The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-11-25
PROF. HALsTEAD'S GIRL.

A CRocHETY and contrary old chap
was Jee. Shellenbarger, rich old farm
er, as mulish as the donkey in his barn.
He had made bis way in the world by
dOggedest Distinguishing hold Of
whatever came in his way, and retaining
that hold as though life depended upon
it. JoePs mulishness had literally been
the making Of him, though you mightn' I
have considered the little pot-belled,
thick-skulled old man as much Of a
make after all.
Joel had one son-a handsome, clear
headed, active young man-tall, straight
as a young larch, and as set IN his way,
when he chose to have one, as old Joel
himself. This son, as he grew up, had
proved-a great assistance to his father
in working the farm, and his services had
been made the most Of, the old man
managing to keep him at home with him
some time after be ought to have been
doing for himself Not an acre Of the
fathers possessions was ever called the
sons; he owned nothing in the world save
a horse which some neighbor had given
him when it was sickiy colt, and some
sheep obtained in much the same manner;
aud the old man grudged him the keep
ing of these.
Joel Shellenbarger and his son Anson
differed often, but there we're two points
in which the difference amounted to some
thing serious. The first point concerned
education. for which the old man had the
most profound contempt, and the son had
not. There was a college some dozen
miles from the Shellenbarger farm, and
thither-having thoroughly prepared
himself, in spite Of fatherly thwarting and
opposition -Anson betoOk himself, in
spite of the same continued opposition,
and by one contrivauce and another, and
helped out by his mothers small market
ing, kept himself there till be graduated
Jeo. Shellenbarger contested the ground
inch by inch, but was afraid, in bis sel-
fshness, to anything more than be Obstin-
ate, lest his son should leave him. That
was the first point Of difference, and that
was how Anson settled it. The second
was not likely to be Of SO easy an arrange
ment. ---
At college Anson had found something
beside graduating honors. he had chan,
ced upon a very charming combination Of
curls and azure eyes-a red-lipPed, dim
pled-obeeked fairy, daughter of one Of
the professors, who, instead Of curving
her dainty lip at the homespun suit which
his poverty and his fathers niggardli-
ness compelled him to wear, never seem
ed to be conscious of any thing or any
/ body when be was by.
In short, Anson had found some one to
love, somebody that he wanted to marry,
as he gravely Informed his father. You
should have seen the old mans eyes; it
was a mercy, they were fast in their sock
cts. Here was gratitude! This Auson,
having already defrauded his old father
Of so much of his time, was going now
to set the seal upon his absurdity and
disobedience by marrying town girl 7
Bad enough to marry any one, seeing his
father wasn't through with him yet-but
a town girl He should never consent
and every Shellabarger acre should 60 tC
strangers before AnsOn should have one
if be persisted in an idea so ridicu'
lous
And pray what harm is there in being
town girl questioned Barbie Hal
stead, when AnsOn told her, half laugh
+ ing, half vexed, and altogether rueful-
for, without assistance from his father
he could not marry Bsrbie for lonl
time yet - .-H--
Anson laughed again, but with som'
embaTassment, saying, MY father i
afraid that a daughter Of PrOfesso
Halstead would not make a very goo,
farmers wife"
Does he think-Y Barbie hesitated
looking with smiling perplexity at he
little white hand.
THAT these pretty hands don't kno7
much about brewing and baking, etc.
Exactly; believe he, thinks just that
'Then he thinks wrong said Barbie
reddening, and looking up at her love
with a comioal little pout, Didn't
hear you say you needed a servant q
home? I've mind to 60 down and QFe
for the place
Auson laughed again enjoyingly.
I'VE need one badly enough, but m
father will not suffer one inside the house
why, how do you live, then2 Wh
cooks for you, now that your mother
inY ae.sa tas
I'VE do our own cooking Anson sal,
with return of the -half-embarrasse
expression, we cook for ourselves,
doWithout.' q ~ .i.
The very day succeeding the one whit
witnessed the conversation, AnsOn was
home busyiDg himself over some culian
I, ry operations, when the outside doc
: which stood ajar, was noislessly push,
le wide open, and singularly attired for
presented itself on the threshold
wore red aud green plaid dress, t