East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-06-14
HAY.CARRYING.
A TALE OF EsoLIsn COTTAGE LIFE.
ny MISS MILFORD.

OF Hilton Cross-a pretty but secluueu
village in the north of Hampshire-stood
the shop Of Judith Kent, widow, Licens.
ed, as the legend imported, "to sell tea
coffee, tobacco and snuff" These form
ed, however, but small part of the null
tifsrious merchandise of Mrs. Kent, whose
shop, the only repository of the hamlet
might have seemed an epitome Of the
wants and luxuries Of humble life.
She sold bread, butchers meat and gar
den stuff, on commission and engrossed,
at word, the whole trade Of the place,
Notwithstanding this monopoly, the
world went ill with poor Judith She
was mild, ,spleasant-looking, middle-agcd
woman, with heart too soft for her call
ing. She could not say no! to the poor
creatures who came to hear her on Sat
urday night to seek bread for their chill
dren, however deep they might already
be in her debt, or however certain 1t was
that their husbands were at that moment
spending at the Checquers or the -Four
Horse Shoes, the money that should have
supported their wives and families; for
in this village there were two fiourishing
ale-houses, although but one ill-accustom-
ed shop.
Her family consisted Of two children
Mary, pretty, fair-haired, smiling lass,
of twelve or thirteen, and Robert, fine
youth, nearly ten years older, who work
ed in the gardens of neighboring gen.
tleman. Robert, conscious that his moth
er's was no gainful trade, often pressed
her to give up business, sell off her stock,
relinquish her house, and depend on his
labor for her support; but Of this she
would not hear. Many motives mingled
in her determination a generous reluc-
tance to burthen her dutiful son with her
maintenance--and, above all, want OF
courage to look her difficulties fairly in
the face.
Iu addition to his forebedings respect.
ing his mother, Robert had another mis-
fortune-the poor youth was in love.
About quarter of a mile down the
shady lane which ran by one side of Mrs.
Kent's dwelling, was the pretty farm
house, orchard and homestead of farmer
Bell, whose eldest daughter, Susan, was
the object of a passion, almost amounting
to idolatry. And, in good sooth, she was
well fitted to inspire such passion.
Besides light graceful figure, mould
ed with the exactest symmetry, she had
smiling, innocent countenmce, n com.
plexion coored like the brilliant blooms
of the balsam, and hair of shining gold
on brown. Her speech was at once mod
est and playful, her temper sweet and her
heart tender. M
She loved Robert dearly, although he
often gave her cause to wish that she
loved him not-for Robert was subject
to the intermittng fever called jealousy,
causelessly, as he himself would declare
when remission Of the disease gave time
for his natural sense to act, causelessly
and pcntently, but still pcrtinaciously
jealous 81
have said that he was fine young
man, tall, dark and slender; / should add
that he was kind brother, pattern of
sobriety and industry, and possessed of
talent and requirement far beyond his
station. But there was about him an ar
dor, vigor, fiery -restlessness, COM
monty held proper to the natives of the
south of Europe, but which may some
times be found among our own pcasantry.
All his pursuits whether of sport or labor
took the form of passion, and he surpass-
ed all his companions at play or lesson.
Indeed, so strong at one time, was the
poetical fnror, that such catrastophe as
an entire play might probably have en-
sued, notwithstanding Mr.. Lescombc's
warnings, had not love, the master-pas-
sion, fallen about this time in poor Rob-
ert's way, and cngrossed all the ardor OF
his fiery temperament.
The beauty and playfulness of his mis-
tress, whilst they enchanted his fancy,
kept the jealous irritability of his nature
in perpetual alarm. He suspected lover
in every man who approached her; and
the firm refusal Of her father to sanction
their union till ,her impatient wooer was
little more forward in the world, COM
pleted his disquict.
Affairs were in this posture when a
ncW pctoohdgc ottiNSu AZ ilhtou OioSS.
In addition to her other ways aud
means, Mrs. Kent tried to lessen her rent
by letting lodgings; and the neat, quiet,
elderly gentle woman, the widow of a
long deceased rector, who had occupied
her rooms ever since Robert was born,
being at last gathered to her fathers, an
advertisement Of "pleasant lodgings to
let, in the airy village Of Hilton Cross, y
appeared in the county newspaper. This
announcement was as true ms ifit had
not formed an advertisement in coun-
try paper. Very airy was the pretty vii
lage Of Hilton Cross--with its breezy
uplands and its open common, dotted as
it were, with cottages and clumps OF
trees; and very pleasant were Mrs. Kent's
apartments for those who had sufficient
time to appreciate the simplicity, and
sufficient humility to overlook their small
ness. The little chamber glttering with
whiteness; its snowy, dimity bed, and
fresh sheets smelling of lavender" the
sitting room, thought larger carpeted
with India mating, its shining case
chairs, ana its bright easement wreathed
on one side with jessamine, on the other
by the tall cluster musk rose, sending
its bunches Of odorous blossoms into the
very window !; the little flower court un-
Idcrneath. full of holvoaks. cloves and