, 1859-02-11
LIMA FERNIE.

az tell you, John, you're Just fooli" ex-
claimed Widow Harland, regarding her son with
pettiSh impatience and astonishmcnt
John looked very headstron, and wilfnl, and
desperately in earnest about the subject under
discussion. ut is always hard word with you,
mother" s"s:t said h. IT, dSPrecatnsy "What can you
"Have against heri She's the most conceited,
selfish, uppish, wasteihl wcnch in oil Brigham !"
was the Incorporating reply. Marry her |!
She'll break you're heart in q twelvemonth I
She'd break any honest mans heart, with her
idleness and love Of fnery." Hs..
"She has an uncommon pretty face, mother +;
and isn't it woman's ways to like to set II off q
bit ?" pleaded John. You never saw any harm
in her until took on with her."
ut is not for me to lightlie neighbor's daugh-
ter when she is nonght to me; but when you
talk Of bringing in lass like Lima Fernie, and
setting her up over your old mothers head, then
it's time to speak, think. ! hoped you would
have acted more sensible when it came to seeking
wife, John. A fine young man, like you, with
a wcll-plcnished house to bring her to, and work
the year in, an the year out Why, you might
have the pick of the parish!"
| "And that's what Lima is; she's the pick Of
the parish. Show me her match anywhercr'
| ~ say nothing about prettiness; for red and
white, and blue eyes, like wax dolls, Lima
would be hard to beat; but they won't bake
your bread, or guide your. house, John, mind
thati What can she do?-thcre's the question" :"
"Why, suppose, mother, that, like other girls,
she can learn She's only young" 'N
al don't like her bringing up. / don't like
the family, John. They have never borne very
good characters, either at home or abroad"
Sand is poor Lima to be blamed for thate" D.
Shave you spoken to her yet, John?''
"No. | thought must speak to you firstl"
"Well, then, I've said my say II Il had been
Mary Jehner, or Libbie Frost, would have been
glad to make way for either Of them; but IL goes
sorely against the grain with me to give place to
Lima Fernie." r t-..s. 'et-
"Mary Jcnners older than me, mother; and
Libbic Frost's downright ugly"
IL don't mind Of hearing. you say 50 till Lima
came home from her aunt's in London"
| l" Libbies well enough for some things but
could not fancy to marry her if there ives not
another woman in the world"
Mrs Harland sighed deeply, and piled her
knitting-pins fast; John continued to hover about
her, scarcely satisfied to act against her counsel
yet fully bent on getting Lima Fernic for his
wife. 1e1.fo
az wasn't a beauty, John, as well as you may
sce," said the mother, with wishful smile; "yet
your father fancied me- and don't think he ever
regretted his choice. Twas good useful article,
nc uscu 10 Say.
| "You'rc deal better like than Libbie Frost
now; and, mother there'd be you to put Lima in
the way Of things you know, he insinuated.
"She's not one that will take kindly to teach
ing; but wish you would not talk to me about
her any more. If your hearts set on her, know
you over well to expect to see you change IT,"
John acknowledged that his heart was set on
Lima, and that miserable man he would be that
day he thought she looked coldly on him; and
finding his mother really indisposcd to indulge
him with any further conversation on the subject,
he strolled down the neat little garden into the
village street. and turned naturally towards Lina's
cottage. oi r2@sr Woy aH .
Lima was standing on her doorstep, having
gossip with ncighbor; she haunted the doorstep
very much, and never scrupled to hold anybody
in talk, man, woman, or child, young or old, rich
or poor, friendor stranger, who pass by that way.
She had not an atom Of shyness Indeed, Johns
mother was much more correct in her estimate
Of the village belle than was John himself Lima
was very pretty, very; nobody could gainsay
that Her complexion was Of creamy fairness,
with brilliant but delicate bloom; her hair was
bright golden, her figure was short but plump.
Lima knew she was a beauty, and liked other pco-
pie 10 know Il, too. She had no objection TO the
assiduities Of the handsome young mason. In
deed the longer her train Of admirers, the better
Lima liked Il; so when she saw him coming to-
wards the cottage, she bridlsd her white neck,
and looked rs captiyatingly unconscious Of him
as ever she could-a needless vile, for poor John
was already prostrated by the power Of her
charms, and perfectly incapable of single rea-
sonable reflection with regard to her.
As he approached Maggie Sanders, tho other
gossip, drew off, and Lima invited John into the
house. He accepted the courtesy gratefully; for
there was only the deaf old grandmother sitting
/ IsxrN NbnA AL a. \
lconversation. John had not at any time skill
full tongue at commonplace chat and his present
absorbing feelings for Lima made him even less
fluent than usual--a matter Of which the girl was
clearly sensible; but, by-and.by, be got one Of
Lina's nice little hands In his hard brown ones,
and after remarking that Il was as white as a
lRdy's he said, with glowing blush on his honest
face: E5 Pc! 'i'
"Lina, want you to give II to me?"
/ "Cive you my hand, Johnl Why, what in
the world could you do with itI" asked she,
feigning not to understand him.
II moans Lima, will you bO my wifeH DoyOu
"why, John, never 50 much as thought
about you !" ai .a.',. ., r,.i ava.l n =.
"But viii you try to think about meS O
Lima, think Of you night and day, and get no
peace for thinking Of you'll"
Lima laughed merrily, and tried to pull away
her hand but John held It fast al the same, and
would not let it 60 until she answered him.
al don't want to be married, john" said she,
half pcttishly; tand besides, know your mo.
ther is-c cross, and docs not like me- She thinks
that fright Libbic Frost would suit you better"
"But don't think so, Lima; and So what
does it natter! You would soon get round my
mother, for she Is real good. She scarcely knows
lyou."
eyes. shc tIoes, and she alyvava lool,a m mo as
Il shO were jealous about yOu-and I'm sure she
NEEDN'T be-"