The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-06-09
5clrftc0.
ONLY A COUNTRY GIRL.

~ Ou are mlstaken. l. woulu sooner
die than wed country beauty"
"But suppose her intelligent, moral ,
full of natures poetry-tender-
graceful, unspoiled by adulation-a
guileless, simple-loving creature"
"Aye! J" said Fred laughing, ga
choice cluster of virtues and graces.
Country beauties are always sweet and
guileless and simple, so are country cows.
No! l tell you if she was as lovely as
an angel, with the best sense in the
world, still, if unskilled in music aud
literature, with no soul above churns
and knitting needles, l wouldn't marry
her for a fortune"
Ha, ha !" laughed Helen Irving ;
but it was very painissimo laugh away
down in the corner of her musical little
heart Hidden by the trunk Of large
tree she sat reading within few feet
only of the egotist.
Another moment, and the young men
came within sight. Fred's face was
crimson, and he whispered in visible
trepidation, edo you think she heard 2"
"No," rejoined the other, half audi
bly, ; she shows no resentment, she has
not even looked up from her book you
are safe, she could not have heard you
but what an angel she is !"
Yes Helen was an angel, as far as
outward beauty might merit the enco-
MUM. She sat half reclining on rus
tic seat, striving to smooth out the dim
Piles in her cheeks, as she laid her book
aside and began to twine a half finished
wreath of wild roses.
Leaning on one white arm, the gnarl-
ed oak trunk back ground, flowers
strewn around her, peeping from her
bright locks and scattered over her white
dress-she sat quite at her ease, appa-
rently unaware that two handsome young
gentlemen were SO very near.
Approaching with low bow, upon
which his mirror had set the seal of a
faultless elegance, Frederick Lane took
the liberty of asking, if the young lady
would be kind enough to inform him
where Mr.. Irving lived.
With an innocent smile the beauty
looked up. "Mr. Irving the only Mr.
Irving in town is my father" she said
rising in charmingly graceful manner.
I" The large house," she continued, "on
high ground, half hidden by trees and
thick shrubbery-that's where we live.
l believe it was an-an academy once
that's sort of high school, isn't it ?"
with the most natural simplicity, turning
to Fred.
He replied by another graceful bow.
Tell your tather," said he, I" that
I shall do myself the honor to call on
him tomorrow. He will remember me
Frederick Lane at your service"
"Yes, sir, I'll tell him word for word"
replied Helen, tucking her sleeve round
her pretty arm and making formal
courtesy. Then catching up her book
and gathering the scattered flowers, she
hurried towards home.
Now father, mother, aunt, and Sis, "
exclaimed the merry girl, bounding into
the room where the family were at sup
per, as true as you and l live, that Mr.
Lane, who you all talk about so much
in the village, will call here tomorrow
the first proper specimen of a city
beau; (as of course he will be- all sem
timent, refinement, faultless kids, and
spotless in dickey-important, and a
self-assured, as one of that ilk can posi-
bly, be.
"Promise me, all of you, that you'll
not lisp word about music, reading or
writing in my presence -because-be-
cause l have plan. Father will not,
l know, only give him newspaper.
Aunt Minnie never talks-I mean in
company-and mother will be too glad
to see me churn butter and mend stock
ings. Sis, your rattle of tongue is the
only thing fear, but it you keep quiet
and ask me no questions, | will give you