Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-01-22

the widower.
eff you want me to"
! Lucreta thought of Sampson, and hesitated-I
She had lingering affection for that young gentle
man; but then, he had exhausted her patience
Sampson was certainly desirable man, but Luz
creta was twenty three. 1t was sweet to become
Mrs. Keeper, but was awful to think Of becom-
ing an old maid The widower's affections at this
moment struck Lucretfa as happy medium--a
comfortable certainty, although they promised no
uncommon happiness, and she murmured-
/ 81 will -
! And this is the manner in which Sampson
through habit of too much caution and indscre-
ton, lost the fairest maiden in Grassborough, af
ter counting her FIVE years.
Mr. Brooks took his Young bride home to fill
the place of mother to three children; and Samp-
son, who had married sister, with a small family
IN Strengthened circumstances, resolved to give his
poor relations home in his house. and living with
them old bachelor, to the end Of his days
On losing Lucretia Sampson, in despair, had made
a VOW never to marry.
Eight years afterwards, however, Mr. Keeper
had occasion to reconsider his vow. Mr.. Brooks
died suddenly, leaving Lucretia the mother of
three children, and the step-mother of as many
more. Sampson was fond of children, and Luz
cretla was more of an angel in his eye now than
ever. He visited her, carried presents to her chill
dren, and did every thing in his power to console
her affection, and the young widow dried her tears,
planted some delicate flowers on the grave of the
lamented Brooks, and smiled encouragngly on her
old lover.
People began to talk again. Sampson and Luz
cretla were going to be married now, at all events
said the gossips. But two years passed, every
body was puzzled, and the fact that Mr.. Keeper
was bachelor at forty, was mystery.
The truth is, Sampson had not been cured of
procrastination To marry the mother of six chill
dren, and take her and them home for Sampson
; could never make up his mind to settle down on
Brooks estate-would be to disturb the peace of
his sisters family, who had been living with him
nearly ten years. Besides, Jane, his sister, and
Mr.. Bunker, his brother-in-law, who had great
influence on his irresolute mind discouraged him
for assuming such responsibility, as the matri-
, monial station occupied by the late lamented
Z Brooks.
81 should like to see you married, and happy,
dear" Mrs. Bunker would say, ''for notwthstand-
ing all affections for you, am afraid you are
sometimes dissatisfied with your present way of
liyingv'
oh assure you again, sister," Sampson
would reply, Il appreciate your Intentions
''And l am delight in doing anything
! for you; STILL if you desire to marry, take some
body worthy of you, and nothing would suit me
J. better.
# "But Mrs. Brooks"
a a ga widow with six children I beg Of you, il
y you value your peace Of mind, don't marry anoth-
u or mans family. Look for somebody else
o Jane could safely give her brother this advice
i for she well knew lie would never marry any one
J but Lucretia.
So Sampson hesitated. Although he sighed fol
the widow, be felt that it would be ungrateful tc
marry against the wishes of those who did every
thing to make him happy; who were SO kind, and
disintercsed in furnishing his comfort, and who
thought so little Of the fortune that would fall
them, provided he died bachelor, that they were
= perfectly willing-amost anxous--that he should
l. marry; anybody but widow with six children.
Such was the state of affairs, when Sampson
n went one day to cut saw-log out of the trunk o
l. a large maple which the wind had torn up by th'
Is roots, not far from the house. Having thrown hi
8 vest on the ground, and rolled up his sleeves, Mr.
It Keeper commenced chopping off the log abou
eight feet from the but.
W "Itwas a hard job" Sampson afterwards said
e, and as the sun came pouring down upon him, h
h was quite exhausted and heated, before the frs
''cut'' was off. Leaving the main portion of tn
- trunk hanging by "chip'' to the stump, in orde
that blocks might be placed under it, to keep
IN from falling quite to the ground Sampson struc
his axe into the log, and began to look for pIac
a. to sit down
a. Near by grew stately Eastwood from the root
of which sprung up luxurant growth of shoots
surrounding the parent tree Rejecting, that the
would not only shade him from the sun, but ais
serve as protection against swarm OF flies, h
er determined to find a resting place among them
and began accordingly to push them aside,
search of the most comfortable spot.
AT that moment the cherping of squirrel a
p tracted his attention to the vast mass of cart
nd which adhered to the uprooted roots of the fae
lis tree. The little animal was sitting on the SUNNI
II of this mass, talking saucy to Mr.. Keeper, wh'
. thinking of the corn it would consume within tn
tia coming autumn, picked up club, and with wei
aimed blow, knocked it into the deep cavity left
lie. the exhumed roots of the tree. Mr.. Keeper wit
ay an eye to pleasing his little nephews, jumped I'M
the hollow, picked the kicking squirrel out of tt
mud, and having thrown it down by his vest, pr
he ceeded to enclose himself in the bushes.
", Mr.. Keeper found most comfortable spot whe
he was quite concealed from the sun and flies, al
ok there leaning against the ancient Eastwood, he
dulred in a reverie in which nice widow, d
ire g6tful family of children, cider in the evenin
and gooseberry pie for dinner, were charming
% mixed up together.
Mr. Keeper was startled from his pleasant r
Elections by a dull cracking sound, in the directs
of the tree on which he had been chopping al
pushing aside the bushes, he saw the "chlE
me breaking by which he had left the log hanging
IN the stump
..There goes the log to the ground he mi
her tered with some impotence.
her No sooner had the trunk dropped off, than
led simultaneously the huge mass OF roots and eal
overbalaneing the stump, which was nc longer
my tached to the tree, turned slowly back, and