allegation confess TO be true, sis
ter" Frank said assuming a mock serious
countenance. But who, pray, are so much
interested in me! Really, ought to feel
catered"
a"lt is nothing to Jest about, Frank. Ev-
erybody is beginning to wonder at YOU
Florence Milton told me this morning that
you we're the talk of the whole village"
Indeed 70
"Yes, she did. And she says that many
strange things are said about you"
"Did you ask her what those strange
things were, Isabella p
"Yes, but she hesitated and then declined
telling me. You don't know how it worries
me, brother. | do wish you would act
little more sensiby, and visit oftener in the
respectable families of the village. You are
inquired after wherever go. Indeed, there
is not family within twenty miles round,
with which you might not form connection,
if you would know half dozen Young
laA,
pick Of the county, who would jump at the
offer Of your hand"
20 am perfectly aware of that, sister"
a"Then Mr. Vanity, why are you not up
and doing, instead Of making yourselfa sub
ject of ridcule for the neighborhood. -
Surely, you do not think so highly of your
self as TO decline the first connection for
wealth and beauty in Greenlawn village"
"And why not ?"
g Crank p
,"IsabeIla"
BE- Really, brother, am afraid you are de-
mented." y
,is"As people say that am"
'a"Do they say that, them" the sister
asked, while cloud fell upon her face.
30 yes. But what of it? 1t does not
make me crazy. Now, the fact is, sister, |
have become so tired of the shaow-minded-
ness and insincerity of the elite of Green
lawn, that have cut off the whole tribe at
least for time For the past two months,
as you know, have almost daily held con-
fidential intercourse with the lower order of
society in the village, as they are called
and in that time have seen more integrity
Of Purpose, more deep feeling, more tender
ness Of sentiment, than have ever witnessed
in my life. Truly it is refreshing to hear
human nature speaking out in its own inn
pressive language, full of energy and truth
IT may be rough at times, for want of con-
yentonaI polish, but i, is honest, for it
comes from the heart"
"Really, Frank, do not know what to
make Of you"
"You do not think me crazy at least 2"
81 do not know what to think A man
of your position in society, it seems to me,
acts very strangely, when he lets himself
down and consorts with plebeianism."
"That is not a good word for an Ameri-
can lady to use Isabella. This is not the
country for patrician and plebeisn distinc-
,ions. The man here is the noble. All else
is but Fictitious, and not to be weighed
against the man. In all classes, truth, in
tegrity, and virtue, should make honour,
and the want Of these, dishonour. Come,
sister, let the gold of your real character
shine clear. Be true to yourself, to the
spirit and impulse Of this age and this coun-
try, to human nature J"
".lIow strangely you talk, Frank But,
bark there is the bell again Another of
your elegant visitors, | suppose. All me
wish could see the end of all this"
Fanny Lincoln wishes to see Mr.. Fran
els" said the old servant, opening the door
of the room in which sat Frank Beverly and
his sister.
"rel Fanny to walk up into my study,
and / will be there in few moments"
The servant withdrew, and Frank said, as
he rose from the sofa where he had been
sitting by the side of his sister
.la"Who is Fanny Lincoln wonder9
70 "Why she is the girl that old Mrs. Grand,
the dairyman's wife, raised. | wonder what
in the world she wants ?"
"a letter written to her sweetheart, sup
pose" Frank said, laughing. II learn
some strange things, sister, that you would
like to know very much, for all your light
estimation of the plebeians. as you call
them. But, good morning; | must see
what Fanny Lincoln wants"
when Frank Beverly entered the room
ne called his study, he found there an APP
partition that he had little expected. In the
center Of the floor stood fair girl, just
Msshing into gentle womanhood; and she
glanced up to him with modest, yet not
.bashfu mien. as he entered, that had in it
so much of innocence and truth, that the
young man was instantly interested, and that