The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-04-05
Only n Farmers Wife or. Cos
sip ON "a Rail Car.
BY NELLIE C. FEM.

sand what has become of Susie Dean ?"
asked a lady of the friend she had met after
years of separation, and with the recognition
Of whom thousand "reminiscences of school
days and merry mates were associated. 1t
was pleasant to see their glad surprise, and
cordial greetings, and could not help feeling
an interest in their conversation, as, having
taken seats together, they chatted of the past
and present-mingling the cares of middle
life with the pleasures ofyouth, and recalling
half-forgotten scenes which seemed to have
gathered new interest and freshness from
their idle rest in Memorys store-house.
"Susie o, / don't know where she is now.
She disappointed the expectations Of all her
friends. You know we all thought she would
marry Walter Ingorsol, who idolized her !;
and he was such catch everybody said
handsome, rich and educated but Susie was
aperfect little Puritan in her notions of NOR
ality, you know ; and, though believe she
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 possessed
influence enough over him to work refor-
nation, 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 on probation, and so they parted; he to
travel in Europe, she to visit an aunt in the
country, where she met a handsome young
farmer who proved more successful suitor !,
and in less than two years from the day she
graduated with such honors from one of the
first female seminaries, she retired from the
world which had made such pet of her. and
immured herself in the domestic quietude of
a country home. Her husband was poor to
begin with; and two or three years of un-
successful labor so reduced and discouraged
him, that he was obliged to sell his small
farm and remove to the west. saw Susie
just before they set out on their journey she
looked pale and thin and though she kept
up an appearance Of cheerfulness, fancied
she thought of Walter, and the position he
would have placed her in. She seemed very
fond of her sturdy John Smith, though, and
he was very devoted husband l must con
fess. suppose they are experiencing the
romance Of love in cottage somewhere in
the wilds, for have lost sight Of them for
years"
"What pity to bury such talents in the
earth. Susie had brilliant mind how
proud her teachers always were Of her origi-
pality and success.n
"Yes. Every one said she was throwing
herself away, and wondered how she could
give up all her glowing aspirations, and with
ier genteel accomplishments, and really cx.
cerent education, content herselfby settling
down at last--only formers wife,"
"How disappointed her parents must have
been. You know they denied themselves q
great many comforts, and labored strenuous
ly to educate their darling they must have
felt that they had wasted their strength and
ambition for naught."
"Yes, they must, / know though they
loved her too well to oppose her in any ything
still, | think, they aspired to ahigher position
for her than the one she chose fancy sh,
does not get much time to play her piano
and don't know Of what use her knowledg,
ofthe sciences and languages can be to he
now: doubtless she could manage her hous,
keeping accounts quite as well had she neve
been such proficient in mathematics. Ha
ha Just think of Susie as We knew hers,
sparkling and talented, so graceful and lady
lke--plodding through the dull routine o
domestic duties, bothering her pretty littl
head about butter and eggs, and patching
farmers clothes with her dainty little fingers
coming down from her fanciful flights G
poetry and romance to plain Mrs. Joh
Smith in log farm house out West. Oh
dear, what changing world"