Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-02-11

But Eliya, who thought formal intro
lduction of her fine cousin to little Helen
Snow would be absurd, did nothing of the
sort. She kept Helen in the kitchen; and
although the latter had occasion to pass
through the sitting-room, her friend
scarcely deigned to notice her in her cou-
sims presence. afsrta ds
I said Lawrence felt hurt. No wonder.
Picture to yourself plump little creature,
with charming figure, azure eyes of
crystal clearness, fair hair, falling in curls
around her neck, cheeks rosy red, and
lips of tempting ripeness; also imagine
these charms adorned by the most simple
and tasteful style of dress. without sim
gle jewel, except diminutive gold pin
that fastened pretty neck-ribbon-and
you have faint idea of the exhilirating
freshness of Helen Snow To a mind
like that of Lawrence Gray, such simple
beauty is like a volume of true poetry,
drawn from the pure and cooling wells of
nature.
But Lawrence was a man Of infinite
tact; and more than half suspecting Eli
va's motives, he made his way into the
kitchen, to her unutterable dismay.-
There sat Helen, pairing apples for pies;
not for the party, but for Lawrence Gray
-Eliya being anxious that there should
be something in the house 'fit for him to
eat .
The young man apologised; said he did
not like being left alone; and wished to
be considered one of the family. He de-
sired to make himself useful too; and be-
fore Eliya could realize the extent of his
unheard of audacity, he was helping Hell
en- with the apples Then he began to
talk to the latter in the most polite and
agreeable manner; and Eliya was shock
ed to hear her answer him plainly and
unatfectedly as if he had been nobody but
mere country acquaintance. And af-
terward, when Lawrence was gone to see
took occasion to reprove her inexperien-
ced friend for using such freedom with a
city gentlemen, assuring her that he
would make fun of everything she said.
Helen opened her blue eyes. Then
she shook her curls, smiling cheerfully.
Il don't believe that,' she said. 1fhe
is gentlemen, he wouldn't make fun of
anybody, that way, am sure. Perhaps
he thinks me simple-but 1 suppose he
will excuse itj for he knows people in the
country are different from those in the
city,
Eliva commisserated her unsuspecting
friend, being thoroughly convinced that
her cousins only object in conversing
with her was to amuse himself with her
simplicity.
Well, the evening came; and so did the
invited guests; and likewise the greatest
trial of pride Eliva had ever experienced
Lawrence having previously requested
her to introduce him to her friends, in
order that he might be on familiar terms
with them, she went through with the
ceremony like a martyr. How awk-
wardly the young men bowed and shook
hands How the girls blushed at meet
ing. so unexpectedly, find young gentle
man from the city What horrid CALI
graceless knot was thatint which her bro
theirs crayat was twisted What clumsy
boots Lizzie Wyman tramped about in
she was so fearful of their soles How
small were the pretensions to fashion dis
played by any of their guests What
must Lawrence Gray think of all these
things? Eliva didn't know. She could
only imagine. She shuddered to con-
template the scene. At one time she had
no idea she would have the fortitude TO
go through with it. She was afraid she
might die
But Lawrence seemed to like it. He
talked with the young farmers about ag-
ricultural affairs until they had gained
confidence, finding that ON certain sub
iects they could teach him. He chatted
with the girls, and found out what books
they had read and what they liked; then
passing to gayer matters, jested about
coming into the country to settle down
among them.
Besides, Lawrence was deeply concern
ed in the fate of the sugar. Every few
minutes he would escape into the kitchen
to see how it was getting along. Per
haps it was because Helen Snow was
watching the slowly boiling syrup, the
golden froth of which filed the shining
copper kettle; or it might have been the
| golden froth itself that called him thither.
do not know which. He certainly talk
ed gaily with Helen; but at the same
time he tasted the luxurious liquid, by
dropping little from ladle upon a pan
Of snow.
Lawrence was also much interested in
the experiment of ascertaining when the
sugar was done sufficiently to grain
Helen taught it to him. 1t is this: make
little hoop or bow of splinter, or
straw which you may pluck from the
broom, and plunge it into the boiling su-
gar in such way as to have q heavy
film adhere to it; then blow through the
hoop, and if the dross of the sug ar flies
away, white and light like a feather
why the syrup has been over the FIRE
long enoug gh, and all you have TO do is to
cool it, and stir it to make it grain. Hell
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