American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-02-20
,MlisttIln&ous.
Only A COUNTRY CURL.

try, tenNr-hearted, graceful, sim
pie loviH creature"
'Oh,' said Fred, laughing, I" choice
collecti III of virtue and grace. Coun
try beauties are always sweet and
so are untry COWS. No, l tell you,
If she Y be as lovely as an angel, with
the best sense i'll the world, still if
unSkilled in music, and literature,
with no soul above churns and knit
ting needles, l would not marry her
for a fortune"
"Ha! ha !" laughed Helen Irving,
but 1t was very pianisSimo laugh,
way down in the corner of her heart.
Hidden by the trunk of a large tree,
she sat reading within few feet of
the egotist.
In another moment, the young
lady came in sight. Fred's face
crimsoned, and he whispered with
visible trepidation: /
ado you think she heard me -
"No," rejoined the other audibly,
" she has not even looked up fIom
her, book !; you are safe; she could
not have heard you; but what an
angel she is-'' .,..~
Yes, Helen was an angel, so far as
outward beauty might merit the en-
comium. She sat half reclining on
a rustic seat striving to smooth out
the diinples in her cheeks, as she
laid her book aside and began to
twine an unfinished wreath of wild
roses. -,
Leaning on one White arm, the
gnaIled white oak tree back grOnnd,
flowers strewed around her, peeping
from her white dress, she sat quite
at her ease, apparently unconscious
that two handsome youg gentlemen
were SO near her.
Approaching with a low bow: upon
which his mirror had set the seal of
faultless elegance. Frederick Lane
took the liberty of asking if the young
lady would inform him where Mr.
Irving lived. With an innocent
smile the beauty looked up.
Mr.. Irving, the only one living in
the village, Is my father said she,
rising in a graceful and. charming
manner. "The large house on the
high ground, half hidden by trees
and tI.ick shrubbery. that's where
we live. l believe it was an academy
once; that's a soft of select Schoo
isn't it 2" with the most natural sim
plicity, turning 10 Fred. .,-,.- -.
He replied with another gracefl
bow.
"Tell your father" said he, " tha
I shall do myself the honor to cal
upon him tomorrow. He will re
member me, Frederic Lane, at you
service" ..,
eyes, sir, will tell him for you,
said Helen, tucking ber >, sleeve
around her pretty arm, and maxim.
formal courtesy. Then CATCHING
up her books, and gathering som
flowors, she hurried home. g.,
"Now, father, mother, and sis,
exclaimed the merry girl bounding
into the room where the family wer
at supper, $50 sure, as you and
live, that Mr.. Lane you talk SO muc
about is in the village. He will cal
here tc-morrow-the fine specime
of city beau (aS Of course lie isl, a
sentiment, refined, faultlesS in kid.
and spotless in collar. important an
self assured as one of that kind ca
possibly be. Promise me all of yot
that you'll not lisp one word abor
music, reading and writing, in hi
presence, because | have a plal
mill NOT 7 1-nnv, hut ff Va,
sis, will keep quiet and ask no que
tions, l will give you that work bo
> you have so long coveted"
Helen, you are not quite respec
full" said her father.
"Forgive me, dear father" all
her arms were around his neck. &c
always mean well but | am though
less. There, all is right now," s.
added, kissing him lovingly on IL
temple.
Come, sis, what do you say 2"
ss, "Why, on that condition, I'll
as still as mouse; but what's yol
reason 7"
"Ah, that's my own business,"s sa
Helen, dancing out of the room.'
Helen sat at an open windo
through which rose bushes thru
their blushing buds, making both
sweet shade and fragrance. The {
nary, overhead, burst forth eve
moment in wild snatches of glorio
music; Helen was at work on lon
blue stockings, nearly finished, al
her fingers flew like snow birds.
"You knit most admirably. A
you fond of it ?"
, Yes, quite; like it better th
any thing else-that is, mean | C
churn well.'
And do you read much ?" Free
glance had travelled from the C,
ners of his eyes to every table, sh
and corner, in search of some boo
or papers, but hot page or lie
yellow or rare, repaid his search
sob, yes sir" said Helen with
santified air.
"What books permit to- ask"
81 read the Bible a good dea
she said gravely.
els that all :"
"All ,.of course not; and what
we not find in the Bible? Histo
poetry, eloquence, romance
most thrilling pathos '-blushi
and recollecting herself, she ado
with manner as childish as it
fore had been dignified, I" as for
other books, let me see, I've got
my library--there's. the prin
Counting on her fngers,) SecC
Glass Reader, Robinson Crusoe, n
sery. Tales, Fairy Stories, two
three elements of something, Bi
aph- raphy of some persons or other, !
sses thers' Magazine, and King Will
), There, isn't that good asst
An mentaf
With Fred smiled. .
With /" Pei Ahaps ! don't know as m,
as '''F who have went to sch