The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-03-01
From the Ohio Farmer.]
HOW JOE GOT HIS FARM
A TRUE STORY.

A TRUE STORY.
Once upon time, not more than a
thousand years ago. there lived, in the
pleasant little town of R, family by
the name of Selden, who, on account Of
wealth and noble descent, and an unfair
nished reputation, stood high in the esti.
nation of all classes OF society, and rank
ed among the aristocracy, for even the
quiet country towns Of America boast Of
caste, and are as exclusive in the maiiite.
nance Of an upper Crust" as any me.
trnpolis in the old World or New.
There was a large family Of sons, how.
ever, to be provided for and set up in busi-
ness, and Mr. Selden Aattered himself tha,
he was doing quite well enough by his
eldest-Joseph--if he gave him, on leav-
ing the parental roof, some three years af-
ter he became OF age, farm. All the
neighbors united in saying that "it was
smart chance" and Joe himself thought
the same; and, as he was industrious and
frugal, he soon contrived to get good
team and farming tools. with which he till
ed the soil, and it was a matter of small
concern to him that his father still held the
deed OF his farm. as he had long been ac-
cus,omed to call it.
There was small. but conveniently
arrangedshouse upon .sthe iarm, ,'lwith a
neat. white fence enclosing the front yard :.
which had never been cut up into flower
beds and walks. but rejoiced in an un.
broken carpet Of green velvet sod. A clus-
ter Of lilacGs occupied one corner, beau
tiful snow ball tree another, while variety
Of roses adorned the paling. and thrifty
eglantine clambered over the front win
dows to the caves, forming little fairy bow
ers for the retreat of summers warblers.
and it was with pleasure that, on one of
his visits to the cottage. Joseph discovered
little Phebe. building her new nest in
the leafy shade. Some men would have
passed such thing unnoticed, but Joseph
Selden was possessed of a refined sensibil
ity, and was a great admirer Of Nature.
and it was relief to him to steal away
from the outside show Of the world and
find happiness in the artless breath Of the
| wholesome Dame, who, though driven
from the hauuts of men, still reigned un-
molested in the sylvan grove where she
smiled from the flowers, wept from the
twilight clouds. spake from the whispering
foliage, laughed from the rills, and warbled
forth her pure, joyous lays from thou
sand feathered throats. 1t would not,
therefore, be expected that man with
such tastes, would rudely tear away the
rustic tenement, or raise his hand to harm
its tiny architect But there was another
reason why Joe watched with such inter-
est the process of building, and settling in
and enjoying that little home, by the hap
py bird. There were many happy thoughts
suggested thereby, and there was charm
in that low call, "Phebe! Phebe!" and he
often caught himself listening to it, till he
dreamed himself away into the bright little
world OF his own imaginings, and jaunty
little figure hustled about those cottage
floors, and hand parted the foliage OF
the eglantine, while pair of blue eyes
gazed expectantly out, and sweet voice
called "Joseph!" not Phebe; but its into
atoms were the same as the meek. mod
est, half plaintive cry, 'sPhebe, Phebe!''
Joe had good reasons of his own for
loving his dear Phebe Carl, who, though
amiable and pretty, active and intelligent,
and greatly beloved by all who knew her.
had the misfortune to be poor. and, con-
sequently, ignorant, having never served
out her four years al boarding-school
or seminary, but being obliged to content
herself with adding to her stock Of knowl
edge acquired at the common district
school, by reading, during her leisure
hours, such books as she deemed instruc-
tive. and by writing out her thoughts in
prose or poetry, as her mood dictated.
which writing. however, was always con-
signed to the "pigeon hole" of her port
folio, never to be produced to other eyes
than hers and occasionally to Joseph's.
Phebe had sufficient retrospect to re.
ceive the addresses of young Selden, with
out distrusting his motives, and when he
breathed his love, she was nothing 10th to
enter into an engagement TO become his
wife at some future day, and she had too
much sense to heed the warnings and sus-
picions OF admirers to beware ofthe pride
of the Seldens.
"Am not his equal in talent and re-
spectablity, and does not my love satisfy
the cravings Of his heart. just as well as
the love OF an heiress: and shall we not be
just as happy together as we could be were
| accomplished IN the myriad little varie-
ties and nothings of fashionable educa-
ton? Do we not love, and are we not en-.
rn0ed md want noonlo h oon n,,ief when