Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1846-02-05
5elcrte0 Qnles.
From the Maine Farmer.
Or, THE INFLUENCE OF GOOD TASTE AND OF
EXAMPLE.
by n Cosmopolitan.

IN ~" huhlhB PctuTeSd'e yo" Wq"'ec
Mrs. Downsnd of William Bnrrill and her
grand. aughtor,Va Colby, who were walk.
ing upon the green belWeen the road end the
river, near the village.
I. 'Someth!ng So, Grandmother, replied Mary
as they stepped up to the carriage william
has been remarking that this neglected com
mon would, he thought, make a beautiful
building spot. There are some old trees and
some fine views here. and the Place secms
happily designed for a delightful suburban
cottage. Come, Grandmother we should be
glad to have you TO alIgh, and exsplne IT,,
\ Mr.. BurrI held the horse by The bits while
Mrs. DowDsnd, by the assistance of Mary,
stepped from The carriage. After securing
the horse, Mr.. BnIrIIl jolu"d them in a short
rambe over the few acres which lie proposed
purchasing, and whereth he designed erecting
n cottage.
Nlr. 8urrill was q mechanic. printer. His
parents were poor, and he was early put an
/ apprentice 10 the printing business. His busl.
/ ness,and an ndomitabe thirst for knowledge,
aided ~ his mental acquisitions. HIS leisure
hours he improved in systematic course of
study, and in we'll selected reading. lie pre-
terreG the companloushlp of wise and good
men 10 the frvoltles of most of those Of his
own age, aud ahho' only poor boy he Ind
learned the fact that he could haYe Tie com-
panionship Of the wiscsi and best Of men in
books, and from these h" gathered up many
valuable lessons and profitable suggestions.
He had acquired high reputation in his town
fnr attention to all his duties, a marked ro.
spect for his seniors, and for probity and skill
in his business, and great prudence % bis e%.
pendilures. lie was now twenty six years OF
age, of a grave and thoughtful ccun,cpaa..
yet Of o cheerful and social disposition. He
was employed rs foreman in the Office where
hc learned his trade, and had eccumu lated
about thousand dollars by his own caorts,
which, with few hundred dollars bcqucahcd
40 him by distant relative Of his mother he
intended TO invest in n dwelling house. But
instead Of buying him a small lot Of land ~
the village, and following the beaten track Of
most who had ercctsd dwellings,, he lhongl.t
It better to reap lbe pleasure and comfon ni
more land for his buildings and garden. and
thereby avail hmscil of the delights Of cult
var!ng various fruits and shrubbery.
II was for the purpose Of ota.Hmg some
suggestions from Mary Colby, an accomplish
ed acquaintan nee of his, whose means Of Oh
servatlon had been extensive, and to which
were added strong Ioye Of the beautiful
and a highly cultivated taste, that they were
engaged IN mutual examinations of the de-
main, and mutually making suggestions fog
it's improvement, as Mrs. Downlend accostcd
them.
Mrs. iiownland wns a woman OF an excel
lent education, apd during the life time of
her husband had seen much Of the world, and
Ind acquired an exquisite taste in matters re-
Iaiing TO rurnI scenery aud various depart
men,s Of Architectural designs. II was gi't
the highest satisfaction that she had dscov.
cred in Mr., Burrill, during her acquaintance
with bin, a mind Of much originality Of
thought and now, to find him selecting &
really lovely spot Coz homestead but aYny
from the village, end where, TO most persons
it would be lhoaght quite out of the woUd'
Mrs Downlnud was more than evar pleased
with her young friend.
She euiercd with mnch interest into an ex-
aminslion or the grounds. and having ascer
lained that Mr.. Burril had obtained the righi
of purchasing one or n,ofe acres al silpgla-
led price The three scverany Ogrced to FIX lho
probable boundaries oe the lot desired, aud by
comparison max the best selection Tor The
purchase After various cHnr,s and examI-
nations aud canvisslngs, lot was agreed
upon. containing about three acres.
From the site selected for tho cottage, thS
eye wsndcrs over richly cultivated counity,
dotted aud sprlnkIcd with luxuran, groups 81
woods in one direction IL an cxponsc a.
woter, terminated by ruf,cd frInges of shrubs
nj the base OF a towering mounlnln, hitting hs
head IN the hssy blue frhc horizon. Nature
spread out here so mary beauties that, ns Mr.
Burrl remarked, he had only Ia follow the
hints which nature had gwen, and make The
homo correspond 10 The genins Of The place
Iic had studied with particular drhgh, the
attractive features # he GoihIc Cottage
,,,le of the Elrzabeihernn period, md had
hus acquired lively perception OF The benu-
iful IN all iha, relates to h"uses aud grounds
lie fcl, that ~ was rlgh, thus TO nourish IN
,is n,iud the faculty Of feeling tho effects 90
,can'y, md n. much NJ posslble TO Connect
orms of beauty with his daily walks. ""
rll that "all beauty ia nn outward expression
# inward good and sitting with Mary
colby. upon rustic sect, near the bank of
he stream beneath the shade Of a vide
'preadng bu,,crnui tree, he gave ulter'nco
10 the feeling,
$50 clio ,sly." said b. care ,he besu''iul