Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-09-02
G0lOrtester Daily Spp.
From Dreams and Reveries of Quiet Man.
The Real and the Romantic,

uoWu slalTS, UeCduse there 5 no wood cut tOI
the oven, and you have lett the bars of the
lane down, and the COW has gone into neighboI
Humphreys field. Get out, you idle, lazy,
good for nothing loon-oul Of my sight"
Mr.. Davis was six feet high. Obadiah was
not more than five feet three The last adiec
tIves, with their terminating noun, were rem.
dered much more emphatic by the hearty cuffs
with which each one was accompanied and
the last explanatory push, which came from a
hand brawny with fifty years labor, formed a
hint not to be mistaken, that the negligent
youths company was no longer wanted.
Obadiah was lubberly Choking fellow, a.
bout seventeen He bore the beating with a
good grace, the necessity of which frequent
experience had inculcated and, without say
ing word to his irIitated parent, he went
down the lane-a neglect of the bars of which
had formed one of the counts in the dpclara.
ton against .him-and sal down on stone. inf
little grove of trees by the side of brook
whose waters swept rapidly over their sandy
bed, and filled the air with freshness AID
music. He ruminated while with his under
lip out in poutlng way, which, with him, as
well as others, was sign Of some internal
agitation.
yes" he exclamed--for why should not
farmers boys address the groves and invoke
the rural spirits, as well as Tell Or Brutus
Yes, said Obadiah, drawing the sleeve of
his coat across his mouth, with more OF Il view
OF comfort than grace yes, I'll be darned if
stand that ere any more. | amt TO be beat
like dog all my life, and think may as
well give dad the slip now as any other time.
I'll tell him ont. If he's mind to give me
trifie, so much the better, if he han'i, he may
let it alone"
1t was about two days after the preceding
events, that Mir. Davis was surprised by the
rofafla 9TH H.
journey. lie stared at him moment, part.
ly silent from displeasure, and partly from
surprise.
"Well, father" said Obadiah, with some
hesitation, "Im come to bid you goodby."
10 bid me good-by, you fool Why, where
are you going :"
ii am going 10 seek my fortune in the world
father. know am no use to you | think
can do almost as well anywhere else. | can't
do much worse, at all events. So l am going
down TO town, or some where thereabouts. TO
get along by my self"
Mr.. Davis demonstrated with the young ad.
venturer, but found him firm in the purpose
which he had, it seemed, been a considerable
time in adopting; and, after much useless pur.
suasion, with voice softenod by the thought
OF their approaching separation, he asked him
what course he intended to pursue.
81 am going to study law"
And how are you TO be supported while
you are following your studies 2"
81 guess I'll teach school" answered O5a-
diah, with the gravity OF saint.
The old man, in spite OF his sorrow, could
not refrain from laughing at the thought of his
young, unsuccessful agriculturst retailing wis.
dom and knowledge to the rising generation,
or pursuing the subtle shadows OF Justice
through the may labyrnths of law. lie look
ed at HIM with increasing wonder. There he
was, with his brown coat and linsey .woolsey
trousers. his hair cnmhod a'-a;.,i-s-- -.-',
forehead, and standing IN the most awkward
of attitudes. But Obadiah, it appears had
made up his mind, and was not inclined to re-
turn to his old employment on any terms. He,
therefore, babe his father good bye, and also |
his sister Sally and the tcook. A short walk
over the farm afforded him an opportunity OF
performing the same tender duty toward the |
horses, the pigs, and the old COW. All things
being at length settled to his satisfaction, lie
started on his way. The poultry were gath
cred on the roost, and the old dog, Caesar
came after him, wagging his tail atfectionate-
ly, and entreatlng eloquenty, but in vain, to
accompany his master on his novel expedition
Many sensitive folks would have yielded a
few soft regrets to the quiet and really beaut-
full spot he was leaving, perhaps forever. But
Obadiah never dreamed OF regreiung what he
was doing OF his own accord He cast there
fore, only slight retrospective glance upon
the scene Of his boyish pains and pleasures
and surveyed it a moment with one eye shut,
and commenced his journey, whistling yam
kee Doodle"
The disadvantages under which he labored
were immense. Without education, and to-
tally destitute of experience in the fashionable
or literary world iriendess, and almost pen
niess he was to make his way among those
who had enjoyed proper instruction and high
friends from their birih-who had been usher
ed into public life with the honors OF college,
and who could scarcely regard the quiet,
plain, and retiring country boy except with
smiles and derision.
His advantages, however, were not disre-
garded by himself. He knew the strength of a
mind which had grown up in the solitude
and quiet OF natures abodes, unweakened by.
the designations of fashion, and untrammelled
by the felters Of bad system OF education
lie knew that he had great difficulties to strug
gle against, and that he must depend upon
himself solely to supply all the deficiencies
OF nature and art by his own unwearied APP
plication
In splendid drawingroom of well known
city, young gentleman was entertaining
some young ladies. They were all in rich and
highly fashionable apparel. The girls were
lovely and they, as well as the graceful youth
whose handsomely turned periods excited so
much pleasure, and whose Attic wit produced
such frequent bursts of merriment, seemed
wiling away the hours delightfully."-, in all the
charming and elegant familiarity of high llte.
ringing was heard at the door, and the
servant announced Mr.. Obadiah Davis, VINO
accordingly walked in with his hat on, and
with considerable embarrassment proceeded to
business. The politeness ever attendant upon
real gentity, prompted the company to re-
!. strain their disposition toward mirth, while
Mr.. Davis presented his letter of introduction
and the gentleman was perusing the same
But when, after having finished and folded up
the letter, Mr., Chatterton introduced Mr. Davis
70 the ladies as a gentleman from the country =,
whose intention itwa TO pursue the profession
Of the law, the lurking SMILES curled their
rosy lips i'll spite of themselves and Mr..
Chatterlon himself, while he performed the
necessary duties which the etiquette of the
day required, added to the good humor of his
fair and merry companions by wink, which
did not pass altogether unobserved.
Mr. ChatIerton complied with his request,
which, upon the recommendation OF a friend,
Mr. Davis had made, to he allowed to file his
certificate in the office where the young gen
tleman under the instruction of his father was
also studying law.
Milne passed on. Charles Chatterten, in
the full possession of am ample fortune, and
surrounded by the Establishments of life, found
thousand things TO charm him from his
office. lie was young, gay, and witty Ills
society was coured by all his acquaintance Of
his own SEX and among the fair and fascina
ting OF the other, heart like his was sure tC
find joys too delicious to be yielded for the
drudgery oil lawyers Office or the remote