The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-12-18
THE VILLAGE WEDDING.
BY MISS MILFORD.

BY MISS MILFORD.
The sweetest flower Of tho ge-dcr, th
| Joy end pride of Dame Wilson's heart, wa
her daughter Hannah. Well might she b.
proud Of her. AT sixteen, Hannah Wilson
was, beyond doubt, the prettiest girl il
the village, and the best. Her beauty wa
quite in a different style from the countr,
rosebud-far more choice and rare. It,
chief characteristic was modesty. 4 light
youthful figure, exquisitely graceful anc
rapid in its movements; springy, elastic ant
buoyant as bird, and almost rs shy;
fair, innocent face, with downcast eyes, ant
smiles and bushes coming and going almos
with her thoughts: Il low. soft voice. swee
in its monosyllables; Il dress remarkable fol
its neatncss and propriety, and borrowin:
| from her delicate beauty an air Of superior
ity not its own-such was the outward wo
man Of Hannah. Her mind was like hcl
person--modest, graceful and gcncrou.
above all.
The generosity Of the poor is always ,
very real fine thing; they give what the,
want; and Hannah was, of all poor people
the most generous. She loved to give; il
was her pleasure, her luxury. Rosy checked
apples, plums, with the bloom on them, nose
gays of clover and blossomed myrtle; these
were offerings which Hannah deis shted tc
bring to those she loved, or those who haG
Shown her kindness; whilst to such of hcl
neIghbors as needed attentions more thar
fruit and flowers, she would give her time,
her assistance, her skill; for Hannah inb er.
tied her mothers dexterity in feminine EN-.
p!oyments, with something of her fathers
versatile power.
Besides being an excellent laundress, she
was accomplished in all the arts of the
needle, millinery, drcss-making, and plain
work; a capital cutter, an incompatible
mcnuer, and endowed with agift Of altering
which made old things better than new. As
dalry woman and rearer of poultry, she
was equally successful; none of her turkeys
and ducks ever died Of neglect or careless.
ness; or, to use the phrase of the poultry.
yard on such occasions, of "ill-luck. p
llannah's fowls never dreamed of sliding ou,
Of the world IN such an ignoblc way: they
all lived to be killed, to make noise ut then
deaths as chickens should do.
She was famous scholar; kept accounts,
wrote bills, read letters, and answered
them; was trusty accountant, and safe
contidnnt. There was no end TO Hannah S
usefulness, Or lIannah's kindness: and he,
prudence was equal to either. Except to be
kind or useful, she never left her home: al
tended no fairs or revels, or Mayings; wen,
nowhere but to church, and seldom made a
nearer approach to rustic rcvelry than by
standing by her own garden gate on Sun
day evening. with her little sister in hand
to look at the lads and lasses On the green.
In short, our village beatty had fairly
reached her twentieth year without a sweet
heart, or without the slightest suspicion Gl
her having written a love letter on her own
account; when, all Of sudden, appearances
changed. She was missing at the "accus-
| toned gate:' one had seen Young man 90
into Dame Wilson's, and another had de-
scrIed trim, elastic figure, walking. not
unaccompanied, down the shady lane. Mat
tiers were quite clear. Hannah had got a
lover: and when poor little Susan, who,
deserted by her sister, ventured to peep
rather near to the gay group, was laughing
ly questioned on the subject, the hesta,ing
no and the. half yes, of the smiling child
were equally conclusive.
Since the new marriage act, We, who be-
long to county magistrates, having gained
proprlety over the rest of the parish in
matrimonial news we-the privileged
on Il week day the name which the Sabbath
announces tothe generality. Many blushing,
awkward pair hath our little lame clerk-a
cupld-ushcred in between dark and light to
stammer and stutter, to bow and courtesy,
to sign or mark, as it pleases Heaven. On
Saturday, at the usual hour, the limping
clerk made his appearance: and walking
through our little hall, saw fine athletic
young man, the very image of health and
vlgor, holding the hand of a young woman,
who, with her head half buried in a geran-
lum in the window, was turning bashfuly
away, listening, and yet not seeming to lis
en-, to his tender whispers. The shrinking
-racc Of that bending figure was not to be
mistaken.
.Hannahr and she went aside with me,
and rapid serl,'s of questions and answers
conveyed tho story OF their courtship and
marriage.
'William is said Hannah. "a halter in
B. He had walked over Unc cv'ninS to see
the crickcting, and then he came III. Her
mother liked him vervbody liked her
William-a and she had promised she was
gOing--was it wrong?'
'Oh, no and where are you to livc?'
'Willam has got house in B. He lives
with Mr.. Smith: the rich halter in the mar
ket place, and Mr.. Smith speaks Of him
oh, so well. But William will not tell me
where our house is. | suppose in some
narrow street or lane, which he Is afraid |
shall not like, us our common is SO pleasant
He little thlnks-anywhere--'
She stopped suddenly, but her blush and
clasped hands, finished the scntehce, 'any-
where with him.
'And when is the happy day.
son Monday fortnight, madnm,' said the
bridegroom elect, advancing with the little
clerk, to summon Hannah to the parlor, 'the
earliest day possible
lie drew her arm throush his, and we
parted.
The Monday fortnight, was glorious
morning. one of those rare November days,
when the sky and the air are soft, and brig ght
as in April.
'Whnt beautiful day for Hannah = was
the first exclamation at the breakfast
table.
Did she tell you where they should dinc:'
mo madam; forgot to ask
Il can tell you,' said the master Of the
house, with somewhat Of good hrmored
Importance in his air. somewhat Of the look
of a man who having kept secret as long
as it was necessary, is not sorry to get rid
of the burthcn. can tell you, in London
in Londonp
Ycs. Your little iatoritc has been in
high luck. She has married the only son of
one Of the best and richest men in b. Mr..
Smith, the erea. halter. 1t is quite a ro
NANCE continued he; William Smith
walked over one pleasant evening, to sec
cricket match. lie SAW our pretty Hannah,
and forgot to look at the cricket. After
having gazcd his fill, he approached to ad
dress her, and the little damscl was of like
a bird. William did not like her the less for
that, but rather the more. He came again
and again, and at last contrived to tame his
wild dove, and even to get an entree into
the cottage. Hearing llannah's talk is not
the way to fall out of love with her. So
William at last, finding his case serious,
laid the matter before bis father, and re-
questcd his consent to the marriage. Mr..
Smith was at first little startled; but
William is an only son, an excellent one;
and after talking with me and looking at
Hannah believe her face was the most