Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-01-30
ACOUNTRY ROMANCE.

hOmANCE.
Uncle Joshua Gray owned fine farm in the
neighborhOod of the Hudson Highlands He
was rich enough to retire; but he couldn't bear
to give the farm up, declaring that seed-time
and harvest had become actual necessities of
life to him, and he must 60 on sowing and
Teaping until the sickle of the Great Reaper
should lay him out of sight of the harvest
moon forever. He worked with his men like
one Of themselves, and told them many stories
whom they took their incoming" There was
no music sweeter to him than farm music, as
he called it, and the Sharpening of the scythe
under the warm blue skies, the chirrup Of the
cricket in the grass, the twittering of the swal-
lows fitting round the barn which held their
nests, the tinkling Of the cav bells at milking
time, and the song Of the robin at sunrise, COM
prised an opera fer him ever varied and de-
1ightful, of which his ear never wearied.
Uncle Joshua liked his joke, and liked to
have his own way. His wife had been dead
many years, and he had never signed away his
liberty, as he termed it, by marrying the sec-
Ond time. His household comprised one wild
owed sister, older than himself, his own daugh-
ter Fanny, as sweet girl as ever was born to
farmer, and servant. Uncle Joshua almost
idOlzed Fanny. He sent her to school, and
had her instructed in the highest branches of
study, including whatever accomplishment she
chose to acquire.
Now, Fanny had a cousin, a tall, hands some,
merry-hearted chap, who had charge of the
nelSpoOrlng 1arm. many were the sleigh rides
they had together, in the long, cold winters
and many the chat at the bars, when Fanny,
just for the sake Of the walk, used to 90 down
to the three-cornered lot to bring home the
cows. One time, when Cousin Nathan had
taken Fanny to a dance, some ten miles from
home, and she had been so sought after all the
evening that she had only been his partner
once, he discovered that his heart had passed
out Of his possession altogether, and on going
home he charged Fanny with having the
knowledge Of its whereabouts. Anyhow. he
said she was the last one who had it. Fanny
looked half pleased aHd half provoked, but ad-
mltted that she had met with similar loss, and
as fair exchange was no robbery, she would
keep his, since she had found it. if he would be
satisfied with hers in return. So they thought
1t settled matter, and next day, after working
hours, Nathan 'spraced up" and strolled over
to Uncle Joshua's to ask consent. The old man
sat smoking his pipe In the porch. His even
ing opera had just begun; the sun was setting,
and there was soft, benign expression about
the old gentleman's mouth which Nathan
thought BODIED we'll for his mission. He was a
manly, straightforward young fellow, and after
shaking Uncle JOshus's hand, he sat down by
his side, and said gently;
:" Uncle Joshua"
"Well, Nathan"
Fanny''-s pause, which Uncle Joshua
filled with two long whiffs at his pipe.
Fanny and love each other, Uncle"
The deuce you do.'
% She referred me to you, sir-have you any
objections ?"
Amy objections to her referring you to me-
OF course l haven't-why should To
-" Any objections to our getting married,
Uncle JOshua?''
Getting msrried, eh Well, what would
you do with q wife,
Love and cherish her"
Does that mean support her ,"
why, of course, sir. "
- And what have you to support her with ln
Two stout arms and stou'er heart. sir "
Well, they won't do for my Fanny, Nathan
10 how. Fanny hasn't been educat ted and ac-
cOmplishsd and made lady of just to throw
herself away upon some young country chap,
who one Of these days will be such stOlid old
farmer as her father. Now, I've seen you
kinder hanging round here good DEAL but
never dreamed of Fanny you was after. 1 don't
believe in cousins marrying, anyhow, for the
Bible expressly forbids it.
1t forbids only the marrying of second
cousins, SIR
"Well, whoever wrote that law did not SUD-
pose frst cousins would ever be such fools as
to marry"
u believe 1 could make Fanny happy,
!, Uncle joshua"
u Maybe you could; but my grandchildren
would all be idiOts'
. .'0h, Unclei''
Well, Nathan, 'taint no use talkipp-Fan-
,spy don't know her own mind yet. This thing,
aShoweyer, is settled-you and she cannot marry
s~each other; and as long you imagine she
ought to be your wife, and she thinks you
ought to be her husband. the less you see of
each other the better. Just keep away from
here after this, and when Fanny gets over this
nonsense and is married to some one else Won
can De cousins; till then you must be to each
other nothing. So go home now, like a good
lad, and get rid of the matter Of moonshine'
at once. L dent want to fall out with you my
own sisters son, but if you persist in this-mat-
ter at all, then 1 declare war"
Uncle Joshua passed into the house. and
closed the door, shutting Nathan out, and led
, Fanny back into the house just as she was
coming through the hall to join them
4 Fanny" said Uncle Joshua. drawing let
ter from his pocket, '.you have heard me often
speak OF Simon Jacobs, havn't you? Well,
here is a letter from him, stating that his son
health is not very excellent, and he is anxious
70 end for him some quiet country home where
he can recruit his health. Now, Fanny, this
young man is well educated, is rich, is the son
Of an old friend Of mine, and moreover he is a
moral young man. 1 have written for him TO
come here at once. 1 saw him, you know
when was at New York this fall. Well, Fan
my, I've brought you up fit to be the wife of any
gentleman who was good enough for you and
that thing is Scarce-and if you can set your
cap for young Jacobs, and win him, you'll be
lucky. You're far enough ahead of any city
girl he knows"
o..
True, you have sent me to school, and been
very kind to me, but think how my tastes for
.Tclimbing cherry trees and hunting hens eggs
would shock city bred young man"
g Bat you viii dispense with all that while
he is here, hope"
'Oh, never could entertain him. father-I
should be frightened to death. 1t is an easy
matter to talk to Cousin Nathan, and these
country besux; but these city people, who
think one COW gives skim milk and another
cream, and that we keep one expressly TO give
buttermilk-such people are not congenisi. I
could not act myself before him. / wish you'd
send me away somewhere until his stay Is
ended" %
Send you away, indeed, when it is you he
is coming to see; that is, " he quickly corrected
himself ''he is coming for his health. But
then know his father would rather have him
marry some healthy, sensible country girl,
than any city lady in the land
- But Cousin Nathan, father" faltered
Fanny.
Cousin Nathan can 60 to grass" curtIy