Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-03-26
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~ From Sharp,s Magazine. sA
"A RAINY EVENING.

,f--s.E From SharPfs Magazine. sA.ras-
"A RAINY EVENING. a
"A pleasant little group was gathered
round Uncle Ned's domestic hearth
He sat on one side of the fire place, op-
posite Aunt Mary, who with her book
in her hand, watched the children seat
ed at the table, some readin g, others
''of large growth a young lady, who,
being a guest of the family, was suffer
ed to indulge In the ploaslIre of idleness
without reproof, ~ 80 - %
sss0hi I love a rainy evening - said lit
tie Ann, looking up from her book, and
meeting her mothers smiling glance
cit is so nice to, sit by good FIRE, and
hear the rain. pattering against the win
dows. Only 1 pity the poor people who
have no house to cover them, to keep
off the rain and the cold"
.tAnd I love rainy evening, too, -
cried George, a boy Of twelve. II can
study so much better Ny thoughts
stays at home, and don't keep rambling
out after the bright moon and stars.
My heart feels WARMER, and I really be-
lieve 1 love every body better than I do
when the weather is fair ~ - roc p -
Uncle Ned smiled, and gave the boy
an, approving pat on the shoulder.
Every one smiled but the young lady
who, with a languid, dfscontented air,
now played with pair of scissors, now
turned over the leaves of book, then,
With an ifl-suppressed yawn, leaned
idly on her elbow, and looked into the
FIRE, .. - i.'.s
And what do you think of a rainy
II should like to hear your opinion al
So -. r. Ts --'' :.
II think it eyer dull and unintorast-
ing, in deed answered sho, "I always
feel so stupid, l can hardly keep myself
awake. "a One cannot go abroad, or hope
. to see company at home, and one gets
so tired of seeing the same faces all the
time. cannot imagine what George
aud Ann see to admire so much in Il
dfsagreeable rainy evening like this
''Supposing4 tell you story, to en-
HVen you2P said u ncle Ned. -.
r's.ttht yes, father, please toif us storyry'--
exclaimed the children, simultaneously.
Little Ann was perched upon his knee;
as ifby magic, and even Elizabeth'moved
her ellair, as ifeSciscd to some degree
of interest. George still held his book
ia'ihis hand, but his brighteyes spark
hing with unusual animation, were rive
ted'upon his uncle's face. -if7 f
-ts.I am going to tell you Story about
rainy evening"" said uncle Ned 0
'.4s'0hl that will be SO pretty" cried
Ann, clapping her hands. But Eliza
beth's countenance fell below zero. It
was an -ominous -annunciation.
- Yes, . continued Uncle Ned, "a rainy
evening But though clouds darker
than those which now mantle the sky
were lowering abroad, and the rain fell
heavier and faster, the rainbow of my
life was drawn most beautifully on those
dark clouds, and its. fair coIors still shine
most 1oseiy on the sight: Itis no longer,
however, the bow of promise, but the
realization of my fondest dreams. - '.ls r
Q George saw his uncle cast an expires
siye glance towards the handsome ma
tron IN the opposite corner, whose'eollar
Perceptibly heightened, and he could
not forbear exclaimiHg:--. -sa.:Fi 4
,'Ah! Aunt Mary is blashing. 1 un-
derstapd uncle sgmetaphor: a. .~a,...,e
She is shissrainbow, and he thinks life
oneslong rainy day. 4.,I
.f.sNot exactly so:- / mean, your last
conclusion. But don't Interrupt me,
my boy. and you, shall hear lesson,
which, young as you are, 1 trust you
will lIneyer forget. When I was a young
man, Iwas thought quite handsome 10 :
Pa is as pretty as he can be now,
interrupted little Ann, passing her hand
fondIy. over. his manly cheek. -. -, ,'.
Uncle Ned was not displeased with
the comp pliment, for. he pressed her closer
to him, while ke continued
~. Well, when | was young, | was Of a
gay spirit and a great flyprite in socie-
ty.I The; young ladies liked me for a
partner in the dance, at the chess board,
or the evening walk, and l had reason
to think several of them would have
made nc objection to take me as a part
ner for life. e..1Among all my young ac-
quaintances, there was no one whose
eompaniopsh was SO pleasing Us that
of q maiden, whose name was Mary
Now, there are a great MANY Marys in
the world, so you must not take it for
granted mean your. mother or Aunt.
At any rate, you must not look SO sig
nifcant till / have: finished my story
Mary was a sweet and lovely girl with
a a, current of lcheerfulness running
through her disposition that made mu
sic as it flowed. It was an undercur-
rent, however, always gentle9 and kept
within its legitimate channel, never oyer
flowing into boisterons ;mirth or un;-
meaning leYity. She was the only
'dadghter Of her mother, and she avid
ov.a Mrs. Carlton-such was her moth
er's name4-was in,loBly circumstances,
and Mary had none of the appliances of
wealth and fashion to decorateher person,
-origild her home. A very modest COM
potency was her portion, and she wished
for nothing more. I have seen her, in
a simple white dress, without q single
ornament, unless it was a natural rose,
transcend all the gaudy bellies who,
sought, by the attraction of dress, to win
the admiration Of the multitude. But,
alas! for poor human nature, Ono Of