Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-05-05
miscellaneous.
THE RUSTIC WREATH.
BY MISS MILFORD.

had taken refuge in harvest field be.
longing to my good neighbor, Farmer Ores
well; beautiful child lay on the ground at
some little distance; whilst a young girl
resting from the labor of reaping, was twist
ing rustic wreath enamelled corn flowers,
brilliant popies. snow white lily blues, and
light, fragile bare BELLS mingled with tufts of
the richest wheat ears,-among its hat.
There was something 10 the tender youth
tuiness OF these two innocent creatures in the
pretty, though somewhat fantastic occupation
Of the girl the fresh, wild flowers, the ripe
and swelling corn, that harmonizcd with the
season and the hour and conjured up memoir
les of dis and Proserpeine, and of all that
is gorgeous and graceful in old mythology
of the lovely Laviua, Of our own poet, aud of
that finest pastoral in the world, the far love-
liest Ruth. But these fanciful associations
soon vanished before the real sympathy ex-
cited by the actors of the scene both of whom
were known to me. and both objects of sim
cerc and lively interest.
The young girl, Dora Creswel was the or
phan niece of one of the wealthest yeoman in
our part of the world; the only child of his
only brother; and having lost both Der pa
rents whilst still an infant, had been reared
by her widowed uncle, and fondly and care
fully as his own son Walter He said he
loved her quite as we'll perhaps he loved her
better, for although it were impossible for a
father not to be proud of the bold, handsome
youth, who at eighteen had a mans stature.
was the best ringer, the best cricketer, and
the best shot in the country. yet the fair Dora,
who, nearly ten years younger was at once
his hardmaid, his housekeeper, his playtbing,
and his companion, was evidently the very
apple Of his eye. Our good farmer vaunted
her accomplishments, as men of his cless arc
wont to boast of high bred horse or ia
voritc greyhound She could make shirt, and
& pudding darn stockings, rear poultry, keep
accounts, and reao the newspapers: was as
famous for gooseberry wine as Mrs Primrose
aud could compound a syllabub with any
dairywoman in the country. There was not
such a handy little creature anywhere SO
thoughtful! and trusty about the house. and
yet out Of doors, as gay as a lark. and as wild
as the wind nobody vas like bis Dora So
said, and so thought Farmer Creswell; and
before Dora was ten years old, he had resov-
ed that In due time she should marry his son
Walter, aud had informed both parties of his
intention.
Now, Farmer Creswell's intentions were
known to be as Interchangeable as the laws of
the Modes and Persians. He was a fair spe
cimen of an English yeomap, tall. square
built muscular man, stout, and active, with q
resolute countenance, keen eye, and an in
telgent SMILE his temper was boisterous and
irascible, generous and kind to those whom he
loved, but quick to offence, and slow to par
don, expecting and exacting implicit obedi-
dience from all about him. With all Dora 8
good gifts, the sweet and yielding nature of
the gentle and submissive little girl was.
undoubtedly, the chief cause of her uncle's
Partially. Above all, he was obstinate in
the very highest degree, had never been known
to yield point or change resolution; aud
the fault was the more inveterate because he
called it frmness, aud accounted it virtue.
For the rest, he was person of excellent
principles, and perfect integrity clearheaded.
prudent, and sagaeious, fond of agricultural
experiments, and pursuing them cautiously aud
successfully a good farmer, aud a good man.
His son Walter who was in person, a hand
some likeness of his father, resembled bin
also, in many points of character; was equal
ly obstinate, and far more fiery, hot, and bold.
He loved his pretty cousin as much as he
would have loved favorite sister. and might.
very possibly. if left alone, have become at
tached to her as his father wished; but to
be dictated to; to be chained down to dis
tinct engagement to hold himself bound to a
mere child--the very idea was absurd and
restraining, with difficulty, an abrupt denial,
he walked down into the village, predisposed
out of sheer contradiction to fall in love with
the first young women who should come in bis
/ way,-and be did fall in love accordingly.