Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-04-26

"And now, uncle Fred, tell me why
you never married; you promised to tell
me, if let you be my conlidant, and
invite you the first of any body to my
wedding"
Well, wait till my cigar is finished !"
and uncle Fred gave several energetic
puffs, as he continued to walk the room.
Mary was silent--sinking into rock
ing chair, she INDUCED such revery as
may be supposed girl of seventeen
would do, who had but the preceding
evening exchanged with acongenial spirit
VOWS of Interchangeable affection.
Mary was an orphan; her mother died
while she was yet too young to feel the
loss, and left her to the guardianship Of
her grand parents in the country, while
her father, depressed by the bereave-
ment, toiled on, in the great city. Mr..
Freeman never recovered his spirits, but
the occasional visit of Mary to Boston
cheered his lonely path. Mary's grand
father had followed his beloved daughter
to the tomb, and, at the time we present
her to the reader, the family consisted
only of herself, grandmother" and
''uncle Fred"-a handsome, intelligent,
independent farmer.
A shade of sadness overspread his
face, and long drawn sigh escaped the
bachelor, as he seated himself. That
countenance revealed much. Mary knew
he seldom alluded to his young days
but she had observed his readiness to
help with kind word or look the blush
ing maiden, and no less blushing youth,
when rallied by their companions. Now
some old memories we're awakened, and
she felt she was to possess the key to
this conduct.
Timidly Mary rose, and placing her
self by his side, took one Of his hands.
This aroused him, and he said
"Listen patiently, Mary, and I will
tell you why | am not married. / was
a lad Of but ten years, when family
come to reside in this town, of whom
you must have heard, but never from
me. Mr.. Cotton was merchant; and o
man of no little Importance in country
town, is country merchant. Stern in
his integrity, | was awed by his demean-
or no less than by the minister himself.
His wife was strikingly similar-sedate
and dignifed. / have never seen a
woman who seemed SO well to discern O
persons real character. She appeared
to take the measure, SO to speak, of an
individual. There was no scrutiny, but
you instinctively felt that you were un-
dcrstood and appreciated. But let me
speak If the children. Daughters were
they all the youngest, a delicate infant,
was taken hence before the intellect had
developed its capacity, but not before the
heart had awakened attachment. The
next older was Emily see her now as
when at four years old, she entered the
village school room. My sister was the
teacher, your mother, Mary. Emily's
bright black eye wandered restlessly
around the novel scene, glancing first at
the teacher, and then at the pupils
When the question was asked, what is
your name more, perhaps, to break
the awkwardness than to learn it--Em-
ily's reply was instantly given, in lisp
ing, confiding tone. Looking at her
sister, who, though older, was by far
more timid, she hastily added, and my
sisters name is Adelaide Adelaide I
[ will not attempt to describe her, though
to me she seemed the perfection of girl
ish loveliness; but could you have seen
those hazel eyes, you could never have
forgotten their depth. Like her mother,
Adelaide appeared to estimate character
intutively. In the presence of most
girls, ! could trife, but when met her
eye, / became dumb. The season passed
on, and day by day ! worshipped my
idol. In the morning my first thought
was Of her, and the last at night was
Adelaide. To secure her appreciation, /
attended diligently 10 my tasks, and felt
amply rewarded by her gratifed smile !;
but had ] neglected, she, even at the
early age Of seven years, eyinced wo-
mans tact in appearing to be totally abb
sorbed in her own employment; slight
compression Of the lips only, indicated