Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-01-31
Nlisfellaup.
Going to the Races.
Y MISS MILTON

A memorable day was the third day of last
June to Mary and Henrietta Coke, two Young
daughters of Simon Coxe the carpenter of Ab
erleigh, for it was the first day of Ascot rae J,
and the first time of their going to that cele
brated union of sport and fashion. There is ne
pleasure SO great in the eyes of our country
dam,els as jaunt to Ascot, In the first place,
it is when open alike to rich and poor, elegant
as an opera, and merry as fair; in the Sec
ond, this village of Aberleigh is situate about
fourteen miles from the course, just within dis
tance, almost out of distance, so that there is
commonly enough of suspense and difficulty
the slight difficulty, the short suspense, which
add such jest to pleasure.
All people love Ascot races; but our country
lasses love them above all. 1t is their favorite
wedding punt, for half our young complies are
married in the race week, and one or two match
es have seemed to me got up purposely for the
occasion; and of all the attentions that can be
offered by lover, drive to the races is most
hAOoicpuuAO. III oHOlps oo SouSOuiul 10 tlldt kttJ
scene to love, that it is moot point which are
most numerous, the courtships that conclude
there in the shape of bridal excursions, or those
which begin on that favored spot in the shape
of parties of pleasure and the delicate exper-
iment called" popping the question" isso often
put in practice on the very course itself, that
when Robert Hewett, the young farmer at the
Holt, asked Master Coxe's permission to escort
his daughters, not only the good carpenter, but
his neighbors, the blacksmith and the shoe
maker, looked on this mark of rustic gallantry
as the precursor Of declaration in form and
all the village cried out on Hetta Coxo's ex-
treme good luck, Hetta being supposed, and
with some reason, to be the chief object of his
attention.
Robert Hewett was young farmer of the old
school, honest, frugal and industrious; thrifty,
thriving, and likely to thrive; one of fine
ysomanly spirit, not ashamed of his station,
and fond of following the habits of his FORE
fathers, sowing hi, own corn, driving his own
team, and occasionally ploughing his own land.
AS proud, perhaps, of his blunt speech and
homcly ways as some of his brother farmers
were of their superior refnment and gentiity,
and nothing could exceed the scorn with which
Robert Hewett, in his market cart, drawn by
his good horse Dobbin, would look down on one
neighbor on his hunter, and another in his gig.
To the full as proud as any of them was Rob-
ert, but in different way, and perhaps safer.
He piqued himself, like good Engishman, on
wearing a smock frock, smoking his pipe, and
hating foreigners, to our intercourse with whom
he was won't to ascribe all the airs and graces,
the new fashions, and the cffcminacy which an
noyed him in his own countrymen. He hated
the French, he detested dandes, and he abhorred
fine ladies, fine ways, and fnery of any sort.
Henrietta Coke was pretty girl of seventeen
and had passed the greater part of her life with
an aunt in the next town, who had been lady'E
maid in her youth, and had retired thther on a
small annuity, To this aunt, who had been
dead about twelvemonth, she was indebted
for her name, rather too fine for common wear
Il believe she wrote herself Henrietta Matilda
q large wardrobe, pretty much in the same pre-
dicament; an abundant stock of superfne no.
tons, some skill in mantua-making and milli-
merry, and legacy of hundred pounds to be
paid on her wedding day. Her beauty wal
quite in the style Of IA wax doll blue eyes fax
en- hair. delicate features, much resembling that
sweet pea which is known by the name of the
painted lady. Very pretty she was certainly
with all her airs and graces ; and very pretty
in spite of her airs and graces, did Robert Hew
lit think her; and love, who delights in con
trasts. and has an especial pleasure in ovsrset
ting wise resolutions, and bending the haught,
self-will of the lords of the creation was begin
ming to make strange havoc in the stout yeo
mans heart. His operations, too found yer
unintontional coadjutrx in old Mrs Hewitt
who, taking alarm at her sons frequent visit
to the carpenters shop, unwariy expressed
hope, that if her son did intend to marry on
of the Coxes, he would have nothing to do wit
the fine lady, bnt would choose Mary, the eide
sister, dark-haired. pleasant looking youn
woman of lwo-and-twenty, who kept the hous
as clean as a palace, and was the boast of tn
village for industry and good humor. Now th
unlucky caution gave Robert, who loved h
mother, but did not choose to bo managed b
her, On additional motive for his lurking pre-
erence, by piquing his self-will and to whic
the little damsol herself in the absence of otl
er admirers, took visible pleasure in his ad urs
tion; so that affairs seemed drawing to crisi
and the party to As ot appeared likely to en-
like other punts to the same place, in wee
ding. 1t is true that the invitation which ha
been readily and gratefully accepted by her si
ter, had been received by Miss Hctta with SON
little demur Going to the races was deligh
full; but to ride in a cart behind Dobbin W;
odious Could not Mr. Hewitt hire phmtol
or borrow gig! However, as her sister seen
ed to wish it, she might perhaps go, if sh
could find no better conveyance And wit
this concession the lover was contcnted; Il
moro especially as the destined finery was in a
tive preparation. Flouucss, furbelows, or
frippery, of all descriptions, enough to stock
milliner's shop, did Hetta produce for Il
adornment of her fair person and Robert loo
cd on in silence, sometimes thinking how pret
she would look sometimes, how soon he wou
nut an end to such nonsense when once tn
were married and sometimes, how odd fgr
he and Dobbn should cut by the side of
much beauty and fashion.
Neither Dobbin nor his master were fated
be so honored. The evening before the ra
there happened to be revel at Whitley Woo
thither Hetta repaired and there she had