The Shasta courier., 1863-09-12

Ger OF her native village, gifted with talents
of the highest order. Oh, no! Lucy was
none Of these. What was she? 4 fair and
happy maiden of low birth; if to be born of
poor and honest parents be low birth ; of no
accomplishment or education beyond reading
and-(let meremember, yes, she could write
She read well, for her voice was full of natu-
| raj melody; and practice, and genuine feel
ing, and above all, piety, had made hervery
perfect.
Lucy's features were not beautiful but
their modest, innocent expression, was bet
ter than mere beauty. Her hands were no,
the whitest in the world, though delicately,
nay, exluisitely shaped, their little palms
might have been softer; but, if it might have
been SAID Of her, as of the fair and happy
milkmaid, :. she makes her hand hard with
labor it might have been well added
:" and her heart soft with pity ~ for they who
knew her, say she was the kindsst creature
that ever lived and speak of gentle and
winning courteousness of manner, that gave
charm to every look, and every word she
uttered. But although she was one of ma
turc's own sweet gentlewomen, and unaffec-
tedly modest and pious. she was only poor
uneducated country girl. There was one,
however, who soon began to find new hope
new life, | might almost say, in the society
of Lucy; one who. in spite of all the pride
and aristocracy of his habits, and his preiu-
dices, began to feel it privilege to be ad.
dressed as familiar friend by the pure min.
ded maiden who felt, in his inmost heart.
the influence of her modest, cheerful pictv
and paid her, from his heart, the homage of
respect and love that was the sweeter from
being half made up of gratitude.
lie could not help smiling, when he made
his proposals in due form, to the relations of
his sweet Lucy; for they did not choose to
have their child thrown away upon one who,
for what they knew to the contrary. might be
little better than beggar. or a SORT of (they
did not quite say the word) yagabond !"
They doubted, and questioned, and wavered, ;.
and questioned him again, till the earl be-
gan to feel uncomfortable, and to stammer,
and blush; and thus, in fact, to make them
really suspicious for he had quite forgotten
to provide against this most probable issue of
his suit to them.
You see,' aaid an uncle, at last, who
was ht the head of the family, and the best
spokesman, syou may lie very good sort
Of young man, and have nothing to say
against you; but you are, or at least have
been, till now, you're plucking up bit,
poor, sickly, idle body; and suppose you fall
III, or take to no Find of employ, and have
nothing coming in 0fyour own@why Lucy's
fifty bounds, and the hundred that shall
ieats her, when, please heaven, l die, will
go but very little !.ay. tell you what"
he said, brother and sister, turning to
Lucy's parents, and locking very wise.
8 don't be in hurry to gre your consents
Lucy, though say it, is as good girl as
any in the land, and fit f5r Z lord-yesi 1 |
say it again, Though YOU SEEM to smile |
young laan-fit for any lord in the land"
Lucy had been very bdsily plucking the
leaves from "a geranium, which her
lover had given her; but now she turned |
round, pale and trembling. for she feared
the effect of her uncles harangue upon her
father, who was apt to be as positive as his
brother. She trembled, and her heart throb-
bed with agitation, for she cared not if he
whom she loved were penniless but she felt,
that without the consent of her parents, (ser-
wants ofGod, and kind parents as they both |
were, she could not marry him. She turn
ed, as gentle, loving daughters will, on all |
such occasions, to her own tender mother,
and she had not to speak her mother could |
read her looks. and she could not resist the
tears which rose so suddenly into the soft
eyes ofher dutious child. Mothers, or wives,
mean to say have winning way of their
y" particularly Hilu, SuDtHiSSlNe wives, |
such as Lucy's mother; and what with her
own influence as wife, and her own wom-
ln's wit, or lin true words) calm good sense,
it was soon agreed that Lucy should marry |
her love ON this condition-that the answer |
to certain letter, to be written by him, for |
a character, etc., proved satisfactory.
In due time, to the very day, letter ar
rived, directed to Lucy's father With this |
letter the father and the uncle were quite sat
isfed and now Lucy, who had been, at
times, unusually silent, recovered all her
and went about the house sing
ing $50 her mother thought) like nightin-
gale Thomas Clifford, for so he called him
self, was married to his Lucy, and all the
fair and modest girls of the neighborhood
were waiting round the church door, to fling
basketfuls of flowers in the little path as
Clifford led his bride to their own cottage.
He heard the blessing of mahy poor, aged
creatures, who fingered about in the sun
shine of the churchyard, upon this humble
yet lovely bride. Every one who met them
IN that happy morning, smiled upon them,
md blessed them.
I" High rank, heaps of gold, could not buy
uch blessings as thisl' he sad to himself
: but my sweet and pious Lucy has won the
owe of every heart. These people, too, have
Known her from her cnlluhood
81 That is grand place, indeed!" said
lucy, as, toward the close of their second
lays journey, they approached an ancient
md almost princely ediice 'but does our
oad lie through the park - '''
g Not exactly through the park he re-
led; . but thought my Lucy might like
o see these fine grounds, and the house and
gardens. l have known the gardener and
he housekeeper for years and l am sure
We shall find them very civil, and willing to
how US any little attention in their power.
md we have time enough, though the sun is
getting low, for we are Just at home"
Lucy was delighted. She had never seen
! nobleman's house before. she said
+" Well all these large rooms, and the pic
ures, and all the fine furniture are very
grand" said Lucy, g but my eyes ache with
ooking at them; / like this garden great
leal better. What beautiful one it is
But may we sit down in this arbor of honey
;uckle SO near the house ~
Lucy sat in silencefor some little time, gaz
ing round her at the venerable house, and
he trees and gardens; at length, she said.
u I wonder if the lord of this grand place is