Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-04-05
Miscellaneous.
NV D,TcUTER MINNIE.

prey rood child, and being the frst-born
wss half maternal in her management Of tn
latter comers, even down to little pigeon. =
the latest and tinniest Of them all.
The picture Of Minnie is Just as fresh il
my memory as though the forty years which
have simmered and evaporated since. hat
been weeks instead. But it is q fathers ey
that looks over these years at Minnie, ant
the beauty may be half fancy-a sort OF af
fectional Illusion. Those we love are trans
parent. you know-we who imagine it il
surlace-tIut and surface light of which WI
are thinking.
This much know, Minnie was the best
most affectionate, and widest Of daughters
one Of those spirited but industrious little
creatures upon whose enterprise and tact thc
greatest and strongest Of us viii involuntari
" lean.
"Minnie. shall wInt five or six breadtht
in this skirt ~ her mother would say.
Looking up, with just a little knitting Of
the forehead, after a moments thought Min
ME would answer -
al think five will do, mother :" and five
il was.
can hear, even now, the voice of Min
MES mother-she has been gone twenty
years, dear heart calling from the head oi
the stairs -
minnie Say-Minnie -
"What. m other ?''
What shall we have for dinner to-day -
You are tired, mother; let's have little
ham and some eggs, with some peas from the
garden, and bread" That settled the bill OF
fare.
And so it was through the !ivelong day :
for in all the domestic policy Minnie,
though only prime minister, possessed rrSal
power.
At this time this forty years ago-I was,
Of course, IN the prime of life, and full of
the cares and responsibilities which cluster
and cling 10 ones manhood.
was largely engaged in active business,
received some slight evidences of public conf
dence, saw large family coming up about
me-from all Of which my natural positive
ness and force of character received more or
less strengthening.
One night. when the last candle had been
e1tinguisaed and all was hushed. nv wife
said, with some anxiety of tone.
" Husband, | feel uneasy about cur Mn
ME"
"Minnie2 Why, what is the NATTER is
she sick?
"No, she isn't sick, but
"But what, wife ?"
Why, Minnie isl mean, she seems to
be-Well, I'm afraid she likes Jenny
Brun."
Jenny Brun She'd better not" And l
leaped TO the floor and walked to the window
Jenny Brun and our Minnie "a pretty
match -
81 was afraid you would be disturbed,
dear: but don't take it so much 10 heart,
husband. dare say we can put a stop to
it." And mOtherly sobs came from the pill
low,
"Put stop to it l guoss [ will. Jenny
Brun and our Minnie II guess | ,ciH put
stop to it."
And who was Jenny Brun7 A young
man of some two years residence IN the
neigbborhood, of good habits so far as /
knew, but altogether and diametrically op-
posed to my taste, TO my ideal of manliness.
had always worshipped business tact and
enterprise.
1t had taken me, when a penniless boy,
and brought me up through numberless diff
fculties to position of influence. That
which was found in my nature when young,
was thus nourished and rooted through all
the after years of struggle ripening into tri-
umph.
The young man Was of literary turn OF
mind and taught in an academy; was a
writer, it was said, for one or two periodicals.
There was an air OF sentiment about him, in
bis looks and manners which came precisely
within the scope of my contempt. l had
known it in others-in strong business men
this utter contempt for the least possible
manifestations of sentiment; for those un-
thrifty fellows who have never an eye for
business, but hang upon the skirts of thought,
opA vida rUrhm lOn
may see it now every day in commercial an
tagonism of fact and fancy-of the figures
which dot the pages of the ledger and those
which ilumine the lines of the poet. The
muses. frowned on me, 4" said 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
within very little cavity just behind the
frontal bone.
Nv good wife had a time Of it co)ling me
down, and preventing the adoption OF most
violent measures Even when had formally
surrendered TO her superior discretion, chat
ed bv times like a bear in harness. IL vile
had not been almost Rarey in tact. should
certainly have broken into plungIng even
sooner than did.
Minnie was taken one day into solemn
conference by her mother, with only pussy IN
the doorway as auditor. But the child though
she blushed very much, moved about from
seat to seat, and tore pieces OF paper INTO DIS,
declared she was heart-whole yet--as why
sbouIdn't she be ?-for Jenny Brun had
never said a word TO her which any man
might not have said TO any maiden So wife
and got easy again.
But what should / see one evening at twl-
light. while saunterIng out under the shad-
o4s of NV own grove Of forest oaks, not far
from the house, but two figures fitting hither
and thither among the distant trees. Like
knave, as was, | sat on the ground and
watched tbem-watched them nervously,
glaringly, TIL saw Jenny Brun give Minnie
kiss on her lips, and look lovingly alter
her as she slipped away.
Twas reclining on the sward by her path.
Determined to meet and confront them, sat
and watched her coming.
Certainly Minnie's face never wore that
.1presson before. 1t was not gleeful, but 1t
was radiant, and her eyes. which were bent
on tie ground. and hence only visible as she
came very near me, bad light and depth
that never saw before. She passed me SO
utterly was the child absorbed IN her emo
tons,
Minnie y / SAID, IN d tone "hIch e'"A
tied myself scarcely less than my child.
OH" and she sprang from the path as
though the sound had been rattle among
the grass.
l raised myself SLOWLY am very slow
when very angry, and standing stiiiy E,: before
BEAUTIFUL, living eyes-wIth a sternness that
had never failed to terrily. But the child,
though she trembled like an aspen at first
brcug ght her iather's spirit to the rescue
and, in the strength of love ana innocence
looked into her fathers face with great com
posure.
Unjust not repeat the words that followed
they never shall be written, aud would tf
Gol they had never been spoken
Minnie had given him her heart. auC
,oould give her hand. How could she hell
u7 Even her fathers anger should no
prevent her from fulfilling her word fo
was not Jenny Brun worthy, and was no
her Gathers anger unreasonable and UNJUST
this he 10. NTH tha dpnr calm