The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1845-03-06
VOLUME V.
DEBBY WILDER,
THE FARMERS DAUGHTER
BY SEDA SMITH.

the name of William Wilder. He haC
wandered away from Yankee land in hi
younger days, to seek his fortune; ant
having been employed by a respectable
Quaker to work on his farm, he had con
trived, with true Yankee adroitness, to
win the affections Of the old mans daugh
ter, and had married her. His wife hav-
ing espoused one of the worlds people,
contrary to the rules of her order, was
ofcourse read out of the society,"; but
William loved her none the less for that:
if anything, he felt il little rcjoiced at it,
for he thought it seemed to bring her a
little nearer to him. He had no partic-
ular objections to them theeing and thou
ing 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 therefore he felt a sort OF
relief, something he could hardly de-
scribe, when told his wife was read out
Mrs Wilder never overcame, and per-
haps, never tried to overcome, the habits
which had grown up with her childhood
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 ungratctul or
unwelcome to NVildcr's cars; from one
ofthe sweetest sounds that dwet in his
memory was when he asked her a certain
question, and her reply was, William
thee has my heart already, and my hand
shall be thine whenever thee shall please
to take it.
William Wilder was a thrifty and stir
ring man; in few years he found himself
the owner of a good farm, and was going
ahead in the world as fast as the best or
his neighbors. Nor has the whole sum
Of his good fortune yet been stated. He
was blcst with a daughter; a bright rosy
checked, healthy, rompng girl, full of
life and spirits, and in his eyes exceed
ingly 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
little Drowned from exposure to the sun
for she had been accustomed from child
hood to be much in the open air. Ifthis,
however had detracted aught from her
beauty, it was more than compensated
by the vigor and elasticity it had impair
ted to her frame, and the bright and deep
luster it had brought to her dark hazel
eye. She was an object of engrossing
love to her parents, and general attrac-
ton in the neighborhood
There's that Joe Nelson alongtide of
Debby again, said Mr. Wilder to his
wife, rather pettishly, as they came out
of church one warm summer afternoon,
and commenced their walk homeward.-
/ wish he would Mt make himself quite
80 thick
well, now, my dear, think thee has
| little too much feeling abort it, return
I'd Mrs Wilder. Young folks like to be
ogethcr, thee knows, and JOSEPH is a
clever, respectable young nan; nobody
ever says word against hnn.'
Eyes, he's too clever to be worth any
hing said Wilder; 'anal, by-and-by,
he'll take it into his head, if he has MT
already, to coax Debby to marry him.
I'ye no idea of her marry ing paupcr;
I've worked too hard for what little proper
" I've got to be willing; to see it go to
feed vagabond, who never carnt any
hing, and never will. don't believe
Joell ever be worth hundred dollars as
long as he lives.
We'll now, my dear, think thee is
little too hard upon Joseph, said Mrs
Wilder; thee should remember he is but
lust out of his time. His father has been
sick several years, and Joseph has almost
entirely supported the whole family
ooh, don't deny but he's clever e.
nough to his father and mother said Mr.
Wilder; all is, don't like to see him so
thick along with Debby. How should
you feel to sec him married to Debby and
not worth decent suit Of clothes?
well, should feel, said Mrs Wilder,
'as though they were starting in life very
much as we did, when we were first mar
ried. We had decent clothes, and each
ofus good pair of hands, and that was
about all we had to start with. | don't
think William, we should have got a.
long any better, or been any happier, if
thee had been worth hundred thousand
dollars when we were married.
This argument came home with such
force to Wilder's own bosom, that he
made no attempt to answer it, but walked
on in silence till they reached their dwell
ing. 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 90 in, but continued his walk up
the road to the high ground that overlook
ed some of his fields, where he stood ru-
mina,ing for half an hour upon the pros
pcct of his crops, and more particularly
upon the unpleasant subject ofDebby and
Joe Nelson. The young man had become
so familiar and so much at home at his
house, that he could hardly doubt there
was strong attachment growing up be-
tween him and Debby, and he began to
feel very uneasy about it. He had al
ways been so fond Of his daughter, and
her presence was so necessary to his hap
Al ot tho ;Jo, ,f hnr ,norrvinp nj