Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-05-31
Hannah Fanthorn's Sweet Heart,

Or giadly, u one pang twould save,
Icdie for Tree Erery Saturday.
Hannah Fanthorn's Sweet Heart.
Fifty years ago, and vet 1 have but
to shut my eyes and there comes
Willie over the hill, as / used to see
him coming when l sat waiting for
him at the farmhouse window.
Sometimes on horse back, but often
er on foot, for the hall was not very
far away. Nowadays you see the
men and boys all dressed alike in
black, or with (may be) = bit of grey
or brown. 1t wasn't so then. viii
wore s blue coat with gilt buttons,
and knee!breeches, and silk stockings,
and buckles in shoes, and silk vest;
and On gala days claret color and
white silk. Handsome in any ones
eyes and wonderfully SO in mine; for
/ was half Quskeress, half Methodist,
and never had worn anything gay
myself.
Tall Surely he was tall. Never 3
Haslet under six feet, and broader
in his shoulders than any one of his
age. Straight featured and rosy and
Just twenty-five.
Wills father was Rich Squire Has,
let, and they lived at the Hall, q
grand house, we thought it, for We
were plain people. Father Quaker,
mother Methodist, and he kept to
the plain dress and the language all
his life In those days there never
was a Methodist who wore gay col
ors or new fashions, and mother took
to poke bonnets and grave dresses
naturally.
One night / heard father and
mother talking by the kitchen fire.
Says mother, ats wrong to stand
in The girls way, though he's Epis-
copal. And think of her being mis-
tress of the Hall, and riding in her
COACH.
Thee think too much of the world,
Eurice," says father.
'.But remember, Elias" says my
mother, Its q chance that comes
only to few. And she'd be good to
Elias five died and the fear would
be off our minds for the children. 1t
is hard to be poor-to pinch and
save--and know a bad year for
crops, or a spell of sickness would
take all. He loves her, and he'll
take good care of her: and she can
90 to our meeting and to his"
"Thee'd have thy way at last"
says father. "But I'd rather see her
marry some young friend with but
one COW and two or three acres. /
misdoubt the way OF the worlds
folk"
But his voice was mild and / knew
he had yielded. AS for the Squire
himself-a handsome, burly, red
faced gentleman with a lond voice
he rode over one morning to see
father. Mother went into the sitting
room, and / was to stay in the dairy;
now could 1 when / knew my fate
was in the balancei / crept into the
entry and listened, stopping my
mouth with my white apron lest /
should cry out. heard the Squire
first:
"My boy has set his heart on your
GIRL" he said. "He might find "a
richer mate, but he couldn't find q
prettier or better. If you will say
yes, neIghbor Fanthorn, and his
mother will. Sabrina's to be mar
ried soon, and we shall want a daugh-
ter at the Hail.
Father said not single word for
a while. He folded his hands and
sat looking at the floor. AT last he
said: "Haye your own way, Eunice;
she is good girl"
Oh, but it's sweet to have the first
love crowned by parents blessing.
Well, well, with joy comes sorrow.
A month after that day, Willie's
mother died. She dropped from
her chair at the dinner table, and
when the servant had sped over the
country and back with the doctor,
she was dead. 1 wept as / stood
near the grave and saw Will so sad,
dressed for the first time in his
mourning, and had more reason to
weep than / knew; for Sabrina Has
let was mistress at the hall, and all
along in secret she had set her heart
in opposition of her brothers match
/ with me.
As soon as she began to fill the
house with company-young ladies
nearly all; handsome. fashionable,
dressed in finery and jewels; and
Will must play the part of host and
make them welcome. He told me
so. Though I'd much rather bt
with my Quaker beauty by the rivel
side" he said, "but /Ssbrina want:
company to keep her spirits up"
/ l had a guest that she meant tC
wean him from me, but never told
him so. True love needs no chain
/ thought, and for while lie was my
own Willie all the same. But q
last there came to the hall, the hand
! soonest lady of all, Miss Dorcas Oak
ley. She staid long while, ant
there was dancing in the evening"
and riding all day; she rode beauti
fully and always with Willie.
thought to myself over and owe
again, .'does she know it is my low
she is ridino with as though it wa