Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-03-04

man tnat ne nad Deen. lie grew very SUI,
and walked with a slow step like an old
man. and his hair got greyer and greyer
every day He left off going to wakes and
merry-makings and never stopt to drink
with his old friends at the market, as he had
used to do; and yet he said nothing about
his trouble to any body; but could see that
he was sorely cut down, for she was a very
bonny woman, and had made him, though
she was much younger than him, a very good
wife.
might have been married myself over
and over again but | kept myself single
many year for the childs sake; and when
at last | married our Michael, father and she
came here with me, and we all lived togetl-
err like one family. Michael was very fond
of the old man, and Agnes was now grown
little lass, as lovely as lily in June. She
went to school at Scarborough; and there it
was that she worked yon sampler Every
thing that she did was well done. She had
more sense than most people, and way OF
doing things like nobody else The parson
of Scarborough himself would have had her
when she was but sixteen but No. said
she, | will not marry any man yet awhile
| will not tie myself to sorrow so soon p
"Good would it have been if she had al
ways kept in that mind; but it was her fate,
l reckon and what is body's fate there's
no fleeing from Well, our Michael had a
nephew, a matter of three years older than
she; and he was at Lancaster, with a book
seller there, who was cousin of his moth
er's. A fine, wel-grown, free-spoken lad
was Christopher Benson,-Christy, as we
always called him; and though he was dale
born and bred, he had the manners of true
gentleman. He was great favorite among
the lassies, let him 90 wherever he would /;
and there was more than one lady in Ian
caster in love with him. But it all matter
ed nothing to him; his fancy had taken its
direction, and that was the reason that he
used to come here to see us, and stop week
or two at time, for we were all fond of
him. Agnes and he had been children to-
gether; and it always run in my mind that
they were meant for each other She was
very fond of him; but for some time there
was more love on his side than on hers. for
he loved her as his own life. A fine young
man he was; and there was something very
of-hand and determined about him: little
too hot tempered, perhaps, he was; but we
are none of us perfect. However, before
he was of age he let us know what his er-
rand was, and Agnes made no hesitation in
accepting him; but one thing she stuck to-,
she would not be married till she was one
and-twenty. 1t was soon known that Agnes
and Chrlsty were to be married but for all
that she had other lovers in plenty, but she
was steadfast; Christy was the man she had
chosen, only he must wait her time
Our old father, as | said before, gave
up the farm and came and lived with us /;
and, though he had let the farm to a good
tenant, who paid the rent to the day, yet he
was so pleased with Christy that he should
have the farm any time when they could
make up their minds to marry 1t was a
good offer that he made them, for there was
not better homestead in all the dale than
that, and the pasture-land was like flower
garden. Agnes liked the thoughts of living
in the dale among all those whom she had
known and loved from childhood but Chris
ty, though he was ready enough to be mar
ried, had no fancy for farming, or a country
life. He was fonder of the town ard that
was no more than one might expect in such
young fellow as he; and, but for the sake
of our Agnes, he would not have set foot
on the dale from one years end to another
And, besides this, he had gone to London
on some bookselling business, and nothing
would do now but he must go and live in
London. This was thing we were none
of us prepared for so you may fancy
what surprise it was when one day he
comes all suddenly. He was, he told us
just about going into partnership in book.
selling concern in London, and he now wan
ted Agnes to marry out-and-out at once, thai
he might have her in London with him, ant
so begin business and housekeeping togeth
err This was a thing nobody had though
Of Agnes was now twenty and though
she might have been persuaded to 90 as fal
off as Lancaster, she would not make uT
her mind to his going to London. Blu
Christy was resoute,-go to London he
would. Michael and the old man asked
what his cousin, who had been like father
to him in Lancaster, said to this scheme o
taking this London concern; and then i
came out-for Christy was not a man to de
ceive anybody, his cousin did not mucl
like the scheme, and would not raise an,
money for him; but he had friend, hi
said, in London, who would do that, anC
Agnes would have five hundred pounds t,
her rtune,-that he knew as well as W,
did and, somehow, her father thought tina
he wanted her to marry to get hold of th
money, and so he set his face against it, ano
said though he would have willingly giveI
them the farm any day they would be mar
ried and live in the dale, he never woulc
consent to her going to London, where i
was a chance if Christy did not lose ever,
penny he or she was worth; and SO he nigh
do as he would. Christy was sorely hurt a
this, and he appealed to Agnes.
"' You know my mind Christy,' says she
| mean not to be married before am one
and-twenty. | am now but nineteen. |
you must cen 90 to London, CO. In tw,
years time you will have tried what Londol
is Maybe in two years you will not car,
to marry simple girl out of the dales but
however, | shall be true to you. ] tell you
truly London is not place ] should like t,
live in. There is a deal of wickedness an,
misery in London: it's great place; ant
what would the folks there care about us
Think of that, Christy. Here everybod
loves us they are all here like one family,
Christy laughed at all this. London wa
the place, he said, to make money in; ant
to London he would go. Somehow or 9th