, 1864-04-16
FROM WILSON'S TALES OF TIE BORDERS.
The Snuff f-Afiller's Daughter.

Inc Snuft-mlller OF Ball0chgreen, w alter
Morrison, was one of the crnstiest old fellows
we ever had the misfortune to meet. Gruff,
stern, surly, and morose, he was the terror
of his neighborhood-the dread of all who
came in contact with him; for, besides pos
sessing this unhappy temper, he was man of
immense stature and great bodily strength;
qualities which, combined with the former,
made him altogether most formidable per-
son. Nobody, in fact, who had the smallest
grain Of prudence in their composition, or
who had the smallest regard for their own
personal safety, would ever think Of quar-
reling with him. If they did, they would
certainly come off second best; for old Wal
ter struck in minute, and generally Aoored
his customer at the very first off-gO. This
propensity to settle arguments by the rea-
soning of the fist had cost Walter good
round sums on frequent occasions, in the
shape of damages to the parties injured
but the habit was incurable. Tho DISPOSE
ton to strike, to have recourse to violence in
all cases Of opposition, or indeed of provo
cation Of any sort, was perfectly unconquer-
able. The only effect of the prosecutions
he was subjected to, from time to time, for
his assaults, was to render him more cautious
as to the when and where of his castigations,
and to make him prefer the absence of wit
ncsses when he would indulge in the recre-,
alton Of pounding an offender.
Now, although of this unhappy tempera-
mcnt, Walter had not the apology of adver-
sity, or Of straitencd circumstances, to plead
for it. He was rich, very rich; and this
wealth he had realized by prosecuting the
business of snuff-miller, which he carried
on to large extent. In his family affairs
and relations, Walter had not been so fortu-
nate. He had had many children; but all
Of them had died prematurcly excepting
one. This one was daughter, Margaret !;
pretty, lively, and most aniable girl. Like
other young women, Margaret was fond Of
little gaiety, Of mingling in society, and
not averse to the attentions Of her equals Of
the Othersex; but these were enjoyments
from which she was almost wholly debarred
by the cross-grained temper of her father,
who, without assigning any reason for it,
would neither allow her to 60 abroad, nor
permit those whom she might wish to see
to visit her. He would permit Of no vista
tons, no parties at his house, and, above all
things, Of no one who might stand in the
relation Of q lover to his daughter. He
could not endure the thoughts Of her mar
rying; and, on this account, entertained a
most particular aversion to the visitsUf young
men, which, under these circumstances, new
er took place but when they could be made
without the knowledge Of the old boy. It
was not necessary, however, that such cor
respondence as this should be concealed from
the mother. Partaking little Of her l,us-
bands nature, she wished her daughter to
see as much Of society as possible, and greatly
disapproycd Of the unnatural restraint under
which she was kept, and, most particularly,
Of her being denied all intercourse with the
respectable young men Of the neighborhoOd,
amongst whom she knew more than one
whom she would gladly have seen the hus-
band Of her daughter. The consequence
of this sympathy Of feeling between mother
and daughter was n confederacy, which had
for its principal object the defeat Of the
vigilance Of Walter in the matter Of paying
and receiving visits. But even the con-
Joined ingenuity of mother and daughter
was not able to effect much in this way, after
all, especially in the branch Of giving par
ties for tho old boy was constantly in the
way, and rarely from home; and even then
the proceedings required to be cleverly gone
through, as Walters absences were gcner-
ally very short; and, If he had come in upon
them, there would, to q certainty, have been
mischief II, therefore, tea was advcntured
on, on any Of these occasions, It was edifying
to see with what celebrity the equipagc was
put down and removed. Itwas like magic.
In an instant tho table was covered with
cups, saucers, &C., and in the same space Of
tinic were they swept away. This celebrity
Of motion and expertness Of action, we need
hardly say, the mother and daughter had
acauired BY living under constant terror
Of sudden irruptions from Walter, who, had
he come in during tho act Of tea-drinking,
would have been very apt to have pelted the
cups and saucers at the heads Of whatever
visitors happened to represent
Itchanced, once upon time, that Walter
Morrison was summoned 70 attend the cir
cult court, in the county town, as juryman.
Now, the county town was distant from Wal
ter,s house somewhere about thirty milesj
and there being no coach communication
between the two places, he must, Of neces-
sity, perform the journey on his own pony;
circumstances, these, which seemed to his
wife and daughter calculated TO secure his
absence for one entire day and night, at any
rate and great was the secret rejoicing Of
the two ladies at the delightful prospect.
They determined to make tho most Of 1t /;
and with this view, held frequent private
conferences together, to resolve upon and
adjust proceedings. twas some time (these
consultations being entered into two or three
DAYS previous to Walters departure) before
they could determine what to make OF the
approaching day Of grace; but 1t was at
length agreed that they should, as usual,
give a party; with this difference, however,
that It should be confined to young lnen--a
few Of the most respectable Of that class
amongst Their. neighbors. This choice Of
tic material Of tho proposed company was
made by Mrs. Morrison, and was no doubt
suggested to the worthy woman BY the ma
turai desire Of seeing her daughter put as
much in the way as possible Of meeting q
suitable partner. Invitations, 10 the name
of Mrs. Morrison and her daughter, were
A.. .,....t. NlHIf 1..(os, v0fIntf