American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-06-09

sweetly in response to his caress and then nes-
tied closer upon his BOSOM
"Do you not get discouraged at tmes?" ASK
ed Florence.
"Well, | do once in a while feel something
like it; but then, irU all come om right,-tnat's
my motto. We have got to be 4 little earlier
and later at the business. Boys he continu-
cd, turning towards his sons, "we've all got to
work harder. I tell you, if we don't, we'll get
no fodder''
81 reckon we can do our strare!'' Tesoutely
replied the youngest; his words met a response
in the determined look Of his elder brother, and
in the approving smile Of his father.
Henry Florence remained several days with
the settler, whose unremitting exertlons to
make Rjyl comfortable were both effcctual and
appreciated.
Upoa leaving, he urged his worthy host to
accept some compensation for the trouble and
expense of his protNcted stay, but received, in
answer to all his entreaties, the blunt reply
"Noney amt the price Of Isaac Lees hosPi
tality."
A few days after the departure of the strang-
or, the wife and children Of the settler stood at
the door Of their humble cabin, awaiting his re-
turn from the country town, whittier he had
gone, half deSparing, &c arrange for the pay
ment of the land which had cost 50 many
months of toll. The countenances Of the group
were sorrowful save that of the little Ellen,
who, like the rose blushing beneath the April
cloud, nnocently smiled, unconscious Of inn
pending misfortune. Twilight gathered slow
ly, and, as if imbued with the spirit of the qui-
ct hour, they were silent and sad, while they
watched for the return OF Lee.
IJne rfrpJ
from the woods on the opposite side Of the
clearing, and as he saw them, he swiftly urged
his horse towards them, shouting at the top of
his voice,
"Hurrah, wife! Jimmy! Bill! Pet! all ofyou,
hurrah! The lands all paid for Mr.. Florence
did it! He got the receipts made out before he
left, two days ago, end gave them to Squire
Benson at the Office, to keep, till came
to town! He's gone back to the East, but new
er mind, l'll have chance to pay him, some
day.
"God bless him. calculated the wife, while
tears ran down her cheeks.
"God bless him,7' shouted the boys as they
threw their ragged hats into the air.
Fart II.
Seventeen years have elapsed, and time has
brought changes. The forest has gradually
cattle-path, winding through the woods from
house to house, has been superseded, by the
, well raised turnprlke and county road, the lit
, tie clearing has expanded into a we'll improved
farm; and the hourishiug village marks the spot
where, but a few years ago, stood the humble
{ Public Of some settler, more ambitious than his
neghbors.
How cheerfullythe smoke curls up from the
midst of yon beautiful grove of forest trees sur
rounding that fine, comfortable, tarm-house!-
, Look, too, at that bursting barn, back of it,
with the glistening icices, hanging from its
, projecting eves-for it is winter;-and at the
sleek, well-ied cattle, standing upon the warm
, south side, leisurely chewing their cud undis-
f turbed by the caokliag Of the poultry, and the
uproar of the greedy swine, contendng over
their potations of so9r milk and corn. But let
us losAl arouAl. How straight the fences are!
, and how thrifty appears yon large orchard, al
though winter has hung iccles, where summer
would have had leaves and fruit! How beau
tfully the starlight shines upon the frozen sur
, face of that little stream, as it first energies
from the upland wood, and then stretches its
: bright course across the snow-coyered meadow!
But come. I is Christmas time and we will
find good cheer at the farmhouse. | will in
; troduce you to its inmates.
All! gathering! We have happened in at
, the right time These twenty or thirty young
people are suests;-thiS is merry making,
and truly they seem determined upon making
merry! Now supper is ready, and they are
/ leaving the sitting for the spacious kitch-
, en- where a tealptng display of chickens, tur-
keys, and meats of every kind await them,
while pertly pies, cakes, dough-nuts, sauce, no.
( ney, and homemade preserves fill up the in
= tervenng spaces. And now, while they are
. Lot
| us take a more deliberate leok at them.
D That hale old man with few gray hairs at
$ the head of the table, Is our old acquaintance
= Lee;-'Squire Lee now--so pay him proper
= respect That neat tidy lady pouring out the
Coffee and doing the honors, is his worthy wife,
D and that beautiful girl, with black eyes, and
S long dark tresses freely hanging down, upon
, her round, white shoulders, while she passes
S the cups, is her only daughter, the lovel y
, Ellen, who when we last knew her, was only
prattling infant. Those two handsome, man
ly fellows, are her brothers, William, the eld-
3 est, and James, the little Jimmy Of seventeen
= years ago.
But while we are looking, they have finish
ed their repast and are returning to the sitting
= Joom
| Now for the good old game of blind mans
= buif-they are unanimous and are soon involv-
ed in the chapter of accdents-such as making
f the blind man fall over chair, by way of pre-
Jude, then laughter as chorus; or, perhaps,
some blooming lass, having taken refuge in a
E corner, finds herself caught in the outstretched
arms of the stumbling fellow, in attempting to
r escape All is borne in good part, though the
complimentary SWANS DO venture to object to
having her bright eyes concealed beneath the
E bandage.
At length, lame Jerry, the village fiddler is
good humoredly gives the order to form cotil-
) lion; regardless, all the time of the confusion
into which his command has thrown some of