The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-08-19
Only A Country Girl.

Only A Country Girl.
| "You are mistaken, l would sooner die than
marry mere country beauty"
"But, Fred, suppose her intellie ent, moral,
full Of natures poetry, tender-hearted, grace
full, unspoi!ed by admiration, guileless, SIM
pie, loving creature"
"Ah," said Fred, laughing, Ca choice clus-
ter OF virtue and grace. Country beauties
are always sweet and simple, and SO are coun-
try cows. No, tell you, il she was as lovely
as an angel, with the world, still if unskilled
in music and literature, with no soul above
charms and knitting-needles, would not mar
ry her for fortune"
ella! ha - laughed Helen Irving but It was
very pianoissimo laugh away down in the
corner Of her heart. Hidden by the trunk Of
a large tree, she sat reading within few feet
Of the ego:ist.
In another moment the yonng men came in
sight. Fred's face was crimson, and he whisp-
cred in visible trepidation:
| "Do you think she heard me?
"No," replied the other half audibly-she
II
up from her book, you are safe, she could not
have heard you, but wha an angel she is"
Yes Helen was an angel, as far as outward
beauty might merit the encomium. She sat
half reclining on rustic seat, striving to
smooth out the dimples in her cheek as she
laid her book aside, and began to twine f.
nished wreath Of wild roses.
Leaving one white arm, the gnarled white
oak tree back ground, flowers strewed
around her, peeplng from her white dress, she
sat quite at her ease apparently unconscious
that two handsome young gentlemen was 50
very near.
Approaching with low bow, upon which
his mirror had set the seal Of faultless elegance
Fredrick Lane took the liberty of asking il the
young lady would inform him where MIR. Irv-
ing lived.
With an innocent smile the beauty looked
"Mr. Irving the only one in the village il
my father" said she rising in charming and
graceful manner. ssThe large house on high
ground, half hidden by trees and thick shrub.
berry, that's where we live. believe it was
an academy once, that's sort Of selec. schoo
isn't it ?'' with the most natural simplicity
turning to Fred.
He replied with another graceful bow.
.sTell your father" said he, ssthat I shal
do myself the honor to call on him to. morrow
He will remember me-Fredrick Lane At yOul
SERVICE"
eyes sir, I will tell him for you," replied
Helen tucking her sleeves around her pretty
arm, and making rather formal courtesy
Then catching up her books and gathering thu
scattered flowers she hurried home.
"Now father, mother, aunt and sis,' ex'
claimed the merry girl, bounding into the room
where the family were at supper, ESQ sure a
you and I live, that Mr.. Lane you talk 81
much about, is in the village. He will cal
here tomorrow; the first specimen Of a cit,
beau, Gas Of coarse he will:) all sentiment, re
fnement, faultless in kids and spotless in dick
ley, important and self assrued as one Of tha
ilk can possibly be. Promise all Of you tina
you will not lisp one word about music, read
ing and writing in my presence, because
have plan. Father will not, know, but i
you sis, will keep quiet and ask no questions
will give You that work box you have covet
ed 80 long.'
"Helen. your are not quite respectful,' ssi'
her father, gravely.
"Forgive me, dear father" ard her arm
were around his neck. "I always mean well,
but am thoughtless. There, all is right now,
she added kissing him lovingly on the temple
eCome sis, what say you."
"Why on that condition, I'll be As still as
mouse, but what is your reason?''
"Ah! that's my own" said Helen, dancing
out Of the room.
Helen sat at an open window, through which
rose bushes thrust their hlushing buds, max
ing both sweet shade and fragrance. Tn,
canary overhead, burst forth every moment il
wild snatches Of glorious music. Helen wa
at work on a long blue stocking, nearly finish
ed, and her fingers few like snow birds.
"You knit most admirably. Are you font
OF it?" w
eyes, quite, like it better than, than any.
thing else-that is mean, mean can churi
WELL"
"And do you read much ?" Fred's glance.
had Travelled from the corner Of his eye ovel
every table, shelf and corner, in search Of som'
books or paper. But not page, nor leaf
yellow or rare repaid his search.
$50. yes % said Henlen with . self-satisAet
glance.
sWhat books, permit me to ask ?'
81 read the Bible good DEAL" she sale
gravely.
els that all ?'
"All, Of course not, and yet what do We moi
find in the Bible? History, poetry, eloquence
romancs-the most thrilling pathos-blushine
and recollecting herself, 81 ssdded, with ,
manner az childish as it before had hHen dig.
ni6sd, a. for the other books, lot nae see. I've
got in my library-there's the primer, (count.
ing on her fingers second class reader, Robin
son Crusoe, Nursery Tales, Fairy stories, two
or three elements Of something, Biography ol
Of some person or other. Mothers Magazine