The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-10-02


seventeen, and such the two beings
who had taken up their residence in
a strange country, among a strange
people, neither asking sympathy nor
bestowing confidence.
Walpole's residence was charac-
tcrized by neatness and elegance
The little flower garden which occu-
pied the space between the house
and pond, made FRAGRANT in summer
the atmosphere, by its richness and
variety of plant, shrub, and flower.
In its arrangement, the taste and skill
of Caroline were apparent. When
at home, its care, indeed, seemed her
only occupation. Morning, noon,
and night, she might be seen in the
midst of this miniature Eden, her
own rich and mellow tints rivalIing
thaSe of the most delicate flower in
the collection. But such taste and
such refinement seldom found re-
Spouse in tic hearts of those who
surrounded our cmigrants. These
were mostly hardy pioneers, or the
sons and daughters Of such, who had
Just conquered the savage and the
forest, and were then laying the ioun
dationS of that system Of social or
der, which so distinguishes us as a
people at tie present day. The
chief clements of civilization and re-
fncmcnt were among them, but time
and means were wanting TO their
development and perfection. The
seed had been sown-thc ri pened
fruit was to be gathered by a sue
cccding generation. Necessity then,
as now, created and enforced its own
laws. 1t made that most important
which was most essential. An ear
of corn was of more valuc than an
acre of roses, and a blade of grass
than a rich ,sotic. Still there were
some in whom the glimmerings of a
higher want and finer feelings began
to manifest themselves. Femal SEN
sibility, that ever living and mex
haustible fountain Of refinement. was
waking from its temporary slumbcr,
and shedding its softness and dclica-
cy on the hardy features Of young
but giant people.
More distinguished in this respect
than any other among the daughters
of the pioneers, WAS Mary Wilson.
Mary was a laughing, lively girl, full
of fun and lrolic, and pretty enough
to attract the attention of young set
tiers, even beyond the limits of her
own ncighboIlc.l. She loved Gow-
crs quite as much as Caroline ; and
if not as familiar with their hard or
foreign names, knew as we'll how TO
arrange a bouquet or Gil vase as
her more accomplished companion.
This laughing flower Of the forest
was nearly Of the same age with Car
dine, and spent much of her time at
Walpolc's, as companion Her
gayety and native delicacy of feeling
admirably fitted her for importing
life and animation TO the residence
of the lonely cmigrants, whose at
tachmcnts to her increased with time
and familiarity. Summer and win
ter, spring and autumn, she was al
most Away there, communicating,
without apparent effort, her own
buoyant spirit to both father and
daughter, and acquiring new graccs
from her association with SO much
of refinement and taste. Walpole,
though usually in his study, often
took part in their amuSemcnts, some
times appearing with them in the
flower garden, or walking up and
down the narrow beach which skirt.
ed then, as now, the eastern shore
of the Wahtahpec. Some enviou,
persons Of her own age venturcd tC
assert that this association rendered
Mary proud and when, on one oc,
caSion, as much was intimated tt
her by Luke Hathaway-who would
not own he cared whit about tn,
pert little beauty, as he charactcri
zed her-she slapped him in the fac,
and called him a bear, or gave hin
$ me other hard name, and thel
bUrst into such joyous laugh tina
poor Luke did not care to repea
the inSinuation.
George Wilson, or Old Ground
Nut, as he was usually called, th,
father of Mary, was bushy-hcadcd
sun-burnt, hardy old settler, VIII
had cleared up as many acres o
primitive forest as any other in tn
Plymouth or Massachusetts colonies
He had acquired the true back
, woodsman's relish for Telling a tree
and sitting before good log fire
. ami his wife, Aunt Ruth, was jus
, the woman for such a wood-thirSt
man. She knew how to cook an
dress bears meat in all conceivabl
$ ways, and for connecting ground
nut pudding, nobody could rival he
, in or out of the settlement. Some
, times Mrs. Wilson would storm a lit