The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-04-24

known it in others-in strong business mel
this utter contempt for the least possibl
manifestation Of sentiment--for those un
thrifty fellows who have never an eye 70
business, but hang upon the skirts Q
thought, clasp Imagery and ride upon ry
thin. You may see it now every day il
commercial houses. 1t springs, | think
from the absolute antagonism of fact an
fancy-from the figures which dot the page
of the ledger and those which il.ume tn
lines ofthe poet. "The Muses. frowned OF
me-" said German poet, ''for keeping &C
count books" Undoubtedly. Nor is tn
/ knight Of the balance sheet less intolerant to
wards those miserable fellows whose entir
stock-in-trade can be stored in very littl
cavity just behind the frontal bone.
My wife had time oft cooling me dow
and preventing the adoption of most vio!en
measures. Even when had formally sur
rendered 10 her superior discretion. ! chafe'
at times Ikea bear in harness. Ifwife hat
not been almost Rary in tact, ! should Ger
tainly have broken into plunging even soon
or than / did.
Minnie was taken one day into solemn
conference by her mother, with only puss.
in the doorway as auditor. But the child
| though she moved about from seat to seat
| and blushed very much. and tore peices o
paper into bits, declared she was heart who'll
yet--"as why shouldn't she be?--for Jem
my b. un had not said a word to her which
any man nigh not have said to any maid
en-"
| So wife and got easy again.
But what should see one evening, while
sauntering out under my own grove of for
est oaks near the house, but two fgares fiji
ting slowly hither and thither among tht
distant trees. Like knave as I was, sa
on the ground and watched thcm--watcheC
them nervously, glaringly till saw Jenny
Brun give Minnie kiss on the lips. ant
looking lovingly after her as she slipped
away.
was reclining upon the sward by hel
path. Determined to meet and confront hel
there, sat and watched her coming. Ger
tainly Minnle's face never were that expires
sion before. 1t was not gleeful, but it wa.
| radiant, and her eyes, which. were bent OF
the ground, and hence only visible as sht
came very near me, had a light and deptl
which never saw before. She passed me
so u,t rly was the child absorbed in her owr
emotions.
Minnie said, IN tone which startled
myself scarcely less than the child.
'Ubp and she sprang from the path al
| though the sound had been rattle in thu
grass.
raised myself SLOWLY am very slow
when very angry-and, standing stiff1y be
fore her, glowed down into her eyes--Min
ne's beautiful, living eyes with sternnes.
which had never failed to terrify. But tn,
child, though she trepbhd ike an aspin al
first, brought her fathers spirit 10 the res
cue, and, in the strength of love and limo
cence, looked into her fathers angry face al
length with perfect composure.
must not repeat the words that followed
they shall never be written-would to Goo
they had never been spoken!
Minnie had given him her heart, and
would give him her hand. How could sh,
help it? even her fathers anger should not
prevent her fulfilling her word-for was not
Jenny Brun worthy, and was not her faith
ers anger unreasonable and unjust? Al
this she said to me nth the deep calmness
Of perfect heroine, while stood there al
most as much a>tonished as angry.
wife, it's all up with Minnie said st,i
ding into the setting room, and breaking il
upon most comfortable afternoon reverie
only relieved by the solemn ticking of tht
clock and the busy click ofthe knitting nee
dies.
Lord what's the matter? and the bal
| of yarn rolled across the floor, while flower
pot on the window lspitting and crashing
on the bricks outside there goes the flow
cr pot tell me quick you look as pale as {
sheet
minnie has promised to marry tha
scapegrace in spite OF US: she says she wi!
to me-in the face of my absolute com
| mands.'
Ihercupon walked the floor, wife staring
| at me the while.
I'll never forgive her, neve.'."
Husband, stop and think He
81 won't stop and think. say I'll never
| forgive her, aud won't. Call her in"
Wife left the room in search of Minnie Sh,
was gone long while from which circum
stance have always had the suspicion tha
she spent the time in soothings and comfort
ings, scarcely to be considered as abettins
my view Of the case. At length they re
turned, both fearful. We sat down together
constrained group-Minnie very fearful
but very sweet and beautiful The inter
| view was short, and these were the closin,
| words
Father, ! have always been du,ifu