The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1857-12-28

1IOVC dU VIZ lC
told; but rat-trap are no subject OF laugh
ter, even to the blind god himself as
shall show you in the sequel Of this brief
story
"But will you oto-night?'
Eyes, | will.
And if l have old Bob behind the
barn, at twelve, youth be waiting inside,
and we'll drive to New York and get
married right off the reel?''
sYes. When all the folks are in bed
and asleep, I'll steal out of the wash-house
door, go to the barn, get III and disguise
myself. When you come, put in your
finger. lift the latch, open the barn door,
and I'll drop into your arms like a ripe
apple. Oh, | do so love to run away !
Won'tit be delightful"
The speakers were Joe Clavers and
Mary Millerl | need not mention that
they were lovers. Mary's father was a
prosperous farmer in Connecticut, and
Mary herself one of the widest, most
light-headed, romantic, innocent and af-
fectionlae creatures ever made after the
"almost divine" model of mother Eve.
Joe was generous, impulsive youth,
whose parents had once seen tlattering
days, but had of late been unfortunate,
and fallen into comparative poverty.
Farmer Miller, as he drew rich, grew
ambitious Mary was his only child.
He looked to her settlement in the world
as means of his own social advance
ment, and had already selected, in his
minds eye, suitable match for her. OF
course, Joe's attentions, therefore, did
not meet with his approval; and while he
was unwilling to be thought sordid enough
to reject Joe openly, for his lack of means,
he had suggested to that young adventu-
rer the propriety Of absenting himself
altogether from Mary's attractive pro-
sence This done, he had assured Mary
of his resolution to dispose of her hand
according to his own notions of feminine
happiness.
need not say that these facts, operat-
ing upon the mind of a thonghtless, low
ing, eccentric, and spirited child like
Mary, had peculiar effect. That very
moments he determined to marry Joe
Clavers. He was evidently prosecuted!
Persecution only made him the dearer to
her. She liked him before, but now she
loved him. In fact, the more she thought
foit. the more she was convinced that he
was an angel and that perfect idolatry on
her part would only be an act Of noble
devotion.
If Farmer Miller had been sensible
man, and at all disposed to study human
nature, he would have adopted perhaps
very different course towards his way
ward daughter. He would have intro
duced his proposed son-in-law and forbid
den her, at the same time, to indulge in
the slightest regard for him. The pro-
liability is that she would have fallen des-
perately in love with him at first sight
and given Joe his congo without further
ceremony; but Farmer Miller had way
of his own in all things, and he was salts
fed that, should Mary feel disposed tc
play him a trick, he was quite able tc
manage Roland for her Oliver.
The very next morning after he had, il
this manner, "opened his mind, as he
called it, to his daughter, he luckily hap
pened to see Joe Clavers make his turi-
tive entrance into the kitchen where Ma
ry was busily at work, but not singing
as usual, for she was brooding over tht
parental cruelty.
Farmer Miller did not permit man.
minutes to elapse before he had place.
himself in the wash-house, which adjoin
ed the kitchen, so that he might hear al
that passed between the discounted 10
vers, He did hear the dialogue witt
which | have commenced this hlstoraHe
He possessed himself Of the plan of tn
contemplated elopement, and he was sat
isfed.
"She is going to run away, is she ?" h
said to himsolf "lll teach him
lesson, warrant me; and as for the lii
tie Gipsey, TIL settle her business yer
speedily