Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-05-06

hausted. 1t was "Nathan, do this or
that for me-" from one weeks end to
the other and, great as vas the de-
mand, Nathan's Kindness and wiling
ness we're as great. Sometimes, Mel
lie, observing the variety and number
Of these claims, coming, as they gen
orally did, after a hard days work in
the fields, got up within herself quito a
warm, little Indignation meeting about
it; but nothing Of the kind ever SEEM
cd to suggest itself to Nathan, or the
others, for that matter. All seemed
to agree that he was to do everything
mend all the brcakages, carry about
al the heavy things that arc cternally
wanting moving in every family, bring
the wood, pump the water, make up
the fires and accounts, wheel up his
mothers chair, read the papers to his
father, and shout to his sister at noon,
everybody said ; in short, such vari-
city of "odd jobs' as would have APP
pallcd David himself. This Napoleon
Of "chorcs," however, achieved them
all with a large, careless kind of ease,
that almost made you sorry you could
think of nothing more for HIM to do.
Little by little, Nellie formed such
an estimate, Of the heart and the mind
of this country youth, as made her
blush whenever she remembered how
she had treated him. She would now
as soon have thought Of stepping upon
the woolsack, and pulling off the Lord
Chancellor's wig, by way of a joke, as
of attempting to make game Of Ma
than. And, Inundated by the rccol-
lection Of her past impertincnce, she
grew as modest, at least in Nathan's
presence, as even his oldfash;oned
notions on that point could demand.
Women arc queer creatures on GER
tain things. If Nathan had sought
her, Or appeared to admire her, Nellie
ould have led him pretty zig, and
then laughed at and despised him. But
as he avoided her, and seemed to real
ly have no feeling for her, but one Of
mingled dislike and contempt, she
thought Of him night and day, otter
could have cried for vexation to fine
she could not please him. Conse.
quently Nathan ceased to represent tc
her a bashful, country-boy; he repre-
scented the man too proud to seek her
too superior to admire.
If Nathan perceived anything Of this
change in her feelings, he did not be.
tray any consciousness of it he was
consistent, at all events, for in spite o.
her beauty, and grace, and pretty
winning ways, he seldom appeared al
if conscious Of her presence. He new.
er talked with her, though sometimes
she did think she caught him looking
at her, or smiling furtively at some Of
her merry nonsense with other mem
bers Of the family. That was her on.
ly encouragement, and the weeks pass
ed by, and the summer was gone, an(
the time for her return home at hand
On the evening before she was tc
leave, she went, about dusk, into the
little field back Of the house, to caress
for the last time, little cosset lamb
Of which she had grown very fond, and
feeling rather low and melancholy sht
put her arms about the creatures neck
and Was shedding sere childish, senti.
mental tears, and murmuring some.
thing very silly about 'fno one missing
her when she was gone, except poor
'little cosset,'" when hearing a Sigh
noise she looked up, and saw Nathan
standing with his arms folded, looking
at her.
Nellie would have been no true.
hearted woman, if rage had not in.
stantly filled her soul at the idea Of
having her sentinentalizing scrutinized
and perhaps understood; so, true te
the feminine instinct, she turned sharp.
ly on the intruder.
"Well, Mr.. Nathan, l don't know
what you want, spying round that
wayn' Having made which vixenish
speech, she seemed ready to burst in
to tears.
81 don't know why you are angry
with me, Nellie" said Nathan, sadly,
as he drew nearer, "you never had less
cause; for if you arc grieved at part
ing with your poor, little pet-lamb,
think how I must feel at losing mine,
forever !"
Nellie looked up with surprise.
"Of course you don't understand
me-" continued he, ''and it's nonsense
to talk about it, but often when l have
seen you fcndling that little creature,
| have thought Of my name sake in the
Scriptures, and how, like him, l had
too my own little eve lamb, though
hidden deep in my secret heart. Oh,
Nellie l know we'll enough that you
have never thought Of me. have
never dreamed Of any return-but it
has been such happiness to me sim
ply to love you-it has been like the
opening Of a new world to met has
been gazing into heaven and to-mor-
row l must return to earth +"
ooh, Nathan, you do not-you can
not possibly love me-" cried Nellie,
all a-tremble, ''you have Lever said
anything to mel thought you hated
mel cannot"
"There is no need you should, said
Nathan, ''since that would not alter
the case.''
81 wish you would not take things
for granted So" said Nellie, pettishly.
"Whether it would alter the case or not,
I should Ike to be convinced"
Whether the country lover would