American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-11-19
JENNY GRAY.
A New England Sketch.
BY ELLEN GRAHAM
CHAPTER L.

CHAPTER i.
"Well, what's the matter, Lucy?" said Squire
Thornton, laying down the last farmers Monthly
pasitor, which he had been poring over an hour
or more. What has gone wrong to-day ?" and
he showed his spectacles up over his forehead,
and bent his clear, blue eyes on his niece's rue
full countenance.
Lucy had been gazing intently into the bright
wood fire the whole evening. The glowing
Goals had apparently matters of interest to
communicate to her attentive mind. She gazed
and gazed, yet no Frightening of the counte-
nance told of her gaining thought or knowledge
| from the blazing wood. Click, click went the
knitting needles in her busy fingers; faster
and faster they flew with such notable speed,
that had Mrs. Thornton walked from her COM
Portable doze in the armchair, she would have
felt the same interest as did her worthy spouse
in regard to the cause of such unwonted in
dustry.
Squire Thornton's fine old homestead was
situated half mile from the busy little village
Of Dalton and on the banks of the Pemige-
wasset, that queenly stream which winds so
gracefully in and out among the rugged hills
and smiling wales of New Hampshire. There
was seri-comic expression on his countenance
as he now questioned his niece as though her
troubles were quite as likely to call forth mirth
as sadness; for it was no uncommon thing for
the young lady to be very much afflicted, if
she could not attend all the parties and pic-nics
in the neighborhood-if she did not receive let
ters in due time from some schoolmate, her de-
voted friend, whom she never should forget,
though she lived till fourscore, and to whom
she was never weary of writing page after
| page, crossed and recrossed breathing un-
bounded devotion and friendship But unless
saddened by some such sorrow, her heart was
always full of gladness and sunshine; enjoy
ing the everyday occurrence of life with such
zest, that it would put good humor into the
heart of cynic to see her. Ever full Of plea
SAINT little plans, sometimes intending to sur
prise her uncle with a warm new comforter,
making her aunt very tasteful needle book, or
purse for her Cousin Richard, or satchel for
little Will. These articles were manufactured
with the utmost secresy, the happy receivers
being kept in profound ignorance of the good
fortune in store, till the unexpected gift ap-
peared finished and complete before their eyes
How eagerly did Lucy work on these simple
offerings, painting over and over again, in her
warm, glowing heart, the delight of presenting
them to her surprised friends! But, as we have
said, this bird-like joyousness often gave way
to depression, and at present some sorrow
weighed heavily on her spirits; and not until
her uncle interrogated her the second time did
she cast down her eyes to hide the gathering
leurs, anu reply:
"Uncle, want to 90 to the singing school
tomorrow night and Dick says he will not take
me. / would not care so much about it, if
had not invited Miss Gray, the school-mistress,
to go with us, for thought he could not be so
uncivil and unkind as to refuse to take us"
"Pooh, child" said her uncle, "dont fret
about that wonder at your supposing he
would go, for you know he processes to hold
parties and singing-schools in adherence. l
am going to Dalton tomorrow night on busi-
ness, and will take you and Miss Gray in my
ld-fashoned sleigh. And though it isn't quite
SO stylish as his, it is much more comfortable,
think"
But this arrangement did not quite content
Lucy. She had thought with no little satisfac-
tion of appearing at the singing school, the re-
sort Of all the beaux and bellies of the village
escorted by such fine, manly fellow as her
cousin, and accompanied by Miss Gray, who
was considered the best singer in the school, as
well as the prettiest girl to be found in dozen
miles Dick was admired very much by oil the
young ladies; they declared he spoke so elo-
quenty in the Lyceum debates, and whatever
might have been their previous opinions, his
powerful arguments convinced them at once
that truth could only be on his side. There
was Miss Willis the lawyers niece, who had
brought from Boston her fair self, and enough
fashionable clothing to set half the young ladies