The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-01

IHE SETTLER AT HOME SOlsCiouc
that he is respected only for his character
as an upright man, and that, as every one
knows be is not wealthy, it would be ridicu-
lous to affect the appearance of wealth, he
wears the coarsest garments with more
pleasure than the finest coat, and draws all
his happiness from domestic sources. His
sons and daughters, equally Indifferent to
show--though the latter, at least, are always
neatly dressed-are busted with their differ.
ent duties, all tending to promote the gener-
al comfort.
"Happy family how pleasantly the
evenings pass in your society Gladly
would ride many miles to spend such
pleasant hours, and witness happiness 50
unprelending and real. How cheerful looks
that large room, with its glorious fire Of
jarra- wood and black boys (for it is the win
ter season. and how lightly those young
girls move about, arranging the tea-table,
and preparing for the evening meal The
kind-hearted mother, relieved OF all duties
but that Of superintendence, sits by the fire
chatting cheerfully with the guest, whose
eyes, nevertheless, wander round the room
after a certain light and dancing shape; the
host, a man Of old, but stalwart in appear
ance, full of hospitality and noble courtesy,
appears in his easy slippers and an old and
well-worn coat, which formerly had seen
service in London bathrooms. He discour-
ses not only of the crops and colonial poll
tics, but of literature, and the last news
from England; for, like many other colo
nists, he receives the English papers, and
patronizes the Quarterly RerieIO. On the
cola lie the latest numbers of Ptauoh and
the Illustrated London Neus-some four
months old, Of course--for the ladies like
fun and pictures, whilst their father labo-
riously wades through three months &C.
cumulaiion of the Times. .r.r
''With what alacrity the old gentleman
rises up. and welcomes q traveller, who has
unexpectedly arrived, and has just stabbed
his horse, and seen him fed before he made
his appearance in the parlour There is
no beating about tie bush for bed OF an
invitation to supper. or the latter he is
certain, and Indifferent about the former;
for, having slept the last night under tree,
he feels sure of making himself comfortable
on the sofa, or on the hsarth-rug before the
fire. And then the girls, who have 10 affec-
tation or nonsense about them, crowd round
the new-arrived, and ply him with questions
about their young friends in other parts of
the colony, and whether he was at the last
ball at Government-house, and what was
most worn on that ocoasion--Until the good
man, laughing breaks through the circle,
declaring he will answer no more questions
I'LL he has had his supper, and, it may be, a
glass of whiskey-tOddy screeching hot.
during the evening the girls sing,
and happily they sing well and they
take most pleasure in those songs which
papa likes best to hear. And the poor
bachelor-guest, who looks on, feels his heart
melting within him, and revileS himself for
the destitution in which he lives at home.
Suddenly, perhaps, horses at gallop are
heard to enter the yard; and soon after
wards two young fellows, fresh from the
capital, come dashing into the room, full Of
spirits, and vowing they have galloPed over
on purpose TO ascertain whether the ladies
were still living. Here is authority Of un.
doubted value for everything relating to the
ball at GovemmenLhouse, and the merits
and appearance of every person who attend
ed it are soon brought under discussion.
This naturally inspires the young people
with desire TO dance; 50 the tablets pushe d
aside, and papa being squeezed nearly into
the fire, mamma takes her place al the
piano, and bursts off with the Amen
polka.
at may seem strange TO you, dear reader
who have an idea that colonists are merely
wild beasts, that such things should be- But
50 it is; and though people may dance the
Cellarius with more gravity in the saloons
of St. James's, | question whether dancing
be half the fun there that our lighthearted
colonists seem to think it. There are no
strangers in small colonies it is always a
family party dancing together; and, conse-
quently, people are as merry as if it were
Christmas-time all the year round. Ian
doris Bushm0n or life in a ns,o Coun-
try.