True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-03-19

amt homely to me, Maria. You have
warm, loving hcart-a real woman's heart
and what is better, Maria, il is in the
right place. l intend. some time, 10 make
you my little wife,"
"Why, Fred !" exclaimed Maria.
"Oh, don't tear open your eyes SO wide;
and look as though you would eat me, like
a great ogre. Don't mind giddy, rattle
brained Fred Grayson; though you know,
Maria sensible words often gleamu among
his silly ones, and some of his vagares oc-
casionally wear the hue of prophecies"
"Folse prophecies, Fred; and ! do not
know that you ever sny anything sensible.
There now-we are eyen."
"Take care. Maria" said aunt Elsie,
"Fred intends to stride into your heart
some day, in the same wild manner he did
into the room."
"And leave nothing but snow-prints,"
said Maria with laugh.
"Look here, aunt" said Fred, putting on
a vain-g lorious. pedantc look, and giving
desperate tug at his shirt-collnr. "ain't such
q noble. intelligent, good-looking fellow as
myself, emnently calculated to play the
the--sleigh-bell polka with homely girl'e
affections! But seriously, Maria, God eyer
keep me from leaving cold, chilly snow
prints upon your warm, gushing henrt.
But hark whoop! hurrah Listen! the
bells they make the very shadows siartle
and the gaunt, frozen trees to essay to
swing their palsied arms. Ben and put
all the bells in the neighborhood on the
horses, and had half dozen strings sent
FROM"
"BELL-ville, by telegraph J" interrupted
Maria, putting on her shawl.
The sleigh was at the door and ringing
shout from dozen happy hearts greeted
their appearance. AS they walked toward
the gate Fred whispered to Maria,
"Harvey Morgan is one of the party;
take care of your heart, Maria"
"No fear, Fred, shan't lose it,"
81 wouldn't care if you did,"
"Why, Fred!"
"Because / would be the one to find it.
Wouldn't it be funny if my words would
come true! Who knows!"
"Ho, ho, ho-what a Fred Grayson !"
laughed Mara-"w who knows! shall re-
member that, Fred."
"Cut the courtshp Short" cried a good
humored voice from the sleigh.
"rhat's so," cried Ben Bolton ,-"whoa,
Charley! Get in, Fred; stow Maria any,
where. Whoa | say, you critters be
quiet III take the fire out of them--I
viii, myself. Oceans of bells, Fred, eh!"
"Any quantity, Ben; but the bellies, to
my taste, are in the Sleigh" replied Fred,
helping Maria in.
"All aboard!" shouted Ben, gathering
up the lines,
"Hold on, Ben, "cried Sue Lawson-"Ma
ria, your aunt is calling YOU"
Aunt Elsie had by this time reached the
side of the sleigh. She had hot brick
wrapped up in blanket in her hand.
"Oh, never mind the brick, aunt" said
Maria.
"Take it along, take it along" thunder
ed Ben, "Fred can carry it in his hat for
you! Clear the way gee-up, there!"
Sure enough-Maria did lose her heart.
Harvey Morgan was handsome, intelli-
gent, captivating fellow, and madedeep in
roads into her affections. There was no
seriousness on his part, however. his atten-
tions were prompted by a mere whim.-
Before many months he departed for the
city again, leaving Maria, as he said, "to
cry her eyes out about him, as many had
done before her."
In that matter, however, he was mista-
ken. Maria did not fret much about him.
A love so & kle was of little value at best;
it was merely a "snow-print!" !"
Time passed on. Fred Grayson was in
deed making his mark in the world, much.
to the astonishment and qualification of
aunt Elsie. A lecture had just been closed
at Fanuel Hall, Boston. The discourse
of the speaker had been brilliant, eloquent,
just the subject for the times. The audi
ence had been literally carried away; he
set all their tastes aad symputhies work
ing at once, to the dire distraction Of their
reason. His arguments 'glttered with
laughter and were yet balanced with good
sense. He piled up his merriment like
grotesque monument, yet so compact and
regular that there was no fear of its top
pling over. ,s..
The audience were leaving, and in the
ante-chumber, with a number of others,
stood two females, apparently waiting the
approach Of the speaker. The one was
aunt Elsie--the other, with the auburn
hair trained into glorious ringlets, with a
softer brilliancy 10 the brown eyes, and
with fuller cheeks than of yore, looking SUI
s9eFa