Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-03-26
JACK WILSON.

III . uSdutliul HdlHteI, situated about
fifteen miles from the sea-board. in the
state Of New Hampshire, resided, about
thirty-fve years ago, worthy farmer,
named Clifford. He was a frugal, in
dustrious, hard-working man-much be-
loved and respected by his fellow towns
men-and having good farm, consist
ingot fifty or sixty acres of arble land,
besides pasturage and woodland, he was
as truly independent as most mortals can
ever esEPe~s 60 - s--' -
world. The other members of his fami-
" consisted of his wife, and his daughter
Katharine. his only child.
Katharine, or Kate Clifford, as she was
usually called, was a beautiful girl, about
eighteen years of age, at the time when
this narrative commences, with laughing
black eyes, rosy cheeks, and mouth
about which there always lurked ro-
ruish dimpled smile. Her form was
rs,her robust, but symmetrical, and her
movements were marked with grace,
freedom of action, which would have ex-
,.si the admiration and envy of the
srsetted and tight-laced city bellies. She
ras the personiication of the Goddess of
Health, in her appearance-and what
was of greater value, possessed virtuous
principles, and kind and atfectionate
heart. In word, she was a New Eng
land Farmers daughter, and of course
was the idol Of her parents. Indeed her
good humor. her kindness, her warm feel
ings, her frank and open disposition, to
say nothing of her beauty, caused her 10
become a universal tayorile in the village
and it was predicted by more than one,
that the youth who could win her atfec-
tions, and call her by the name Of wife,
would be fortunate indeed.
1t IS not therefore a remarkable cir-
cumstance, that at the time At which our
story commences, there should have been
various aspirants for her hand. Every
Sabbath afternoon. several suspicious
looking youths, arrayed in their go-to-
meeting vestments, and wearing their
Sunday faces, might be seen in the
neighborhood Of Lieutenant Cliford's
mansion, striving TO catch q glimpse OF
the belle of the village; and every Sab
bath evening, while the family were gath
cred around the old fashioned freside,
visitors would drop il, one after another,
os;ensibIy to inquire after Lieutenant
C.laord's health but il happened, oddly
enough, that those friends of the worthy
farmer were almost all Of them young
men, who had not yet bowed at Hymen'<
sLrne-and while they talked with the
farmer and his wife, their eyes were bent
in the direction OF the lovely Kate, who
eat il the corner, looking as demurely
as nun. and affected not to believe that
she was the cynosure OF every eye"
At the husking trolics, however, Hates
sedateness would vanish and she would
enter into all the spirit Of the occasion.
The joke would pass briskly around
and her musical laugh, when the red ears
were produced by some fortunate swain,
rang merrily through the barn, and
struck chord of sympathy in the 30
SONS Of her admirers.
Among the youths who sought 10 gain
the affections of the fair Katharine, was
Simon Elwell. He was young farmer
of industrious habits and a comely per
son-and had inherited from his father q
handsome property. He lived with hi:
widowed mother in the old mansion, 81
tuaied at only few hundred rods from
the house Of Lieutenant Clifford. In
deed their farms adio:ned each other.-
Katharine's parents were well pleased
with the prospect Of a growing attach
ment between the young couple-who
of course, had from infancy been in
timately acquainted with each other
Kate was not, as the phrase Is, "in love
with Simon Elwell, but she had no Oh
lection to his person or his character, an'
probably would have preferred him f
her other numerous suitors, and have mar
ried him, with a reasonable prospect O
domestic happiness, if circumstance
had not transpired which changed tn
current of her feelings and her destiny.
One day there happened to be quilt
ing match at Ensign Frazer's-and al
the matrons and damsels in the neigh
bOrhood were invited. In the evening
after the labors of the day were over
theyoung men made their appearance
carefully decked out in their best suit:
On their entrance they looked exceed
ingly shy and modest-but were all th
time laughing il their sleeves, at the an
ticipatiOn of glorious frolic. And the.
were not disappointed. Their reserv
soon gore of-merriment and gIee wa