Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-05-11

~ rum and uespal:. but don get out
Of patience, dear reader, we are almost
done. We will close with the wish
"O could we do with this world of ours,
As thou dost with the garden bowers,
Reject the weeds and keep the flowers,
What heaven on earth we'd make it!
So bright dwelling should be our own,
So warranted free from sigh or frown, !.
That angels soon would be coming down
BY the week or month to take it!''
Now for our sketch. Perched away
up among the hills of Essex county,
Vermont. is the picturesque little village
of Lunenberg. ltis located in what The
Yankees would call a"sigh.ly" position.
Standing on The town hail steps. you see
at the base Of the sloping hills on your
right, the broad meadows of Connecu.
cut valley, while on the left arise the
spurs or preliminary elevations of the
Green Mountains. Lunenberg has all
the characteristics Of a New England
village; the, tidy, comfortable appearance
Of the houses, the substantial out-build-
ipgs, and the general air of nealness and
good order, show that the inhabitants are
mostly "fore handed" people. Two
pretty churches rear their .aperiug spires
at either extremity of The common, and
handsome school house sits opposite
the "town-hall" A few rods from the
Congregational church, we notice fine
TWO story house painted white, with
green blinds and broad piazza in front.
A wide spreading elm shades the yard,
roses cluster around the gale, and holly
hooks and bachelor buttons nod grace
fully 10 each other, across the graveled
path. This is Deacon Wilder's domi.
cile. II i. was pleasan, summer day,
we nigh, see the old gentleman seated in
his arm chair watching the "boys" as
they toiled away in the meadow yonder.
His wife, the fine old lady who always
gets The premium at the county fair, for
'.household manufactures" is knitting
busily by his side. Two years ago, an
other person would have been with them;
Lucy Wilder. the gay, handsome, co.
quetlish Lucy-sought by all The young
men, and idoIlzed by her paren,s-si.e
might be seen, reading some favorite
book, or !rainirg the morning -glorys to
run up the pillars Of the piazza.
Blu, directly across the way is sweet
little cottage. Only one story. but large
enough. |, was evidently new las, yeat;
the paint is fresh and bright. Jus, be-
hind j. stands neat shop, and over the
door sign: "MARK WILLIS, CARpEN-
TER" Yes, this house, lot, shop, gar
den and all, belonged to Mark Willis
the handsome young fellow who is SHOW
ing the plane at the bench yonder. He
is just twenty -four, intelligent and in
dustrions, and in the opinion of Deacon
Wilder and his wife, the smariest young
man in Lunenberg village. Two years
ago. Lucy thoughs The same. or pretend
ed she did, and Mark was as proud and
happy as man could be. For three years
had he and Lucy been .sengaged," he as
faithful and constant as possible, but she
always flirting aud coquel.ing with some
OF the young men Of her own and neigh.
boring towns. Lucy was beautiful
girl; still, there was about her that heart
lessness which always makes the flir,;
her beauty was like moonbeams shining
on snow, bright and dazzling. yet cold
and souless. She told Mark she loved
him. and he, blinded by his own strong
feelings, believed her. Often, when he
saw her bes.owing on others the same
smiles, the same glances, and conducting
herself in almost the same manner to
Others as she did to him, his heart sank,
and he fell rising a terrible, bitter, sick.
ening feeling, he could not express. He
did not for one moment imagine her love
was a love Of interest, of policy, and
could Oe at any time transferred TO an.
other in better circumstances than him.
self. Yet so it proved.
Such was the state Of thugs last sum.
mer. We had been a school mate of
Marks once. and meeting him one day
a, our village. he said he was just home
TO invite his friends to be present at his
wedding the next day two weeks. He
was going on short journey, and should
be married on his relurn-Lucy was all
ready. he said, and the little cottage had
been furnished according to her direc-
,ion. The old people were pleased, and
in fact, all Vas prosperous. We wished
him JOY and left. Ten days after Mark
returned, and stopped the same evening
with his parents. The next afternoon
he was TO be married. Quite party of
his young friends were to accompany
him to Lunenberg. ten miles distant. (for
his parents lived in New Hampshire in
the morning, and be present a, the COM
ing festival. The stage from Lunenberg
came in, and with others Mark sought
the post office. Soon letter was hand.
ed him. the las. .'love letter he would get
probably" "Yes." said another, shat
is the las. note from Lucy Wilder-.o.
morrow by this time she'll be Mrs. Will
lis!' and amid chorus of jokes Mark
opened The loved missive.
But ah
"Theres many clip
Twixt the cup and the lip"
and
sThe best laid schemes of mice and men