Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-05-04
Only Farmers Wife; or, Gossip
On u Rail Car.

only q Farmers Wife; or, Gossip
On a Rail Car.
BY NELLIE G. FENN.
"And what has become Of Susie
Dean Z" asked q lady of the friend she
mad met after years of separation, and
with the recognition Of whom a thousand
of school days and merry
mates were associated. 1t was pleasant
to see their glad surprise, and cordial
greeting, and I could not help feeling
an interest in their conversation, as
having taken seats together, they chat
ted Of the past and present-mingling
the cares Of middle life with the pleas
ures of youth, and recalling half-fer-
gotten scenes which seemed to have
gathered new interest and freshness
from their Idle rest in Memory's store
house.
Susie? o, I don't know where she
is now. She disappointed the expect
ations of all her friends. You know We
all thought she would marry Walter
lngersol, who idolized her and he was
such catch everybody said-hand-
some, rich and educated but Susie was
. perfect little Puritan in her notions
Of morality, you know; and, thong h l
really believed she really loved him,
she refused to receive his addresses on
account of his Incorporate habits
Some people thought she might have
risked reforming him after marriage
but she would not believe that she pos
sessed influence enough over him to
work q reformation, unless he would
abstain from his cups year (; at the
end of which time she assured him she
would joyfully become his wife. But
Walter declared he would not be put
en- probation, and so they parted he
to t. avel in Europe, she to visit an aunt
in the country. where she met hand
some young farmer who proved a more
successful sultor and in | IS than two
years from the day she graduatedwith
such honors from one of the FIRST fe-
male seminaries, she retired from the
world which had made such pet Of her,
and immured herself in the domestic
quietude of country home. Her hus-
band was poor to begin with and two
or three years Of unsuccessful labor SO
reduced and discouraged him, that he
was obliged to sell his small farm and
remove to the West. I saw Susie just
before they set out on their journey
she looked pale and thin and though
she kept up an appearance Of cheer
fulness, fancied she thought of Walt
er, and the position he would have
placed her in. She seemed very font
Of her sturdy John Smith, though, ant
he was very devoted husband, l mus
confess. I suppose they are experience
ing the romance Of love in a cottage
somewhere in the wilds, for l have los
sight of them for years."
"What a pity to bury such talents j
the earth. Susie ha brilliant mind
how proud her teachers always were o
her originality and success"
''Yes. Every one said she was throw
ing herself away. and wondered ho'
she could give up all her glowing asp!r
atioDs, and with her genteel accom-
plishments, and really excellent educa
ton, content herself by settling dow
ct last-only farmers wife. -
"How disappointed her parents mus
have been. You know they denied
themselves a great many comforts, anc
labored strenuously to educate thei1
darling they must have fell that they
had wasted tleir strength and ambition
for naught."
eyes, they must, I know though
they loved he- too we'll to oppose he
in anything still, I think, they aspiret
to higher position for her than tn
one she chose. I fancy she does no
get much time to play the piano !; ant
I don't know Of what use her knowl
edge Of the sciences and languages Cal
be to her now; doubtless she coul
manage her housekeeping account
quite as we'll had she never been sue
a proficient in mathematics. Ha Z! ha
Just think Of Susie as we knew her
so sparkling and talented, so graceful
and lady-like -plodding through thu
dull routine Of domestic duties, both.
ering her pretty little head about but
ter and eggs, and patching farmers
clothes with her dainty little fingers
coming down from her fanciful flights
of poetry and romance to plain Mrs.
John Smith in a log farmhouse out
West. Oh, dear, what changir g
world"
My ears had been open all this while,
for my attention was arrested by the
first mention Of the name Of Susie
Dean and my fellow travellers had not
conversed long before l was convinced
that the lady in question was my own
dear friend with whom l had formed
an acquaintance several years before,
and whose history l had learned from
her own lips during one of my visits to
her lovely rural home. I knew that
Judge Smith had arisen to his present
prosperity from small beginnings ; and
I could not bear to let these old school
mates of Susie's remain in ignorance
of her good fortune; and at the first
change Of cars, contrived to secure a
seat next to theirs.
Providence certainly favored me; for
I was just considering the embarass-
ment Of my situation, when noble,
dignifed appearing man, accompanied
by sprightiy little Miss, entered our
car, and with joyfu' surprise I greeted