Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-11-02


Villa.
l did not expect to see such lovely do
main as that which called my friend mas
ter and its extent as far exceeded my an
ticipations as did its beauty.
so this is your home?' | asked. my
face expressing both surprise and pleasure
Yes. all is really mine, these bounda
r;es enclose. | see you wonder how it cam'
to be so: but do not like to begin a Ion:
story before dinner, so be patient while
longer
/ We were near the house, when we came
upon the gardener, who was examining thu
withered remains of an old hop vine.
is it quite dead. SaOtt?' asked my
friend.
/ Quite, sir. Shall l remove it,
Il suppose you must; but | feel sorry tc
give the order. Remember, you procure
and plant another in its place immediate.
ly. | must not have Hop Villa without
one vine
Il have been wondering said l. what
induced you to give this charming place
the name it bears; if, indeed, you have ae-
ted as its sponsor.
'Ah! thereby hangs a-or rather the
tale; but wait till after dinner
must say felt very forlorn. in CON-
parison with my friend, when | saw the
joyous greetings he received from hand
some matron. and half dozen boys and
girls. varying in age from six to eighteen.
In spite of his mock lugubriOus expression
of face. when he informed me that these
formed only portion of his responsible
ties for one olive branch was at college,
and the youngest tendrils of his household
vine would conc in with the dessert, one
might see that his home deserved the name
1t w,cs pleasant to receive sort Of rcfec-
ted editien O. all their eordiality. and felt
my heart warm in rtturn, though | knew
their welcome was for Luke'S s"Ee' not
from personal friendship towards me.
Scott is just grubbing up the old hop
vine, Nelly said my friend to his wife.
This remark called forth quite chorus
of regretful expressions. and made me ask
for information as to the cause of such uni
yersal interest.
Patience, James said 5winton, and
Dinner said servant. at the same mo-
mcnt; so | WAS fain to marshal my hostess
to the dining room. and endure uncomplain-
ingly several jocose remarks on the subject
Of hops which were evidently generally
understood, though could not comprehend
their meaning.
Much as | admired my hosts charming
family, l felt glad when he and l had the
iining-room to ourselves. with the pros
pect of an unrestrained chat
My wife was Il very fall-in-lovc-with-able
person, seven and tw.nty years ago. said
Luke, after the door had closed upon that
ady.
You need not tell me what she was, old
elbow | replied; she is charming still;
md would soon let her know my opinion,
f she were widow
Thank you. l have no wish to test
Tour sincerity, in the mode you so feel
ngly limited at. But t K, my word for it,
n those bygOne days, Nelly would have
,een hard to match. ! was intended for
he church. as you are aware, and went to
ollege with that profession in view; but
Turing my first vacation, l met Nelly at a
jhristmas party, and she changed every
hing
Did Nelly object to parsons then?'
No; but her father did. The old man
Tas very rich, and had amassed his wealth
Y trade. so he was determined to have a
and no other for a son-in-law-
'elly was dutifui-though she owned her
cgard fer mC-and would enter into no |
unsanctioned by her father.
o the end of it was, that | never went ,
ack to Cambridge, but entered the old |
lGrchant's Office as clerk
Very chivalrous, am sure; but l pre- I
,me you would have resigned crowns as I
ell as 4 mitre-in prospective-to win {
ely q
Say as you will, it requires some self 4
enial to give up such fair prospects as l t
ld, and take to plodding and quill-dri- q
ING, with no definite notions of any re- Q
ard. Old Stanley, Nelly'S father, would i
ny say. that if through my own unaidcd l
forts, should win good position in the s
ercantile world, he would not refuse Inc u
hen asked for his daughter. In the b
eantime. l was allowed free communica- a
on with my beloved. and we were both
'ung enough to wait few years; for l I
as only twenty when We first met, and she /
as twelve months younger C
For three years. tOiled a galley slave t
my new vocation. Old Stanley smiled C
'provingly, and advanced me fairly enough, il
1t still there was an awful hill to climb t
fore 1 should dare to say word about !
aiming Nelly, or indeed, before circun- S
ances would permit me to marry without q
cuniary aid from her father. Ny whole T
pital amounted to $4,000, it was a leg
V from maiden aunt of mine, and many
mes during these three probationary years a
ID | been tempted to speculate with it in l
C hope of t;king fortune by storm, as q
were, instead of winning it bit by bit il