Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-04-29
che Ohio 5tatesrlram
Nv paughter Minnie.

A few years ago-well, 1t 10 not less tnan for'
ty-my little home.fock was led, In the matter
Of years, by daughter Minnie-a pretty name, l
always thought. Minnie was good chiid, and,
being the frst.born, was half-maternai In her
management Of the later'comere, even down to
little "Pgeon," the latest and tlniest OF them
all.
The picture Of Minnie is just as fresh in my
memory as though the forty years when nave
simmered and evaporated since had been weeks
instead. But Il is fathers eye that looks over
these Years at Minnie, and the beauty may be
half fancy-a sort of affectional illusion. Those
we love are transparent, you know-we who love
them look through into the heart, and then i'm
apineit ia surface.tint and surface.light Of which
We are thinking.
This much know: Minnie was the best, most
affectonate, and widest of daughters-one Of
thoae spirited but industrious little creatures
upon whose enterprise and tact the greatest and
strongest of us will inyoluntarily lean.
"Minnie, shall want FIVE or six breadths in
this skirt?' her mother would say.
Looking up, with Just little knitting Of the
forehead, after moments thought, Minnie
would answer.s
81 think Eve will do, mother" and FIVE il
was. u ia h.
l can hear, even now, the voice Of Minnie's
mother.--she has been gone twenty years, dear
heart !-calling from the head of the stairs /:
"Minnie Say--Minnie "
"What, mother2"
"What shall We have for dinner, to-day1'
"Youare 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 go il was through the liyelong day; for
in all the domestic polity, Minnie, though only
the Prime Minister possessed full regal power
At this time-this forty years ago-I was ol
course in the prime of life, and full of the cares
and responsibilities which cluster and cling tc
ones manhood. was largely engaged in &C
tive business, received some slight evidences oi
public confidence, saw large family coming ul
about me-from all of which my natural posi-
tiyeness and force Of character received more Of
less strengthening.
One night, when the last candle had been ex
tinguished, and all Was hushed, my wife said
with some anxiety of tone:
| "flusband, feel uneasy about our Minnie. ,
"Minnie Why, what's the matter-is sh'
sick 2"
"No, she isn't sick, but"
"But what, wife7"
"Why, Minnie isl mean, she seems to be-
we'll, I'm afraid she likes Jenny Brun."
"Jemmy Brun! She'd better not" And
leaped to the floor and walked to the window
Jenny Brun and our Minnie IA prett,
match .F .,4ain
"I was afraid you would be disturbed, dear
but don't take it too much to heart, husband
| dare say we can put stop to it." And moth
erly sobs came from the pillow.
"Put O stop to it! / guess l will. Jenny
to it!" ar.
And who was Jenny Brun7 A young man o.
some two years. residence In the neighborhood
of good habits, go far as l knew, but altogether
and diametrically opposed to my taste, TO m!
ideal of manliness. l had always worshippet
business tact and enterprise. Ithad taken me
when penniless boy, and brought me up thro
numberless difficulties to o position OF iDfu-
ence. That which was found in my natur
when young was thus nourished and rooted
through all the after years of struggle ripening
into triumph.
The young man was Of literary turn Of mind
had taught in an academy; was writer, it was
said, for one or TIVE periodicals. There was ar
air of sentiment about him. In his looks ant
| manners, which oamo precisely within the scope
of my contempt. had known 1t in others--ir
strong business men-this utter contempt fol
for those unthrifty fellows who have never OF
| 6y0 iUT uubiuCpoS Ous hoh6 uPoA WV pAAsp W
thought, clasp imagery, and ride upon rhythm
You may see II now every day in commercial
houses. 1t springs, think, from the absolut,
antagonism of fact and fancy-of the figures
which dot the pages of the ledger and thos'
which illume the lines of the poet. "The Mu
ses frowned on me-" said q German poet, $50
keeping account books" Undoubtedly. No
is the knight OF the balanee.sheet less intoleran
towards those miserable fellows whose entir,
stock in trade can be stored within very littl,
cavity just behind the frontal bone.
MY good wife had q time Of 1t cooling m,
down, and preventing the adoption of most VIC
lent measures. Even when had formally sur
rendered to her superior discretion, chafed O
times like bear In harness. If wife had no
been almost Rarey In tact, should certainl
have broken into plungings even sooner than
did. 3
Minnie was taken one day into solemn confel
enoe by her mother, with only pussy in th
doorway as auditor. But the child, though sh
blushed very much, moved about from seat
seat, and tore pieces Of paper into bits, declare
she was heart whole yet--"as why shouldn't sh
: be7-for Jenny Brun had never said word +
her which any man might not have said to IN
maiden"
So wife and got easy again.
But what should see one evening at twilight
while sauntering out under the shadows OF m
own grove of forest oaks not far from the house
) but two figures fitting slowly hither and thith
er among the distart trees. Like q knavc as
was, sat on the ground and watched them
watched them neyously, glaringly, till 50,
Jenny Brun give Minnie kiss on her lips, an
look lovingly after her as she slipped away.
Iwas reclining upon the sward by her path
Determined to meet and confront her there,
sat and watched her coming.
Certainly Minnie's face never wore that OK
preston before. Il was not gleeful, but il wa
radiant, and her eyes, which were bent on th
. pround and anee onlv viahIa aa aha cama var