The Van Buren press., 1861-05-08
WEDNESDAY, MAY s, 1861.

posed to my idea OF manIlnesS. i had al
ways worshipped business tact and enter I
prise. Ithad taken me. when . penniless
boy, and brought me up through numberless
difficulties to position of influence. That
which was found in my nature when young
was thus nourished and rootsd through all
the after years Of struggle, ripening into
tr iumph.
The young man was of literary turn Of
mind--taught in an academy-was a writer
it was said, for one or two periodicals.
There was an air Of sentiment about him.
in his looks and manners. which came pre- |
cisely within the scope Of my contempt. l
had known it in otbers-this utter contempt
for the least possible manifestation Of senti-
ment for those unthrifty fellowstwlfos hsro
never an eye for business. but hang upon
the skirts of thought. clasp imagery and
ride upon rhythm. You may see it every
lay in commercial houses. It springs, /
think, from the absolute antagonism of
fact and fancy-from the figures which dot
the pages of the ledger, and those which H.
lumine the lines Of the poet. The muses.
fiowned on me-" said a German poet, =" for
keeping account books" Undoubtedly.
Nor is the knight of the balance-sheet less
intolerant towards those miserable fellows,
whose entire stock in trade can be stored in
very small cavity just behind the frontA
bone.
My good wife had time of it cooling me
down and preventing the adoption of the
most violent measures. Even when l had
formally surrendered to her superior discre-
ton. i chafed at times like bear in har-
ness. If wife had not been Rarey in tact
l should certainly have broken into plung-
ing even sooner than did
Minnie was taken one day into solemn
conference by he, mother, with only pussy
in the doorway as auditor. But the child
though she moved about from seat to seat
and blushed very much and tore pieces o.
paper into bits. declared she was hear
whole yet" as why shouldn't she be fo
Jenny Brum had not said word to he
which any man might not have said to an,
maiden"
SO wife aud got easy again.
But what should / see one evening Will
sauntering out under my own grove of for
est oaks near the house, hut two figures fit
ting slowly hither and thither among tn
distant trees. Like a knave as was, sa
on the ground and watched them-watche
them nervously, glaringly. till saw Jem
my Brum give Minnie a kiss on the lips
and look lovingly after her as she slippe
away.
Twas reclining upon the sward by he
path. Determined to meet and confror
her there, sat and watched her coming.
Certainly Minnie's face never wore tbs
--r~,-s.fa,,, L.faYn 1t was, nos yieaiul br
. was radiant, and her eyes, which we're ben
on the ground, and hence only visible as sh
came very near me. had light and dept
which l never saw before. She passed me
: SO utterly was the child absorbed in h,
own motions.
minnie - said in tone which star
n ted myself scarcely less than the child
c "Oh!'' and she sprang from the pa.
as though the sound had been rattle in til
e grass.
s Iraised myself slowly-I am very slow
70 when very angry-and standing stitly b.
. fore her, glowered down into her eyes
Minnie's beautiful eyes with sternnes
n that had never failed to terrlfy. But th
q child though she trembled like an aspen .
a first, brought her fathers spirit to the res
8 cue, and, in the strength of love and inno
9. ccnce, lohked into her fathers angry face .
IT length with perfect composure.
e must not repeat the words that follow
4. ed-they shall never be written
le Minnie had given him her heart, and ais
would give him her hand. How could 81
st help it even her fathers anger should nt
=. prevent her fulfilling her word, for was n,
ie Jenny Brum worthy, and was not h,
To fathers anger unreasonable and unjust A
Il this she said to me with the deep calmns,
of perfect heroine. while stood there a
IS most as much astonished as angry.
g "Wife. it's all up with Minnie" said
Mt striding into the sitting room. aud breakiu
into the sitting room. and breaking in upo
7e a most comfortable afternoon reverie, on
relieved by the solemn ticking of the clos
n and busy click of the knitting needles.
y Lord what's the matter |" and Il
OF ball of yarn rolled across the floor, while
aower-po on the window fell, splitting an
crashing on the bricks outside "there go
the flower pot--tell me quick-you look
as pale as . sheet
Minnie has promised to marry that soap
as grace in pite of US; she says she will
sd nse-in the face of my absolute commands.
Thereupon walked the floor, wife sta
!; ing at me the while.
~ "Tll never forgive her-never
". Husband, stop and think. He"
;! "I von't stop and think. Isay I'll ne,
ID er forgiv, her, and won't. Call her in.".
Id Wife left the room in search of Mimi
n She was gone long while; from whic
ne circumstance have always had the suspi
=, ion that she spent tho time in soothings ar
III comfortings. scarcely to be considered
ce abetting my case. At length they return.
n both fearful. We sat down together.
constrained group. Minnie. very tearf,,
IN but very sweet and beautiful. The inte
lie view was short, and these were the closir
words
Ar Father. have always been d6tif
child you will do me that Justice. But
IS love this man. You grant that his chsra
ter is unimpeachable. but you forbid OF
marriage because you have a prejudi,
against him. love and honor you, fathe
to You cannot doubt that: bnt, in this case,
~ must follow the dictates OF my own heart,
:" Do SO. if you will bnt remember, yo
I'd father will naver forgive YOU"
n Thus ended the interview--wife sobbir
= distressfully. Minnie weeping quietly, az
sitting glum and angry.
d, did not forbid them the house, as mo
It. angry fathers do but ! told Minnie agai
to that she had lost my love and care. The
er IT ,,,es ~ fool,sh - "a soa .yarnvr~ n.,,-