Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-04-07

Tip name of the beautiful ever ais soen .
Like spell Of enchantment--a hao--a dream
Tom Shciby's visit to the Country.
ny GRACE GREENWOOD
Near the home of my carly childhood, there
lived plain but wealthy farmer, by the name
of Austin. He was u pleasant intelligent man.
and his wife was an excellent woman. They
had fine family f~children-from Ann, about
sixteen, down to Johnny, Il bright little rogue
of six. But the pleasantest and clcverest OF all
was Frank, the oldestson-a happy, handsome
hearty, funny fellow, whom everybody liked
although he was rather mischievous, and fond
Of playing off little tricks More was pardon
ed to him than to any one else, because he was
never ill-naturcd, even when he seemed most
wild and lawless.
MIR. Austin had a sister married to a rich
merchant of the city of Albany, Mr. Shelby,
who had q son about the age of Frank, good
enough boy at heart, but rather wild in his
ways, and full of foolish, fine-gentlcman notions
One spring, when Frank was about thirteen,
he made u short visit to the city, and when he
came home, brought his cousin with him to
spend the summer and fall 1t was whispered
about the neighborhood that Master Tom was
sent into the country because "his folks couldn t
manage him at home" | do not know that
this was the case; but very likely the report
was correct.
was very intimate with Hattie Austin, one
of the dearest and prettest playmates Of my
childhood, and happened to be making her a
visit when the boys arrived. Frank leaped
down the steps first embraced his mother
heartily, and hugged all the children. Master
Tom Shelby descended with slow dignity. He
was dressed in suit of fine blue broadcloth-
the pantaloons tightly fitting, and strapped
down under a pair of stylish, narrow -toed, high
heeled boots. His delicate hands were encascd
in dark kid gloves, and very much on one side
Of his head he woro a black velvet cap with a
long dangling tassel. His hair was long and
Straight; by the way Frank could afterwards
vex him very much by telling that it curled
naturally in Albany, but that somehow it
Strengthened out more and more, the further
he travelled from French hair r-dressers. re-
member Tom so plainly, because he was the
first dandy ever saw.
The first thing he did was to brush the dust
from his polished boots with his cambria hand
kcrchief; then, looking up to the driver, he
drawled out :" Boy, will you hand me down my
dressing-case !"
"Yes, grandfather" answered the good-na-
OuTeu uIlNcI, Ou uIeiClC,
and the other baggage.
That afternoon, a number of the boys and
girls of the neighborhood came to welcome
Frank home, and to have peep at the young
stranger. | never shall forget the airs that
fellow gave himself He walked about the yard
where we were at play, for all the world, as a
fine peacock struts among a crowd of pullets,
ducks and young ROSTERS How scornfully he
eyed our homely clothes, and refused to join in
our merry game of "tag," saying it was too
rude and childish Some of us took off our
stockings and shoes to run the faster and he
looked down at our bare feet with as much hor-
ror as though they had been hoofs or claws.
But he soon found out, as some great people
had done before him. that it was tresome work
to be grand. We let him alone, and he soon
came down from his stills He began to talk
about Albany; "Wc do this" and "Wc have
that, in Albany; )" everything was handsomer
and finer there than in the country.
Dreadful big of his Albany " said little
Johnny. | had read in my copy-book that
God made the country, and man made the
town and told him so, right to his face, and
said didn't think men had better set M to do
things better than God
II don't know about that he said but |
do know that we city people put up handsoner
buildings than you country people ever dream
cd Of My father, now, lives in great brass
house, with a brick knocker on it,
What a laugh we had ut his blundcr
In the morning, VIC all went to take u stroll
in the woods. On the way Tom amused him.
sell, and ! must confess, us also by telling Of
the tricks that before he left home he had play
ed off on Frank, who, he said, was "as green
as that meadow" pointing to u whcat-feld He
had made his poor visiter drink the water from
his 6nger-glass, for lemonade had sent him to
the Female Academy, telling him it was the
Capitol; and to an undertaken to buy a new
trunk; and one evening he sent him home on
the full run, by pointing to a watchman, nnd
telling him that after one appeared in the streets
all strange boys were liable to be dragged of
to the watch.housc Frank laughed gcod-hu-
morcdly while Tom was relating these cunning
exploits; but shook his head once in while, as
much as to say, "Wait bit, my lad and I'll
pay you"
As we were passing through COW pasture,
on the edge of the wood, we came upon flock
OF geese, with host of gOslings, and fierce
old gander flew at us kissing like serpent
Tom started back, and called out, why,
Frank, what is tho matter with that great
white goose, that it hisscs Sc!
1T does behave strangely, said Frank, quite
soberly; what can all il! CAN'T be that ii has
gone mad 2"
in moment Tom took to his heels, and did
not stop till he reached the wood, rods away
While we were screaming with laughter, Frank
called out Stop Tom stop it's only gan
der you're the goose yourself, "
In the afternoon, Tom brought out his fish
ing-tackle-his nicc,iointed rods, his delicate
lines, and his hies--and invited Frank to 90