Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-05-06
From the Olive Branch
II o III ELY MARIA.
BY MRS. NJ. A. DENIsoN.

BY MRS. N. A. DENIsoN.
This is living! exclaimed gay look
ing young man, sitting down to nea
but abundant country breakfast table
| by this time the cily, folks are nearly
baked ,swhile here the wind comes blow
ing over that clover field, sweet
with June roses. Come, Maria, what
klnd OF company can we get up for 6
fishing party! I'm bound to have s
time
you won't find city fashions, or city
beauties here said Maria, smiling, but
Fred cut speech short with M
'Confound city beauties, and every
thing belonging to the city just now, III
none of them. / tell you I've come to
the country just to cut clear from city
sights and sounds. There! that isn't
very elegant photography, but make
the best of it. I'm as much of q rustic
as any you. I'm going to make friends
with every farmers boy, and claim
cousinship with the teacher, and the
minister, especially. As to the young
ladies, I'm prepared toilike svesy one of
them, especially if they sll make such
bread IS you, Maria. One meal like
this is worth a dozen in the city
Maria blushed, as most young ladies
do who are cemplimented. She was a
plain, sweet-tempered girl, an adopted
daughter, who, since her earliest years,
had been as devoted child to the farm
er and his wife. She knew she was not
handsome; she painfully ielt the differ
.enee when in the society of her beauti7
full foster cousin, Fred's only sister,
whose long golden curls and eyes of
heavenly blue, whose form of perfect
contour, and manners bewitchingly
graceful crowded her shrine with lovers
and admirers. Neither was she accom-
plished, save in the possession of voice
very pure ndpowerful. Her foster pa
rents were old-fashioned people, proud
of her ability and natural aptitude for
house-work. None could keep house
better than Maria From garnet to eel
lar, of the old-fashioned mansion, with
its out-of-the-way corners, and crooked
passages, was seen the fairy-ike neat
ness of some master hand. And that
hand was Maria's, though so quietly she
moved about with such consummate
tact and skillful foresight, that every
element of confusion seemed to fall into
order the moment her presence became
visible. Maria was no ordinary scholar
likewise. Under that plain exterior lay
mine rich with jewels, and though so
unostentations that one might have
questioned her capacity, she was, never
theless, a woman of intellect. She read
much, but she thought more, and though
she rarely talked, when she did, one
could listen with growing admiration.
Fred. Watson had just passed his
college commencement with unusual
honors. Worn out in body and mind,
he sought the beautiful country home of
his uncle, and entered with a hearty zest
into the enjoyment of rural pleasures
He was pleased with Maria, thought
an excellent cook" and altogether a.
nice girl, but considered her nothing
more. Day after day her quiet face was
his companion, and yet he saw nothing
but an ordinary person with rather more
than modicum of good sense.
One pleanant hour they sat upon the
porch long after the twilight had faded
out. Silence reigned, save when the
drowsy kline moved homeward, tinkling
the bells that hung from their huge
threats. In among the tangled leaves
of the old trees through which the sky
seemed broken into blue and white, the
pale young moon looked family. It'll
was the last of August, and heaps of
ripened corn mingled their tresses of
gold with the stubble of the harvest
ground. A river, with banks of low
willows hanging over till they dipped
their green tassels in its depth, bubbled
but few feet from the old homestead,
white light, the square high well, with
its enormous sweep, its bucket, wind
lass, and chain, grouped in one black
mass i'll the centre, formed as pleasant
a picture as ever gladdened the hungry
eye of painter or poet.
A knoll made by the branching roots
of grand elm, formed the rustic seat
whereon sat Maria and her foster eous-
in. Fred, who thought of leaving in
few days, was now unwontedly eloquent
in praise of his city home. He had
told Maria of all the beautiful girls he
knew-how one had eyes like night, and
tresses like the deep of an ocean wave
it by the 1noon-lustre. How another
had soft English beauty, cheeks tinged
with the bloom of the peach, and hair
like the cleaning silk Of corn, eyes bluer
than the sky, and a smile as sweet as
May. He told of their varied graces;
with what taste one played the harp,
and how her white arms flashed over
its gold. How surprisingly radiant an
other seemed in the lighted ballroom.
Each one possessed some glorious gift
that was sealed to poe Maria.
And long after they had parted the
good girl sat in her chamber, and pom
dered on what he had said. With tears
standing on her lashes, she whispered,
ooh! why was | not beautiful: Then
for moment she stood before her glass,
but putting her hands before her face,
she murmured, 'sNo, no; no jewels, no
flowers, no rare adornment would make
me other than | am-homely Maria"
She sat down again and looked out
upon the calm night. Mature is beau
tiful," she thought; ''there is not an ug-
ly fiowerin the universe; the tiniest spear
of grass is beautiful; the SKY, the clouds |
every tree-nature is all beautiful; why
was not given the charm OF pleasing
others, and of winning hearts,"
At that moment her eye fell on her
Bible. The very sight seemed bitter
reproof "God made me what | am,
she murmered, "and / am rendering
myself hideous in his sight by thus
complaining. viii try to be happier;
I will Try. 10 cnnnIInr fhis vain and