Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-01-18
General iaiscrIlanp.
UNCLE DANIELS coURTsHIP.


comfortably seated before the last, two per-
sons might have been seen
One-evidently the lord OF the manor--was
a stoutish gentleman with arubicund face and
elderly proclivities His companion was Of
the feminine persuasion. Perhaps we ought.
in obedience TO me-honored custom, TO give
detailed description of her-the color Of
her hair and eyes her complexion and the ex-
act length of her nose--but we cannot our
genius is not of the order descriptive. There
fore we lump thus :-Sizeable-(i.e.) not tail
not too short--young, good-looking and
good-natured
Her pretty fingers nimbly piled the needles
she was engaged in the construction of
blue and white stocking. Her companion
solemnly smoked a very long pipe, the sap
sizzed in the red oak forestick. and the an
cient clock-standing in its corner and look
ing, in the uncertain light, like high should
cred mummy case-heavily beat the dead
march of time.
And so the needles hew-the old man
smoked-and so did the Ere occasionally,
when a puff Of wind rumbled in the wide
chimney-the sap hissed and sputtered as the
tormenting flames forced it out, and the clock
ticked remorselessly on.
Suddenly the lady's lips unclosed, and
such an unclosing-'twas
Like sunset riven
When the sunset Is most red
Peary teeth also shone between.
Uncle Daniel, said she-her voice was,
Of course. silyery liquid and very flute like.
Uncle Daniel, why have you never mar
ried ,
The old man slowly expelled an enormous
mouthful Of smoke, which lingering in con-
centric circles above his venerable head, gave
him much the appearance Of river god
crowned with fog.
Bekase spose it warn't so writ he at
length replied
Were you never in love!
In what 2
In love-I mean we're you ever troubled
With tender passion :;
What is the mater Of that ere complaint
why, Uncle Daniel, what a question-it
amt complaint at all. It's kind of all
overish sort Of feeling combination of the
pleasant and painful Sometimes you seem to
tread on sublmated air, and then on Scotch
thistles-at one time you pity kings. at an
other you envy beggars you -
Stop-stop cried Uncle Daniel. his face
. lighted with a luminous idea it's the fever
n'-ager. had it in so out in York State.
4 Them's very much the symptoms. Fust
was hot, then cold-leestwise---fust cold,
then hot. | felt Awiplly while the dts was
on, and ever so much better when they want
on. Yes, I've had it.
Ellen laid aside her stocking and laughed
till the tears rolled down her pretty cheeks.
What funny man you are, Uncle Daniel
How shall ! make you understand my mean
ing Love is the afection--the liking, you
know, which man feels for woman and
Uisd Uersd.'
don't know, slcwly responded Uncle
Daniel, knocking the ashes out of his pipe
and shutting his eyes to concentrate thought
- don't know about the Missy Uussy, but |
have experienced that ere likin'.'
%, my gracious, uncle then you have
been in love- how drol How many times :
Come, now, be honest. Uncle.
The old man reflected a moment, and then
asked Does fancies COUNT
What do you mean by ianeies, Uncle: ::
4 mean the natral attraction of petticoat
ginerally.'
No, no. Only real liking, you know
Only those cases when you felt it would be a
great satisfaction to be torn asunder by wild
horses, or cut into little fine bits for the sake
Of the loved one.
sul, that bs had sl1avs entertained strong
,reind;oes aga;nst wild horses. and that he
ppon,s;darod H. chorn;ng nrccess more odiee-
,;nnabIs Iii mi then. on At least two oc-
casions them likins he'd come it over him
rre,,y st,opg'
WslI now said Ellen. rolling up her
work and seating herself on low stool close
he ,bo ola mans knee tell me all about il.
won't Won uncle dear.
D.riel shooL his head and made feint of
roeIling bis nine but the blue ewes of his
neice were So beseechincly upturned. there
was no resisting. So, after clearing his
,hroat and modestlv nremisinp that ntwapt
/. No great he he,an-
. .Fortv-e;gbt wears ago I was twentv-two
vears old and was considered a likely voune-
I and 40 snnpose might hev he'd INV nick OF
, most of The Gals in the ueighborbood' Blu,
sorohov or mother I didn't keer much about
,em and hevond coin home with 'em from
sine;ng school and SIGH like. | hadn't much
consarn with anv of 'em. But about this
time our scboolmarm cot married. and the
COMMITTEES went over to Dracut and hired
noa SnoIdin's yopngest dartor to take her
! rlaca The erst time sot ewes on Permely