Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-05-06
From Godey's Lsdy's Book.
MIR. FlTZ FOOM In THE COUNTRY,

4
from a most unmerciful pulling! What,
in the name of sense, possessed you to send
Mr.. Fitz Foom out here to visit me? Know
ing every thing as we'll as you do, must
say that the joke was extremely practical.
at my expense as well as his. Poor fellow!
he left, this morning, after visit OF three
days, having come, understand, with tue
intention of remaining as many weeks.
Last Thursday forenoon. as was busy
in the kitchen, for it was baking day ana
| had great deal to do, there came knock
at the front door. Supposing it to be some
of the nsighbors. just slipped off my aporn
rolled down my sleeves, gave my hair a
dash down with my hands, and hurried to
open it. Judge ofmy surprise, when there
stood Mr.. Fitz Foom, jaunty little cloak
and cap on, little cane twirled in his fin
gers. and smile upon his pretty little face,
as exquisite specimen ola small man as
could be imagined / was so taken aback
that l could hardly ask him in, and could
not forbear sly glance at a long streak of
-four which ornamentcd the side breadth of
my gingham dress, and which i had gained
in passing the flour barrel on my last err
rand to the pantry. | saw him looking in
the same direction; but he smothere,l any
horror which he may have inwardly felt at
this betrayal of my morning occupations.
81 suppose you received the note which
sent You by post announcing my intend
ell ~isit, Miss Wilmot?"
No; had not received it. / mutely
wished had, when thought how little
we were prepared for saeh company.
"Yuu n.ust pardon the great liberty |
have taken in accepting your uncle's invi-
tation, who insisted upon my coming to see
you without further ceremony than the send
ing of a note lie thought the country air
would do me good, as | was complaining
a little of dyspepsia. That my own heart
pleaded with me to yield to his kind per-
suasi ons. will not say. for l am forced to
silence. have sworn that, whatever that
beating heart may feel, its emotions shall
be kept secret from their fair and agitating
cause. Do not blush, sweet being; have
come only as friend" -.
1 suppose you will call me silly little
girl if confess my face was reddefthan a
pulpit cushion for minute or two; but his
manner was so impressive and overpower-
ing. and his appearance so unexpected, that
| was discomposed. / gave him as cordial
welcome as could counterfeit. \ queer
look came over his face when he entered
the keeping room. He seemed a little afraid
of hurting his patent feathers by bringing
them in contact with tho home made car
pet; and saw the critical glance he gave
at fathers favorite pictures, the portait Of
Washington which hangs, you remember,
over the mantle, with the china dog under
It,
1t was splendid Indian summer day;
and I thought the room was very pretty.
The sunshine came in at the two front win
dows; and / had looped the curtains back
with sprays of bittersweet and made every
thing as neat as apink. | gave him seat
by the window. and excused myself for
few moments, to go out AMI give mother
warning Of the unexpected guest. She
laughed heartily when / told her that Mr.
Fltz Foom had arrived with his carpct-bag;
which relieved me for expected she would
be vexed to death.
"Well, well, Lucy! who'd have thought
it? i guess shall not let you go to the
city again. Never mind about the dinner,
child. I'll get it on the table without fur
ther help. Go and put on your merino
dress, and do the best you can to be polite
to him."
| hal made nice custard, and set it to
cool; and there was plump pair of chick
ems in the oven; SO gave myself no unea-
siness about the table. Ten minutes suf-
feed me in which to don my dress, smooth
my hair, and put on linen collar. When
returned to the keeping room, there sat
the visitor looking disconsolately out of the
window. very visible shade of disappoint-
ment npon his face. You've very pret-
ty place here, Miss Lucy. but not at all
what / expected from the description of
your uncle. lie gave me to understand that
the house was Grecian villa, standing in
the midst of noble forest Of oaks, with
park stretching away upon one side. and
with out-buillings and gateways of the
most tasteful and appropriate character"
he remarked. 81 could hardly persuade
myself that had been directed aright-not
that everything is not very nice, indeed.
bust SO different, you know, from what /
had been led to expect"
"Uncle Wilmot has a very vivid imagi-
nation, Mr.. Fitz Foom; and you must make
allowances for its exercise. It's only one
of MS standing jokes. calling this a Grease
ian villa, because father raises SO much
pork The out-buildings are appropriate
to the business. as you would think if you
could see all the pig pens. He calls the
hen house an aviary, and the Shanghais
foreign birds. The meadow is the park.
As for the old oak-trees, he could not praise |
hem too much"
The very slightest trembIe Of disgust
disturbed the moustache upon his patrician
ip as spoke of the Greaseian villa. 1t
vas pun too horrible for him to contem-
,lafe, and for which you, dear uncle, must
,e solely responsible. Helooked about, as
fmutely asking for his hat. but. after
moment of troubled silence, rcgained a
orced composure.
and is pork raising 1'roftatte busi- !
ness, Miss Wilmot?"
II believe it is regarded as such; but l
cannot positively say"
How much do you think-that is, has
your father laid up any, particular sum OF