Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-06

morning after the above writing Mr. Lake did
have much speech with Uncle and Aunt, and,
presently, they did send for me. 1 thought
should have dropt on the floor SO dizzy was
when reached the Door of Uncle's room, but
the Sight of his kind Face and the quiet man.
ner in which Mr.. Lake took my hand and led
me to Seat close by Uncle, while he stood
back pace two himself did comfort me.
Aunt sat on the other side of the bed, looking
neither vexed nor pleased, as l could see. I'm
Gle drew down my face and kissed me, saying
he was both glad and sorry to hear what Mr..
Philip had told him sorry to lose me, yet glad
to know that whatever might befall him. |
would have a true friend and protector in
these troubled times. Then, he went on to
speak of the Shortness of Life-his own feeble
health, which minded him at all times to be
ready to die, until the tears did fill Aunts
eyes, and wet mine own cheeks, which seeing
he spoke no more of that, but began to talk
with Mr.. Philip and Aunt about our means and
plans Tor the time to come. Mr.. Lake had
told me that his Income would be small during
the Lifetime of his Mother, but he has the offer
OF an office of so much worth as will give us
Gle says have enough and more than enough
for all reasonable wants, Of which, to say
truth, l am exceeding glad, as would not go
to my Husband empty handed.
Mr.. Lake wished the wedding to take place
speedily, being DESTROYS to take me to Neither
field with them, when he goes, which he has
delayed over long Uncle agrees with him,
and when in my dismay did appeal to Aunt,
she said gravely, but not unkindly-"S ince
fhn Mann Il. /
chosen to take to wife such thoughtless child,
few Days or Weeks more less, made no
difference" | might as well "begin to learn
that the Men would have their way"
Uncle smiled, and Mr.. Lake said pleasantly
that he felt very strongly advised to prove her
right in this Matter, and SO, it was settled for
having no one to back me, | did have to give
up. Mr. Lake went to London on the morrow
to speak with his Brother of the Matter, and
he, being absent, hoped for some little quiet
but, as the wedding is to be SO soon, Aunt is
advised to make the engagement no secret, and
the whole Household is full of the News :
the maids whispering and casting side-ooks
every time go to the kitchen, and old Cicely
says with nod, "Well-a-day Mistress Peggy,
what do you think of wanting feathers, now p
Though the Midsummer Holidays are close
at hand, uncle has sent and fetched Guy home,
partly because l did long to have him come
Uut iIOle, ledr, DGCduSG he would nave the
lad close to him now in his weakness, which
see increaseth every day. and | feel free and
like myself again only, when he and are can
terlng along the lanes on Daisy and Star
The lad is greatly pleased that | am to marry
Mr.. Philip, and when l ask 'Why % he says
go, because girls must marry somebody and
Philip is such good fellow and knows so
much about the wild Indians and strange
beasts" Truly strange reason for maid
,1l,nt l. :.
yet the heart is such willful thing that |
sometimes feel when Guy is praisng him, that
wish he were not good, or l were better,
for in time to come, if differences should arise
as, suppose they must, between married folks
the blame will always be laid wholly on me.
July l4h.-The Haughtons, Sarah and John
with Anne Letiner are here. They had heard
of my engagement and wished me joy of my
Marriage. Anne is to be married to Mr.. Wes-
colt in the beginning of August, and the day
of my wedding has been fixed for the Eve of
st. James. Anne spoke pleasantly about it,
but the suddenness of the affair seemed to
have made Sarah dumb. Anne will have
merry wedding, but Aunt told them that mine
would be very quiet, on account of Uncle's
sickness, which seems not to mend Aunt
says not word against the marriage, now it is
settled, but | know it pleaseth her little, for
looks do speak more loudly than words, some
times, and this made me prize her kindness
more today, when she gave me beautiful
piece Of pink Brocade for my wedding gown
july 18h,-Mr Lake has come, but Mr.
Sharswoode is not with him as we looked to
have him. He says his Brother did marvel
somewhat at the suddenness of this Marriage
but it pleaseth him well enough, though he
could by no means be here. He hoped to
meet us at Netherfeld after season, where he
has not been for long time. He sends me as
his Gift Stone Brooch, and the markings of a
tatfata petticoat, of very lovely hue. Ihave
no reason to believe he told that cruel story,
and, therefore, L shall take them, aud when
am house keeping, he shall no longer COM
plain of being shut up in dull London lodgings
all the pleasant summer. We, [how strange
to say Ue) will ask him to come to us, and the
thought of having him and Guy, and, may
haps, little Mol with US, doth much to make
me content to take such sudden leave OF all
those love.
July 10Th. Only five days to my wedding
/ go as in a dream while all the rest of the
Household are in hustle Mr.. Lake, he
wisheth me to call him Phip,-but somehow
my tongue hath not learnt the trick OF the let
ters,) spends much Of his time with Uncle,
who has conceived great tondness for him,
and takes delight in his conversation. This
relieves Aunt of much care and adds to mine
ease, for it confuses me to look up and find his
eyes watching me with such grave thoughttull-
ness, when there are so many about. mind
it less when we are alone, and so take heart to
hope i shall not blush and start SO bye and
bye. Sitting on the Terrace, to night, while
the Sun went down, and the grey, level fields
grew greyer STILL in the twilight. l could but
smile to see how be seemed to take in, through
eye and ear, every sight and sound, like some
prisoner as one might think, just released from
long durance, touching my hand when bird
did twitter in the Hedge, Swallows wing
CLINT across his vision, or breath OF air go
signing through the rushes and sedge-grass,
down by the little Beck as if he heard an ut
tered word would dissolve the spell. Present
ly, he began to repeat some sweet versing
about the Nightingale, beginning
"Sweetc Birdie that shunn'st the noise Of follie,
Most musical most melanchollie,n
which did find much to my liking. He was
pleased at my prasing, and said they were
written by one Mr. John Milton, Bucking-
hamshire gentleman, who was now abroad
unpublished by one Mr.. Lave friend of his
and some day he would read me the whole
Poem. Then, took heart to tell him some OF
my thoughts-how weak and unlearned / am
and how | did sometimes wish ! were better
or he not so good, at which he laughed and
said 81 would find the Betterment would have
to be on his part, for he had plenty of faults
being very selfish and self.wiled :" upon
which, he turned and kissed me so suddenly
that | was greatly confused, at which he
laughed more merrily, saying there is the
proof of my words though | warn you sweet
Maggie that promise no amendment on this
score" Then he went on to say, how he had liv
ed always much alone in the world; and men
living so were apt to nourish many dreams which