Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-11-22
Making Love on an Apple Tree.

Every body said that Nettie Gray
was beauty; not one Of your polish
ed city bellies, but a gay. rcmping
piece Of natures handixork; yet gen
tie aud aft, ctionate withal, possess
ing depth Of feeling aud sentiment
which few are able 10 fathom.
New sweet Nettie Gray, as she
was called. had long been loved BY
one Charlie Grotton-the handsome
young merchant, who kept the only
store the viliage OF u could
boast OF; where he had, for some
four or i've years, dealt out sngar,
tea, coffee, tobacco, calicoes, silks,
pins. hardware, and variety Of
merchandise TO the villagers and the
surrounding farmers, and had real
lied quite little fortune, part of
which he had Invested in the pur-
chase Of widow Morton's beautiful
cottage and grounds, which, st the
death of her husband, she had been
obliged to dispose of, and take a
place where she could live less ex-
pensiyely, while from the surplus Of
the price received for the cottage,
she received a nice little income.
Charley had also taken the widows
son into the store. as his increased
business made il necessary To pro-
cure an assistant. The salary paid
to little Johnny was material help
to his mother, for which she was
very grateful, and she never failed
to speak a word in his praise wher-
ever an opportunity presented.
This, With the numberless acts OF
generosity which Charley was never
tired of performing, made him the
hero of that little village, and caused
him to be loved and respected, by
both old and young. for number
Of miles around. oT.
To say that Nettie Gray was in
different to his many visits, or for
the ardent love he entertained for
her, would be doing injustice to her
warm, appreciatlve heart. But the
spirit of mischief seemed to possess
her, and though she was uniformly
kind and gentle in her disposition
towards her lover, and would con-
verse freely and unreservedly with
him upon any topic, yet when he ap.
preached the subject nearest to his
heart she was of like q frightened
bird. Not that size was afraid Of
him, or that this subject was distsste-
ful to her, (for her own heart was
equally interested; bat she delight
ed to tease him, and heartily enjoyed
bis discontinue on such occasions.
She knew he loved her with all the
strength Of his soul, and she had no
fear Of alternating his affections from
herself-an event which would have
given her the deepest pain.
Charley had begun to think seri-
ously of marriage; and why not?
There stood the cottage embowerea
in trees, many of which were bend
ing under their heavy load of fruit,
unoccupied. 1t only needed the
presence Of his bright eyed Nettie
to make it a paradise. His income
was more than sufficient to satisfy
their most extrsvagant wants. and
why should he not marry? Many
times he had visited Nettie with the
express purpose OF making his wish
es known, but he had as often been
prevented from saying what he wan
ted to say, by the little mischief run.
ming away at the first word he utter
ed.
To think of supplying her place
from the msny fair damsels in the
village-who would gladly have ac-
cepted his hand-was ont of the
question. 1t was Nettie that he
loved, and Nettie only, and he felt
sure she returned his affections, but
how could he ever get married If he
was not permitted to propose2
81 must resort TO stratagem,"
thought he, and he partially formed
many plans to bring her to terms,
aih DO O1lci hDsuuOHcu buchi.
His mind was busy with such
Thoughts, as one bright morning in
September, he walked toward Far
mer Gray's mansion. He leisurly as
cended the hill, at the top Of which,
upon level table land, was the great
old house, when he was startled BY
a familiar voice calling:
Bring me the ladder, Dick! /
want to get down"
Upon looking up he beheld his
Nettie seated in the wide-spreading
branches OF q large apple tree that
stood in the field near the road.
Dick, perched upon the topnest
round Of ladder that leaned against
a peach tree, was quietly filing
basket with the beautiful, delicious
fruit.
"Wsit g minute. Sis," replied
Dick, without looking up; II have
got my basket almost full. ! will
come in a minute"
Dick evidently began to think there
was something wrong, fer as he turn.
ed round, bis eyes instantly caught
sight Of our hero coming up the
- krk e. rni. frnro UhAra