Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-03-27
HE IS NOT MY CHOICE.

Stuck away from the gaze OF the vulgar, and
almost hid from the gaze of every body who
chose to pass the road, was a neat cottage
painted white, trimmed with green, and green
window-shutters laying back against the pure,
spotlcss sides of the cottage. The top of the
building was ornamented in the Chinese style
Of architecture, with various hooks and crook 8
twisting about it in fantastic curves. This
cottage was hid away like rich treasure in a
forest of trees and shrubbery. In the summer
time-and Of course that is the season ofwhich
we write-tL ousands of roses were hanging in
carmine clusters in different parts of the for
est, while many OF them were climbing and
clamering up the sides of the cottage. Grape
vines were reaching out their curled hugers,
and with their ape-like arms were ascending
from bar to bar, and covering the summer
house with their broad, green leaves. The
timid little pinks, though by far the richest.
flowers, were standing like Sentries around the
flower beds, guarding their more sturdy neigh
Gors from trespass and ruin. Great trees stood
up bold and strong from the earth, to guard
this delicate scene from the fierce rays of the
sun.
This cottage was occupied, as all such pla-
ces of beauty should be, and one of its occu-
pants was Miss Codelia Vance. She had pa
rents, as almost every young and beautiful
girl have or has had, and they loved her as
all good parents should do, and she loved
them in return, as all good and obedient chill
dren will. The home was all peace, pleasure
and quietness, as all homes are when well con-
ducted.
Miss Codelia Vance was he angel of this
fairy abode and a beautiful angel she was,
tripping, dancing and singing all day long
about the cottage. She was about eighteen
years of age, sprghtly and spirited, but not
and irascible; kind and amiable, with a
good word for everybody, and smile to ligh-
ten the cares and woes of the afflicted. She
was girl that one might love, and everybody
did love her, and especially the beaux in the
village. How she smiled upon their petty
intrigues and plots against each other, and
how gently she chided them when their jeal-
ousies were excited, and made them ashamed
of their weaknesses. Miss Vance was the
leading beauty, and well she knew it but it
did not make her proud and ostentatious, over
bearing and domineering. She was girl of
sound sense, educated by sensible teachers,
and guarded over by kind, good mother, who
was very proud of her amiable daughter.
Squire Vance was well-to-do farmer, pos
sessng sufficient quantity of this worlds
goods to make him Independent. He vas a
good, honest man, straightforward in all deal
ings, and strictly upright and conscientious
in his conduct. Above all things in the world,
he loved his daughter, and valued her happi-
ness more than gold.
Taking this view of Squire Vance, it is nat
band, the squire would regard his child's hap
pness instead OF the quantity of gold her hus-
band should possess. But this is a queer
world, and there are many wonderfully queer
things doing in it, and we shall see how Squire
vance stood upon this subject when it came
TO the test.
There were two young men in the village
VINO were extremely anxious to possess the
hand of the beautiful Codela. Aaron Miller
pah
was smart, intelligent and industrious. He
Was the village schoolmaster, the village ped
agogue, and the village philosopher. He was
ihe learned man of the village, and of course
wore thread bare coat, as all modest, learned
men do. Aaron Miller was good looking,
amiable and kind
italian Douglass was rich young top,
dressed in the height Of fashion, wore nous
.ache, sported an exquisite cane, and encased
MS hngers in tight kid gloves. He was silly
pump possessing more money than brains, and
carried tongue in his mouth that shuffled out
"hi,uish words by the score. He was spoiled
ehiiu, ana 1t seemed when he grew up to be a
man. all The sweetmeats he ate when an infant,
AU soured On his stomach, and become lncor-
pofa,ea IN his disposition. He did not like
e tnrcad-b bare schoolmasCer because, he was
sSINal, and it was evident a favored one. He
expended upon his riches, and had no doubt
.ae Charm that had so often been successful
ruu'u; 10 his case, meet with unbounded ia
a.. ms was the position OF things when
o1aeiia was eighteen years old.
a. was Codelia's birthday, and she had Civ
th party to her friends and companions on
occasion Among the guests assembled,
,"as "ese the two rivals. Miller was dressed in
oo.ay 10y coat-and what smart man cares if his
1s S seedy and torn ?-and it was Out under
rnsI arms. His boots were not blacked-smart
,hsa uo not wear BACKED boots. and some of
NO, wear no boots at all-and his head was
bo. bo. combed-smart men don't comb their
na' ,hey like to have all in them they can.
sn.. slass was dressed superb-a sign of no
'e@anQ looked eyCnisite aa a dandy. He