American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-11-21
JENNY GRAY.
A New England Sketch.
BY ELLEN GRAHAM

JENNY GRAY.
New England Sketch.
! BY ELLEN GRAHAM.
CHAPTER I.--Continued
"Now don't you like the idea, aunt? Don't
you think Dick ought to be married."
! La, child what nonsense you are talking.
What put such an idea into your head. The
idea of that boy being married You must be
dreaming, exclaimed the fond old lady, as she
gathered up the knitting work which had IA
hgued her SO much, and proceeded to look
about the house to see that everything was safe
| for the night.
Mrs. Thornton was one of the kindest- hearted
old ladies that ever lived. Her pleasure and
enjoyment consisted in managing her house
hold affairs, making the incest butter and
cheese, amply providing for the wants of her
own family, and laying in a supply for the sick
and needy. Although her eldest son stood full
six feet in his stockings, she still persisted in
thinking him boy, and fully believed that he
required her watchful care quite as much as
Will, the other son. who had just entered his
teens. The thick comforters, stockings, and
mittens which she provided for him were suf-
fcient to last q man his lifetime, but the fond
mother never thought he had enough. If he
went out on cold winters day, she was always
afraid that he wasn't wrapped up warm enough,
and when he came in she begged him to take
herb tea to prevent taking cold, very much to
his chagrin and vexation, for he hated to be
muffied and dosed above all things
Old Clary Dow, mentioned by Lucy, was q
sensible maiden lady of fifty or thereabouts,
and much esteemed by the whole family for her
goodness and plain common sense, more es-
pecially by Mr. Richard, who considered these
sterling qualities very rare among the younger
| females of his acquaintance. Although she
had not single relative in the town, rybody
old and young, called her Aunt Clary. She
lived in snug white washed cottage, in the
outskirts of the village, quite alone if we ex-
cept sleek, fat, grey cat, who looked altogether
too good-natured and indolent to eat mice, and
a yellow dog with bright black eyes, who sat
beside his mistress at the table, and ate most
dccorously from shining tin plate. The village
could scarce have existed without this worthy
woman. She was every ones resource in every
emergency. If sickness or death entered a
family, she was there with q ready hand and
kind heart If q wedding was in anticipation,
her help was necessary inmaking all the prepa-
ratory arrangements. At quilting party she
was Indispensable, for no one understood like
her the mysteries of putting in, marking out,
and rolling up.
The morning after Lucy's conversation with
her uncle, she was up bright and early. She
seemed very gay and happy, her heart flowing
out toward everything-th the dogs, cats and
chickens were fed bountifully, and she was
never weary of assisting with the "housework. I"
Her aunt thought her very Industrious, but
never imagined what host of plans were flying
through her brain. All remembrance of what
she had told her the previous evening had van
ished like dream from her mind; indeed who
would entertain for a moment the preposterous
idea of boy of twenty-five being married?
Dick made remarks that day which would
have highly offended his cousin had she not
been sustained with the expectation Of seeing
the young gentlemans opinions changed before
long He would not laugh at parties and sing
ing schools by-and bye, she thought, and say
that girls only went to see the beaux, and beaux
to see the girls. He would not call every one
a simpleton who entertained the idea of matri-
mony. He would not say that there was not
young lady in the region whose head was not
filled with nopsense and vanity, and that none
of them had half the sense of Aunt Cary.
Aunt Clary came to spend the afternoon and
drink tea with Mrs. Thornton. The two old
ladies sat and talked together of the times when
they were young, of cooking, recounted wonder
full Dreams and discussed the merits of the last
Sundays sermon. Mrs. Thornton descanted at
large on the pains and ailments of every men,
Der of her family. Any one would have pro-
nounced them, from her account, more fit for
hospital than any other place. She fully be-
lieved that there was not one who enjoyed q
moderate degree of health. She affirmed that
" Richards constitution Though he looked as
strong as Iercules) was mserably weak, and
what made matters worse, the foolish child
would never take bit of medicine he was just
like his father in that respect but for her part
she thought it did body sight Of good to take
n few airbs and rootsn
Although Lucy's thoughts had been centred
on something besides the singing school that
day, tea-time found her ready dressed with
neatness; her hood and cloak, and singing book
in brown paper cover close at hand; so that it
would not take her FIVE minutes to be ready
after the tca-things we're washed. Little VIII
thought it the strangest thing his brother was
not anxious to go. lie longed for the time
when he should be accounted old enough to
! figure at these fashionable resorts, which at
present wore an air Of mystery to him.
$50 you will not take the young women to the
singing-school this evening, Richard" said
Squire Thornton, inquiringly, as they were at
! tea.
"No, father, would rather not you know
| was never fond of any such places. viii can
drive old Sorrel, and will take them safely
enough. | am going to drive Aunt Clary home
in my new sleigh; would rather talk with her
than any young lady in town. ] mean to install
her the mistress of the sleigh, and don't intend
to ask any one else to ride in it,"
Don't be too sure Cousin Dick, said Lucy,
U will bet ANYTHING that YOU will invite some