Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-06-22


scrubbing, churning, baking, cooking, spin
ming, sewing, knitting, embrolderlng,
sketching, painting, and withal finding
time to read and write, grew ashamed of
my owrignorance and helplessness, and re-
solved to make myself mistress of those use
ful accomplishments. They were all busy
the whole day, and seemed to take pleasure
in their occupation. Oh if you could see
their happy faces as they sit at work in the
evening, while uncle reads. aloud-and
then if you could listen to our evening
hymns. Such singing never heard, SO
sweet, SO clear, and so natural | declare |
forgot my Ill health before had been here
two DAYS. There is such pleasure in gar
dening. When the girls commenced, l
put on laced boots as they did, and went to
work digging beds transplanting flowers,
sowing seeds and training shrubs. We do
not fear dew, or run for a slight shower
Such garden as we had such variety and
abundance Of flowers and vegetables, such
luxuries in the form of peas, beans and sal
ads | flatter myself l am now quite a
gardener, though at first did not know
plant from weed. have also learned to
make cheese. Not merely to see it done,
but to perform the whole process myself.
/ have become proof against damp air
and damp feet. You should see us gather
ing strawberries in the meadow, while the
grass is wet with dew, or raking hay at the
approach of thunder cloud until the big
drops began to faR, and then running TO the
house laughing, amid the bright shower
Oh there is no life like a country life
no pleasures like the free exercise and
pleasant labor of a farmers family. / often
smile as | recall my impressions of country
life and country people before | came here.
/ was taught TO sum up in these words all
that is degrading, ignorant and vulgar. l
find here, on the contrary, all that is emo
bling, truly great and excellent.
What a worthless im5ecile was when
left home. Only fit to be waited on, and
dressed at an enormous expense, and ad-
mred for a season! Now | cannot only
superntend housekeeping, but can bake
good bread, and cakes and pies, cook meats
in the most excellent manner, make butter
and cheese, and spin flax and wool. These
are such accomplishments as grace a wo-
man. Call country people ignorant -
Why, there is not farmers child OF ten
years old that might not pity the deplorable
ignorance of a city belle. Nor are the
minds of country people inferior in any
respect, and most of them are well cultiva-
ted. Do you remember those lovely poems,
which we so much admired in Peterson'S
Magazine and how we wondered who
the fair author, who signed herself Ellen,
might be? Well, it is my very little coun-
try cousin here. Does not this settle the
point as to intellect? And then you know
that most Of our great men were farmers or
farmers sons, brought up to work until they
were sent to college. Apropos. Do you
remember the enthusiastic praise with
which the reverend professor, DR.. D.
spoke of young Mir. Grey, student in the
seminary. Well, that Mr.. Grey was your
brothers. son. wonder you did not en-
qure him out, and invite him to your
house. He came home just in the merry
time of harvest. He is handsome, genteel,
, and highly intelligent how did he surpass
any gentleman of my former acquaintance;
and particularly that mincng, delicate Mr.
Lansons, of whom / once fancied myself
desperately enamored, and to whom wa:
owing in part my terrible illness. In part.
, l say, for idleness of mind and body had a
good share in producing it. | could have
, knelt down to him the first evening OF oul
| acquaintance, and when the next morning
he put on a linen frock and large straw hat
! and took down his sickle, I thought him, il
> possible, more captivating than before
: What comes next? Why he says he vii
be farmer, an independent, happy far
/, mer and dear parents, with your consent
your daughter Louisa will be mistress o
his farm, his house and heart. Do not ge
. angry, dear mother, but come you and ia
ther and see how happy we are all here
I and how good. l know you will approve
! my choice and bless your afectionat'
| daughter.
LOUISA M. HENsHAw.
= "Ha hap laughed Mr.. Henshaw. 8
= agree with you wife there IS amusemen
e in that letter. l always told you, yo'
| would get your reward for cutting you
y GOOD brother so numerically. Your cher
h lshed only daughter, who was TO marry
: titled foreigner, at least, will now becom
o the younger Mrs. Grey, farmers wife,
e She shall not indeed she shall not
! cried Mrs Henshaw. 'lt would kill m
IS outright and she wept bitterly.
It But persisted MIR. Henshaw, Louis
e will do as she pleases. She is her ow
: mistress and our only child. And | doub
d not, will be much happier, useful, and re
Ill L.,