Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-09-11
aBut. motber.n said !. "a farmer /"

at Islington; red-faced and wheezy, VIC
lating the Queens English, wearing-whC
| on earth could tell what or where the gar
ments could have been madeY
| Eyes, James," said my mother, quietly
"a tenant farmer" added Lefty
| What were my presentiments and fore
bodings TO such state of effairs as this
My mother seeing my face, FASTENED, tc
speak first.
He is very nice" she said, every nice
| indeed. You must remember that there
are different sorts of farmers, and that
| none OF them are altogether what they
used to be-"
81 have seen a few of them" said drily
u was in the agricultural hall last Christ,
mas; and when 1 tell you that sat in an
omnibus with three of them on my side,
and was squeezed"
Lefty broke into a laugh, and the pickle
said a naughty word. In fact, he said
Blazes |" though what that could have
to do with the subject was not very clear
AZ don't think you quite understand
my dear" said my mother. "You had
better see him before forming an opinion. u
He wears drab unmentionables, with
buttons like cheese plates" said the pickle
And you won't see anything in town SO
clean as his Sunday go.to-meeting smock.
frock."
"At least said, "he is respectable Of
course"
"Quite respectable" said my mother.
"Has he any" I'm afraid was go
ing to say his. Sir John Coleridgcs s
theory of secondary education had not yet
come into practical operation; and, if it
had, l believe his list excludes tenant
farmers remembered, however, the
dishonor should be doing to Letty's taste,
and change the word. "Has he any
money" asked.
My mother answered me with a queer,
deprecating sort of smile and nod; and
Dick stuck his elbows on the table and
pulled q face at me.
"Well, Jim, I'll be shot if knew what
a thorough paced cockney snob you were.
This was very grand, and of course in
dicated in the pickle the presence of noble
sentiments; but still little money, though
we know it to be the root of all evil, does
come useful to man, especially to man
about to be married.
don't think my temper had improved
since l entered the house. | was dissatis.
fed, and showed it, and when Lefty had
called me "savage old Jim," laughing
all the time like an exasperating monkey,
as she was, and had left the room, l re-
turned to the charge.
whats the mans name, mother?" /
asked.
I" / can't think why you speak like that,
James," says she. "His name is Scott"
"Stephen Scott, Yeoman," added
Richard the fearless.
"Well, don't like it," said 1. az can't
help saying that l don't like it. l can't
help feeling that / stand in some sort of
my fathers place toward the girls. Iwish
had done my duty better"
/ felt considerably important and digni-
fed in saying this it seemed to add at
least five years weight to my standing
amongst them.
AZ think, too, that I might have been
told earlier" continued.
Then my mother looked up from bit
of work which she had taken in her hand,
and said quietly, "You see, it is settled
now, James. think perhaps 1t would be
better to say no more about it; but wait
until you have seen Mr.. Scott"
"Of course must, as things are" re-
piled. ~ think won't stay here the
week. I could come down again, you
know"
Of course this was overruled, and con-
sented to stay. There was only one thing
more which felt bound to say, feeling
rather dubious as to its effect.
Mother" said I, "if don't approve,
If he seems to me not fit person,-y
know, you must not ask me to give Lefty
away"
"Very well, James," said she.
l believe l must have made myself
churlishly disagreeable during that visit
know that it was the most uncomfortable
week ever spent. Irefused to talk about
Mr.. Scott, as of course Lefty would have
liked me to do. l believe she coaxed me
out for walks on purpose; but always
as we were passing the Major house,
stopped to look at splendid bay mare
which a groom was exercising. Then we
looked at the smooth green lawn, the rhodo-
dendrons, and the newly-kept drive up to
the house.
"Ah, Lefty" said I, "now that's the
sort of place that should have liked for
you"
"Well," retorted Lefty, "that was a
farm house once"
"Once," said 1; "yes, there's all the
difference. can't think of you as a
farmers wife, and won't try"
read up all about cheesemaking the
other day." said Lefty, demurely, "but it
was in very old book indeed, and the
presses are different now. l don't think
my arms would be strong enough for the
old-fashioned ones. And Pm very fond of
little pigs"
"Little pigs, indeed |" / exclaimed.
"Where is the-the farm, Letty?"
cover there" she replied, nodding to-
ward the west. "But it's within riding
distance. Mr.. Scott will be here on Tues
day. dare say he will ride over with
you next day, and show it to you"
"Indeed he WON'T" said l.
"Well, but, James, you can't mean that
you are going to cast me of" said Lefty,
coaxingly,
"NO, Lefty" 1 replied "Only can't
approve"
"There, hush about that? ?" cried Lefty.
you don't know bit what you are talk
ing of; and give you notice, shall tell
Stephen every word you say about him" !"
GAS you please" said /. "Now think
of it, however, shan't be here on Tues
day"
"Not here |" said Lefty.
"No," said /. "Pve got some business
to do"
"Where, JamesG" she asked. "At
Liverpool" replied.
LtllH lllIlCt MuCu oLC
turned 10 me there was look of mischief
in her face that l did not understand.
Liverpool" she repeated. "Well, but
you will be back on Tuesday night"
al shall, if my business is done" said /.
"But it will be done," said Lefty. ait
must be done. Promise me that you will
be hack on Tuesday night, James"
What makes you wish itso very muchY'
l asked.
!" Il is sufficient that 1 do wish il" re-
Plied Lefty. "Promise If you are go
ing TO cut me by and-by, isn't it natural
that ! should wish 70 be with you nowY"
didn't say anything about cutting
you, said l. but there, I'll come back
"By the 1880 train ?" inquired Lefty.
"If Ican," replied.
l did find it possible, as knew before
hand / should. But we none of us dislike to
hold back under entreaty to make the
thing entreated for more Important.
I uot NV husinpge over and went down