Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-08-03
Gbotte Yiterature
From the New York Mercury.
MARRYING A FARMER,
B Y E T T A

"Girls," said Mr.. Martin to his young
nieces, as he arose from his dinner-table, |
one warm, sultry day, 'if you want some
delicious raspberries, you will find any
quantity in the pasture back Of the corn
feld-the bushes are red with them"
Jennie, the eldest of the two girls, utter
cd cry of delight, and exclaimed, as she
followed her stawart uncle into the rose
wreathed porch:
"Oh, may We not go to the pasture now,
dear Uncle John p
But her aunt interrupted her by saying:
"Marsy sakes you'd roast alive Wait
until the middle of the afternoon, and then
Betty can 60 with you"
"Yes," drawled out her indolent sister
Maud, as she threw herself with a yawn,
upon the lounge beneath the window,
where the faint breeze, laden with the
breath of clover, came in and lifted the
curls from her glowing cheek-"yes, it is
terribly, abominably hot Jennie! / never
could endure tramping a dozen miles
through bogs and brakes such day-you
and Betty can 60"
'Oh, pshaw it is very comfortable and
you would think so too, if you were not so
lazy! You must 60 with us, Maud for
there are so many berries that Betty and |
could never pick them alone"
Nonsense! | hope you don't fatter
yourself that | am going to scratch my
hands in wilderness of briars for a few
berries. fl go, shall not think of pick
ing"
every well, then, you can sit down and
keep quiet, providing it does not soil your
hands. Come, come, Maud I will q
and get the sun bonnets and all ready"
After much urging, Maud was at length
induced to rise from the lounge, tie on he
pretty hat, arrange her curls, smile compla
Gently at herself in the glass, and saunte
along after the light, feet-footed Jenni
and the short, thick figure of Hibernia'
daughter. Jennie kept up an incessan
talking-plied Betty with thousand que.
tions-culled every dropping blossom whic
came in her path-and, unmindful of th
weather, bounded forward as nimbly as
wildwood fawn but Maud deigned not
word to either of her companions unit
coming abruptly upon tall stone fene
which stood formidably in their path, Jel
ME exclaimed-"I'm overt" and suitin
the action to the word, she gave a igl
spring and landed safely on the oppos
side. Betty followed but Maud, with
horror-stricken air, stood aghast, and
mingled rage and despair, CALCULATED:
''Good gracious do you expect me
climb that waf. should as soon thir
of ascending the highest peak of the Hin
malaga! am going back"
30 you little goose do come along
! replied the impatient Jennie. ave W
help you over. Why, it is just as easy
at is very easy to you, 1 presume, nc
J that you are on the other side; but l a
, not accustomed to scale walls mile high
"Well, well, Miss Maud" said Betty,
you can't jump it with our help, I'll call
, young gentleman that's making hay oy
by the berry-pasture. He's mighty han
some, with lots of shiny curls, and dref
nice and well-spoken."
D do hold your tongue, Betty Give
: your hand, and I'll dispense with the
f sistance of the gentleman"
i With much effort, Maud succeeded
T surmounting the barrier, and walked ON
! the side of Jennie up the hill, and int
/ rocky tract of land that joined the CO
) field designated by Mr.. Martin. Bef
reaching the cernfeld, however, where
d land sloped suddenly downward, there ,
d swampy piece of ground, with a no
e brook running through its centre, VIII
C the girls were obliged to traverse in atts
J" ing their destination. They had reacl
at its border, and were waiting for the IRE
4 lutte Maud to decide between proceed
p or returning home, when the Quick ca
Betty detected the trampling of feet at
C. great distance behind them. She loo
IL quickly round-and there, coming on v
e. the speed of the wind, was an old ran
d. full pursuit! Betty screamed, Ma
ed voice drowned it-and making a trao
to rush forward, she sank deeply in the
n mud and had it not been for the tin
fe- interference of Betty, would probably
of tainted there Jennie was far ahead. iar
ng ing merrily; but it was no laughing |
ter for poor Maud, and on she dashed
to his impertinent lordship in close proxil