Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-05-04
1flisceliaileous.
XETTIE GRAY.

Everybody said that Nettie Gray was
beauty; not one of your polished city bellies,
but a gay, romping, saucy piece of natures
own handiwork, yet gentle and afectionate
vitIal and possessing depth of feeling and
sentiment which few were able to fathom.
Now ''sweet Nettie Gray" as she was call
ed, had long been beloved By one Charlie
Grafton-the handsome young merchant, who
kept the only store the little village of N
could boast; where he had, for some four or
FIVE years, dealt out tea, sugar, coffee, tobac-
co, calicos, silks, pins, needles, hardware,
and every variety of merchandise, to the vii
layers and surrounding farmers, till he had
realized quite little fortune; part ofwhich
be invested in the purchase of widow Nor
toms beautiful cottage and grounds, which at
the death of her husband, she had been obli-
ged to dispose of, and took cheaper place,
where she could live less expensively; which
from the surplus of the price received for the
cottage, she realized a snug little income.
Charlie had also taken the widows son into
the store, as his increasing business made it
necessary to procure assistance. The salary
paid to little Johny was a material help to bis
mother for which she was very grateful TO the
yOung merchant and she never failed to speak
aEord in his praise whenever an opportunity
Eresented.
This, with numberless acts of generosity
Fhch Charlie never tired of performing, made
hin the heroe of the little village, and caused
him to be beloved and respected, by both
young and old, for many miles around. To
say that Nettie Gray was Indifferent to his
many visits, or for the ardent love he enter
tained for her. would be doing injustice to
her warm, appreciative heart. But the spirit
Of mischief seemed to possess her; and, though
she was uniformly kind and gentle in her dis
position towards her lover, and would con-
verse freely and unreservedly with him upon
any topic, yet, when he approached the sub
lect that lay nearest his heart, she was of
Ake frightened bird Not that she was
eI eIald Of him, or that the subject was distaste
.u to her, (for her own heart was equally in
crested, but she delighted to tease him, and
asartly enjoyed his discontinue on such oc-
.s'lOns. She knew he loved her with all the
strength of his soul, and she had no fear Of
-Nehatng his affections from herself-an
went which would have given her the deep
est pain.
Onarlie had began to think seriously oi
t1fnage, and why not? There stood the col
ge, endowed in trees, many of which were
U'luihg under their heavy load of rare fruit
ssruNe1Ped. Itneeded only the gentle pres
N.Y.. ra~ of his bright eyed Nettie to make it 8
SlsaalSe: sae: His income was more than sufh
and and. 70 satisfy their most extravagant wants
hal tTny should he not marry? Many times
Of fne mae. visited Nettie for the express purpose
haa making known his wishes, but had as otter
10 .a prevented from saying what he wished
At ~ Sy the little mischief.s running away
~ e a lrSt word he uttered upon the subject
NAM teink of supplying her place from the
lsv:5 iair damsals in it-who would gladly
ion accepted his hand. was out of the ques
u, .,l u was Nettie he loved, and Nettie on
'1o ne felt sure she returned his Affection