The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-10-28

anu plauC auOtner IN ltS place lmmeOlaCely.
I must not have Hop Villa without one
vine."
81 have been wondering" said I. "what
induced you to give this charming place the
name it bears-if indeed, you acted as its
sponsor"
"Ah! thereby hangs a-or rather the
tale; but wait till after dinner"
l must say fe.t very forlorn, in compar-
ison with my friend, when l saw the joyous
greetings he received from handsome ma
tron and half dozen boys and girls, vary
ing in age from six to eighteen. In spite of
his mock-Iugubrious expression of face when
be informed me that these formed only a
portion of his responsibilities" for one olive.
branch was at college, and the youngest
tendrils of his household vine would come in
with the dessert, one might see that his
home deserved the name. 1t was pleasant
to receive sort of reflected edition of all
their cordiaity, and 1 felt my heart warm
in return, although L knew their welcome
was for Luke's sake, 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 universal
interest.
"Patience, James," said Swinton and
"Dinner," said servant at the same mo-
rnent: so was fain to marshal my hostess
to the dining room, and endure uncOmplain-
ingly several jocose remarks on the subject
of chops" which were evidently generally
understood, though 1 could not comprehend
their meaning.
Much as admired my hosts charming
family, felt glad when be and had the
dining room to ourselves, with the prospect
of an unrestrained chat.
"My wife was very in-love-with- able
person, seven and twenty years ago." said
Luke, after the door had closed upon that
lady.
"You need not tell me what she was, old
fellow" I replied "she is charming still,
and would soon let her know my opinion
if she were widow"
"Thank you. I have no wish to test
your sincerity in the mode you so feelingly
hint at. But, take my word for it, in those
by-gone days Nelly would have been bad to
match. l was intended for the church, as
you are aware, and went to college with
that profession in view; but, during my
first vacation, 1 met Nelly at Christmas
party, and she changed everything"
"Did Nelly object to parsons, them"
"No; but her father did. The old man
was very rich, and had amassed his wealth
by trade so he was determined to have a
merchant, and no other, for a son-in-law.
Nelly was dutiful-though she owned her
regard for me-and would enter no engage
ment unsanctioned by her father. So the
end of it was, that l never went back to
Cambridge, but entered the old merchants
Office as clerk"
"Very chivalrous, am sure but I
presume you would have resigned crowns as
well as a mitre-in prospective-to win
Nelly?"
"Say as you will, it requires some self
denial to give up such fair prospects as I
had, and take to plodding and quill-driving,
with no very definite notions of any reward.
Old Stanley-Nelly's father-would only
say that, if through my own unaided efforts
1 should win good position in the mercan-
tile world, he would not refuse me when I
asked for his daughter. In the meanwhile
l was allowed free communication with my
beloved, and we were both young enough to
wait few years; for l was only twenty
when we first met, and she was twelve
months younger.
"For three years 1 toiled like galley
slave in my new vocation. Old Stanley
smiled approvingly, and advanced me fairly
enough but still there was an awful bill to
climb before should dare to say word
about claiming Nelly, or, indeed, before
circumstances would permit me to marry
without pecuniary aid from her father.
My whole capital amounted to $4,000; it
was legacy from maiden aunt of mine !;
and many times during these three proba.
tionary years had been tempted to specu.
late with it, in the hope of taking fortune
by storm, as it were, instead of winning it
bit by Bit"
cannot fancy you speculator, Luke, "
said l, '' though | always considered you a
particularly wide awake individual. Do
you remember your school nickname. All
Eyes"
"To be sure 1 do, and l deserved it..
Still, as you have said, am not naturally
speculative. make the most of things in
a regular way of business, but run no need
lass risks. Above all, 1 hold that man
who endangers pound more than he actu-
ally possesses, commits breach of the
command, Thou shalt not steal.' Yet 1
have speculated desperately, and it is of my
one gambling transaction l am going to
speak. had made such satisfactory pro-
gress under old Stanley's tuition that at
length he proposed l should invest my little
capital. and become his partner to the sum
I have named above. Well do remember
leaving home on the morning of the day on
| which he made this proposition. As I