The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-10-02
MARY FOSTER.
THR pREss.G AnG

Those amtng our readers who ere border
Ing on two scure and ten, or three score years,
cannot but look back upon the period OF the
French wsr as the most interesting part Of
their youthful experience We can rcmem-
her tho events which then took place as if
,hey had ouly occurred yesterd4y-the war
like turn which was given to our youthful as
pira!ions, the marital spirit which pervAded
The rural districts especially, is yet fresh in
cur memory. We can well rem, mber q e
marsL al of the villagers az The evening drill,
on the village green or in he G. urohyard
and the soldiery tones of the old sergeant as
he gave bis right face and front-so entirely
different from the wonted quietuie Of a re-
mos and peaceful village. We have even
nov individuals in our eye who were the pride
Of these drills and parades, and others who
seemed to be destined by nature for anything
but the service of Mars, aud, as the sollier
would have it, Of their country.
As in all the pictures Of human life, this al
so has darker side. The villagers on the
Scottish Border, and Coldiugham, the scene
of the events we are about 10 narrate, which
was situated at no great distance from the sea,
and many Of whose inhabitants were then, as
now, engaged in the occupation OF fishermen,
lost much OF the hilariiy which became con-
nected with martial iusticity through the ever
present fear # the press gang and its attend
mt horrors
It was shortly before the famous battle Of
Aboukir that young fisherman sat at the
the door Of one of the most respectable houses
in Coldingham, smoking his pipe and mend
ing his net. Fraur Schneider, or Fost r, as
he was more generally called by the villagers,
from his being an inmate OF the household Of
Robert Foster, one of the worthiest Of the in
habisants of the village, was German by
birth, who had about four years before been
sent by his relations, for some reason or 9TH
er, to live with the Fosters, to whom he was
distantly related.
Have you heard any news to-day, Fraur?"
Said Mr.. Peter Small, the village schoo'mas-
ter, who came up just as the young fisherman
had replenished his pipe.
al have heard none to day, sir, never hav-
ing been away from the door. Cousin Robert
has gone to the shore TO ascertain the truth
Of a report that the men who did not come
with US last night have pressed. And Mrs.
Foster has gone to see her sister at Hallow-
down"
"And so you staid at home to keep the
house and Mary, l suppose" said the domi-
ME.
"Mary is keeping the house, certainly"
replied Fraur, "because she put me out Of
the door to smoke, after lecturing me about
choking her, and destroying my breath"
"Your breath did she Say, Fraur % inq IL
ed the dominic archly. How came she to
know that your breath smelled SO strong ?"
"Ah, Mr.. Small" rejoiued the other, 'you
are so quick-witted. Why, I'm sure you
know very well when any of your boys are
eating peppermints, don't you ?"
"Ah, Fraut, Fraur, you are a sad dog
But here comes pretty Mary herself to answer
for you"
"'Good afternoon, Mary. So Fraur has
been like to smoke you out, has be y
"Who said be had smoked me out, Mr..
Small?" inquired the pretty daughter of Rob
ert Foster, as she came smiling to the door.
"Dear me, wonder why these German and
Dutch folks are such smokers? Pm very
sure should not like to be the wife Of one oi
theRW W
"Would you not, Mary ?" said Fraur, turn
ing round with a very serious expression Of
oountenance.
"And | don't wonder at it either" said
snail. 81 recollect of saying Of LiVy's
-"
"Oh! you need not give us any authority
for it, Mr.. Small. You know woman's in
clination is the best authority"
"Quite right, Mary" said the dominic.
"QuiteNrong, Mr.. Small, f" returned Fraur
al wondeeto hear wise man like you say