Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-03-11

I please drop line.
With siucorest regards to yourself and
aunt Lucy, l remain your afectionato
nephew, Harry MEYER.
The mail next day brought the follow
ing reply;
BYTowN, July II, IS.
My DEAR NEPHEW We live in plain
way, and have nothin' in the stilo which
You city people do; but Clara is welcome
to home with US as long as she likes.
Your aunt iiues me in much love to you
and your folks. Your affectionate uncle,
BENZ. MEYER
A week later and the Bylown stage
landed us at Uncle Ben's door Il was
quaint old house, and had been the
family homestead 1t was gambrol-
rooted, moss-grown and weather-stained /;
the north side was shiugled, and the re-
naming three sides were a straw color.
Within, the spacious rooms were bare
and neat; the white floors uncarpeted
save with profusion Of mats, and the
broad FIRE place, verdant with asparagus,
from under which shonc out the polished
knobs of the andirons. The broad stairs
wound through an ample hall, and were
ornamented by green and yellow vines,
painted on an ochre ground, and onli-
yoned by a profusion Of red and blue
! blossoms.
( Uncle Ben met us at the door with q
warm welcome, He was fine type of
the manly old-time farmer, six feet three
inches in his stockings, broad shouldered
aud genial faced He was on the down
hill side of life, but merry and joyful as
when a boy With few thousands in
the bank and large productive farm, he
was ranked one Of the richest men in
Bytown, and associated with the doctor,
the minister and the merchant.
Aunt Lucy vas a most notable house
wife The chests of snowy linen ana
piles Of soft coyorids, spun and woven
by her wn hands, we're not cquallcd in
many a mile around She met US in the
spare room" and gave us cordial
greeting
Before tea, cousin John entered -
Clara knew nothing of him, though he
was well posted in our plans.and unaor-
stood The part he was to play in the
drama
Graduating year before. and finding
his health poor, he had determined to
stop at home for season of rest before
engaging in the active duties Of his pro
fession lie was tall and commanding
in appearance, with heavy locks of dark
hair, and brown eyes that were fathom-
less in their depths. The expression Of
his face bcliod the fact of his being "a
country pumpkin" but he assumed that
character, and wore it while Clara was in
Bytown.
Fine clothes do much toward making
the man and when Uncle Ben entered
! saying: This is your cousin Clara,
john and said John stumbled over the
door-sill clad in thick boots, and suit Of
"homo-mado, j." no one could have dream
ed that there was a graceful and self-pos
sessed gentleman concealed Hestopped
short, with his eyes upon the floor, made
a most gracelcss and angular bow, and
then sided up TO the nearest chair 49,
Clara could hardly restrain her laughter,
but ! looked demurely toward her; and
she instantly sobercd The next morn
ing, as was leaving, she came up to
me, and putting her hand on my arm,
said:
Harry, you had better stay; don't
believe | can stand it here two months
alone. just think of cousin John as my
gallant and she burst into a ringing
laugh, even while her eyes were filed
with tears
| you'd have acquiesced had hesita-
ted moment, 50 summoning all cour-
age, replied:
No. you said I should not stay, and
so | shall not. | am off to Newport,
and wish you well with cousin John"
The stage was At the gate, and bidding
/ all adieu I waved suudry handkerchief
signs to John, who was doing inefficient
wedding in the garden, and left them
For the rest, We are indebted to Johns
pen. lie was under bonds to report to
US in the city daily; and we make the
following extracts from his letters:
g Clara, was blue enough after you
left, but / walked her out Of doors, and
exhibited the wonders Of potato crops
and corn fields She does not know one
kind Of grain from another. and it is de-
lightful to teach her. Iscc her now in
the yard, with a Gock Of doves on her
shoulders aud head, and a swarm Of
chickens, turkeys, and ducks about her
feet; they delight her wonderfully, !
fnd it difficult for me not to forget my
part sometimes; for instance, ip bound
ing over the bars in the hay field, she
caught her dress and fell, hitting her arm
on sharp rock, and cutting it badly
( I wanted 10 take her in my arms and
carry her home to expiate for not help
I ing her oyer the hdcous bars. but was
determined to not compromise au inch,
so ] gathered n few leaves and bound
them on with my yellow bandanua, say
ing, carclessly, that she you'd get over
it soon, aud adding, that never knew
her cousin Julia to stumble in such
way. She looEod half angry, but wore
such an honest face, that she forgayo
ne
Every morning, ! am in the garden
at five o'clock, and call 10 her Ia ten
minutes she is out brushing The dow from
the grass, and talking 90 the fresh buds
and blossoms Of.on she brings me
bouquet most ezquisitel y arranged but ! .
am sure 60 leave it whore ] have been