Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-11-22
From the Dime
THE FARMERS BOY;
OR,
7 Z TRIAL AND TRIUMPH.
RI THr EDITOR or THE DIME.


CHARLES ASHLEY was 6ftecn--a bright
eyed. active handsome boy, with little cul-
ture, but strong ambition. His father,
= farmer in moderate circumstances, lived
nearly mile from pretty New England
village. Charles had been to district
school, played with the boys in the neigh
borhood, and worked on his fathers
farm but even iu this quiet sphere,
there came an influence that stirred the
depth of his young life.
In the village lived lawyer, a man of
education, talent, and large property,
part of which he had received with his
wife, part accumulated in his profession.
And he had one beautiful daug ghter.
'' The farmers boy had looked up ado
ringly- to This village beauty He had
seen her at church, duriug her vacations;
few times he had bowed to her in the
street he had even vcutured to take her
to her fathers door, and leave for her,
presents Of fruit and Gowers.
These little attentions had not been lost.
Gertrude Was proud but gracious. She
was to celebrate her fourteenth birth daY,
with festal party, and Charles Ashley
received an invitation. He went with a
beating heart presented himself, blush
ing. TO the little lady, and was welcomed
cordially AS he raised his eyes, thrill
Ing all over with the pressure OF her small
white fingers, they met those of II young
gentleman, two years older than himselt,
cousin of Gertrude Linwood, whose cool
self-possessiOn, yilsh dress, and elegant
manners, filled our hero with envy aud
mOrLitca,iCn
After contemplating Charles a moment,
Mr.. Arthur Milton turned to his pretty
cousin, and addressing her in French,
said This VGrdant young bushwhacker
seems to be great adn1irer of yours. -
Charles did not understand "a word of
what was said, but he knew by the tone
thai it was not very mP!imentary. And
the blush, and tone OF reserve in which
Gertrude replied in the same language,
though it treasured him little, did not
quite relieve his modification. He WAS
abashed and silent but if he said little,
he saw and thought all the more and
though he looked often at the beautiful
Gertrude, he watched Mr. Arthur still
more narrowly.
And there was much to see. Arthur
Milton was seventeen, tall and handsome.
His dress was raultless his manners OF
precise elegance, though a little naughty.
He offered his arm to the ladies with sur
prising ease. He Asssted his cousin in
arranging the guests and distributing re-
freshmen.s, in i. manner that won tHe ad
miration OF all. He read IL little poem, IL
charade with wonderful skill. Then
came music. Miss Gertrude sat down to
sIhe piano to play, aud Arthur took up his
violin. and accompanied her in a beauti,
full duet. Then laying down his msrrus
ment, he sang with her; finally, on being
urged by his aunt, after moment OF
graceful hesitation, he sat down 20 the pi-
Ruo, struck n prelude, and sang little
song, his own words, his own music, his
own accompaniment. II Was wonder
ful.
After music. came dance. Gertrude
went to Charles, and very kindly asked
him if he would dance with-a sweet young
Miss, her school. mate. Poor Charles !!
his dancing education had been totally
neglected so he had to stammer a ex-
cuse, and WAS at iull liberty to enjoy, not
only the animated beauty and grace Of
the adorable Gertrude, bat also the gen
tlemanly ease and courtly elegance of her
partner, Mr.. Arthur Milton.
=. It was hard lesson for poor Charles.
& was not the less mortitying, that he
raw that Gertrude sympAthized with his
distresses. He took an opportunity to
ouietly bid her good night. She shook
hands with him in very kindly manner
and invited him 10 call and see her; and
then he walked home in the still STAR
light, very much in love, but alsO very
unhappy.
For two days. he ate and spoke very
little but worked away modify. His
mother feared that he was sick-hiS ia.
tber suspected some " love-nonsenee -
hut on the third day, Charles had not only
n,ade up his mind what to do, but had ga
tSered the courage to do it. So he went
brayely to his father, and said
DnFather if you can afford it, want
.oroe time to study. l not care to &c
sgav to school L know that you cam
"nare me, nor the money it would cost
hut I want you to give me-some time ev,
Drv day and little piece of land for my
H-m Tins and land ? Time t.
.trdv? That's reasonable enough bu
hat can you want land for 2"
81 want to raise some things of m,
In to soil and buy books with