New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-01-09
HOP VILLA.

1 have not seen Luke Swinton for thirty years
| and 50 long age We We're classmates and sworn
/ chnsiss Iii the Interim had been knocked about,
the vary shuttlecock of fortune, until at last the
caprici0us dame gave me the means OF coming
home THAT is, to Englandwith the prospect OF
ending my days there. said had not seen Luke
| Swinton for thirty years. and yet when he and l
accidentally jostaed each other " on Change .
soon after my arrival there was enough of the old
face left for me to recognize ii.
You arc Lake Swinton." said, and held out
! my hand.
s4 And yoa are - He looked inquiringly, and
his palm, slowly extended, touched mine with q
doubtful clasp TIL filled up the sentence:
james Ashburton.' y
No want of cordialty when those words fell upon
his ear.
!" To think did not know you.n said he. +" But
thirty years make many changes, and yours has
been rowing life, by all accounts. You shall tell
me everything by-and-by
I shook my head Mine would be too long
story In detail; but ycu may fill it up from the out
line. went away poor: have not returned rich,
though with enough to supply bachelors wants y
| "a am sorry yon are bachelor, my dear fell
low said my old mate, eyeing me compassion
ately. g But there is bright side to everything
and you can 80 home with me TO dinner without
its being necessary to ask permission; moreover,
yon can give orders for your baggage to be for.
wardedxta Hop Villa-lny little place out Of town
without fear that your other half will lodge de-
tainer. Depend on 1t, shall not soon part with
you.''
sAnd can you really give such an invitation
without the cognizance OF the lady that owns You?
O, happy Benedict p continued /, laughing tell
me where may find such partner, and will
I forthwith join your fraternity. y
Don't talk rashly, james bnt rather make all
the preparations you need for long visit, and join
| me two hours henee.n
| BE named the place Of meeting. Both were
| punctual, and we duly arrived at Hop Villa.
1 did not expect to see such lovely domain as
1 that which called my old friend master; and its
extent as far exceeded my anticipatons as did its
beauty. So this is your home ~ asked, my face
\ expressing both surprise and pleasure.
Yes, all s really mine these boundaries enclose
/ see you wonder how it came to be SO /; but / do
not like 70 begin long story before dinner, 30 be
! patient little while longer.i'
| W6 were near the house when We came upon the
/ gardener. who was examining the withered re-
mains Of an old hop vine.
..Is i quite dead, scottsn asked my friend.
1 Quite, sir. Shall remove it ~
| = suppose you must; but feel sorry to give
\ the order. Remember, you procure and plant
another in its place Immediately. / must not have
\ Hop Villa without one vine
:. have been wondering" I" said l. 3 what In
duned yon to give this charming place the name It
! bears Y, indeed, you acted as its sponsor.n
| wait till after dinner. Y
Imust say felt very forlorn, In comparison with
| my friend, when Isaw the joyous greetings he re-
ceived from q handsome matron, and half-a-dozen
boys and grls, varying in age from six to eighteen
In spite of his mocklugnhrous expression Of face
ton Of for olive branch was
at college, and the youngest enrils OF his house
hold vine would come In with the desert one might
see that his home deserved the name. It was plea
sant 70 receive sort of reflected edition Of all
their cordially and felt my heart warm in return
though knew their welcome was for Luke,s safe,
not from personal friendship towards me.
4 Scott i just gr1bbing up the old hop-yine,
Nelly Y said my friend to his wife.
Tlis remark called forth quite d chorus Of regret
ful expressions, and made me ask for information
as 10 the cause Of such universal interest.
E Patience, James, y said Swinton and s.Din-
ner, & said servant at the same moment 80 was
fain to marshal my hostess to the dinng-roon, and
endure uncemplainingly several jocose remarks on
the snbject Of { hops which were evidently gem
erally understood, though could not comprehend
Much as admired my hosts charming family, /
felt glad when hes and I had the dning-room to
ourselves, with the prospect of an unrestrained
chat.
my wife was very fall-in-1oye-witt.abl par.
son seven and twenty years ago. said Luke, after
the door had been closed upon that lady,
You need not tell me what she was, old fel-
ioW,n ! replied: n Bhe is charming still; and
wfdew.n
Thank yon. I have no wish to test your sin
cer1ty IN the mode you 80 feeHngly hint at. But
take my word for i, in those by days, Nelly
for the church, you are aware, and went to col
lege with that profession In view ; but turina nv
very 1rst vacation met Nelly at Christmas party,
and she changed everything
y lliQ Nelly object to parsons, then ?i'
Nc; but her father did The old man " a. very
rich, and had amasse6 his wealth by trade SO he
vas determined to have merchant, and no other |
- lor son,lnaw Nelly was dutiful, and though
,he owned her regard for me- would enter into no |
unsanctioned by her father. So the |
end Of it was, that never went back IL can4.l
bridge, but entered the old merchants office asla |
HYerv chiva1roua r au, sura ! -. y
would have resigned crowns as wel AZ mitn
prospec ctive-to win Nelly. ;, ~, lnissf y
Cddlhs sna qHill driving nth nelysrs NsMs
1tions Of any reward. Did staneg : osp v,shs
idea efforts should win good position in Tne
lercantiie world he would not refuse me when I'll /.
sked for his daughter. In the meanwhile, / waa
IlloWed free communication with my beloved, and
We were both young enough to wait few years
or was only twenty when we first met, and she
vas Twelve months Younger
For three years toiied like q galley slave in
ny new vocation. Old Stanley smiled approyingly,
md advanced me fairly enough but still there was
IN awful hill to climb before should dare to say
yord about claiming Nelly, or, indeed before cir.
'u1nstances would permit me to marry without
,ecuniary aid from her father. My whole capital
mounted to $4,000; it was q legacy from maiden
unit Of mine; and many times during these three
years had / been tempted to spesu-
ate with it, in the hope OF taking fortune by storm,
$ it were, instead of winning it bit by bit.h
~ cannot fancy you speculator, Luke said I,
though always considered you particularly
ride awake individual. sn remember your
chool nick-name, All Eye
ITO be aure / do, and 4 deserved It. Still, as
ou say, am not naturally speculative make
he most Of things in regular way of business,
ut run no needless risks. Above all, / hold that
9 who endangers pound more than he actually
ossesses, commits breach Of the command,
Thou shalt not steal. Yet have speculated des- ,
erately; and it Is or my one gambling transaction
am going to speak. had made such satisfactory I
rogress under old Stanley tuition that at length
D proposed should invest my little capital and
ecome his partner to the amennt have named
bove. Well do remember leaving home on the | ;
forming Of the day on which he made this propo-
tion AsI passed through the gate which led
ito tho little shrubbery-y0u reeoIlect the place
ames, for you spent many jovial day at our
ouse when we we're lads / was attracted BY the
eautful appearance of hop-vine which twined
ghtly round o sapling hard by. I had watched
5 growth, and nov, as Its flowers trembIed in the
,ft wind, paused to admire it before passed on
" way. Before returned in the evening, / had .
iade arrangements for becoming partner in the
reat house Of Stanley 4 Co.. and my little capital
as. may say, in my hands ready to re-invest.
ANY person would suppose that, under such
"reminiscences should be too much absorbed In
leditating on my commercial prospects to notice
nall external objects. But such was not the case
a usual, was all eyes i and when reached |
hich, in the morning looked so beautiful was now
irunken, and appeared as though scorched and
ithered. Curious to know the cause, went i'm
lediately to the library, and took down work
hieh would, l thought, enlighten me. In it / .
.nnd 4 description Of what is termed the hop !
light !; and on comparing my own small expert |
nee with 1t, could scarcely doubt that my favor
Q plant had been thus suddenly struck with the :
sease Still, was not quite satisfied SO con. /
llted the gardener, who happened to be at work Q
a the lawn He shook his head when he saw the !,
me. II is the blight, sure enough, said he /
Very few hops will there be this year. comes
this way, and covers great extent of country 4
u once, Just as though flame had passed over q
ss5
Then, you Think said I, 81 the cron will be !,