The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-08-13
TALES OF THE BORDERS,
THE FAIR.

You may smile, reader, at the idea Of Z
story entitled-THE FAIR; but read on
and you may find it an appropriate title tc
a touching, though simple tale. This may
seem ike the writer's praising bis own pro
duction-but that is neither here nor there
amongst authors is done every day; and
not amongst authors only, but amongst al
trades, crafts, and professions II man
does not speak well Of bis own wares, whom
does be expect to do it for him, when every
person is busy selling wares Of his own
Y ou know the saying-"He's a silly gar.
dener that lichtiies his ain leeks" But to
go on with THE FAIR. On a Fair day,
nature always turns out hundreds Of her
best human specimens of unsophisticated
workmanship. Did you ever examine the
countenances Of rustic group around a
stall co 7ered with oranges and sweetmeats-
a bevy of rustic beauties, besieging tue
heart and the pockets Of rural bachelor
Of two -and-twentyf The color Of one coun-
tenance is deep and various as the rainbow
"a second emulates the rosa third the
carnation-while the face of fourth, who
is deemed the old maid Of her companions,
is sallow as daffodil after a north wind.
There blue eyes WOO, and dark eyes glance
affe IN, and ruby lips open with the joe
un0 ;rgh J.; and there, too, you may trace
the workings of jealousy, rivalry, and envy
and other passions less gentle than love,
according as the oranges and gingerbread
happen to be divided amongst the fair re-
cipients. You, too, have heard the drum
beat for glory, and the shrill note of the
fife ring through the streets, while portly
sergeant, with sword bright as sunbeam,
and pusheathed in bis band, fisunted his
smart cockade, or belize shook well lined
purse as be marched along, or, halting at
intervals, shook it again, while be harangued
the gaping crowd Now, my lads-now
is the time for fortune and glory! There,
by Jupiter there is the look-the shoul-
ders-the limbs-the gait Of captain at
least Join us, my noble fellow, and your
fortune is made-your promotion is GER
tain God save the King! Down with
the French - "Down wi them !" cries a
young countryman, flushed with ''the bar
ley bree, and, borrowing the sword Of the
sergeant, waves is uncoutbly round bis
head-feels himself herO-a Sampson
Caesar-all the glories Of Napoleon seem
extinguisbed beneath his sword arm.
Down wi them he cries more vehemently,
and again-"Hurra for the life of a sodger y
and the next moment the ribbon streams
from bis Sunday hat. On such incidents
turns our present story.
Willie Forbes was hind in Berwick
shire. He was also the only child and sole
support of a widowed mother, and she
loved him as the soul loveth the hope Of i'm
mortality ! for Willie was dutiful son and
a kind one, and. withal, one Of whom many
mothers in Scotland might have been proud;
for bis person was gOodly as bis heart was
affectionate and often as bis mother sur
veyed his stately figure. she thought to her
self-as a mother will-that ''there wasna
a marrow to her Willie in a braid Scot
land" Now, it chanced that, before Willie
had completed his twenty-third year, they
we're "A need of bit lassie, " as bis mother
said, ''to keep up the bondage" Willie,
therefore, went to Dunse hiring, to engage
a servant but, as fate would have it, he
seemed to fix upon the most unlikely maiden
for field work in the market. At corner
of the marketplace, as if afraid to
enter the crowd, stood lovely girl of about
eighteen. Her name was Menie Morrison.
"Are ye for hiring the day, hinny?" said
Willie, kindly. "Yes," was the low and
faltering reply. "And what place was "a ye ys
she; and as she said this, she faltered more.
can where does your father llve-wbst is
he p continued Willie. HE is dead, " an
swered Menie, with q sigh. Willie paused
for few moments, and added-"And your
mother % Dead, too - replied the maid
en- and tears gushed into her eyes. "Puir
thing! puir thing" said Willie; "weel,
I'm sure dinna ken what to say tilt.
'You may look at this" said she; and she
put into his hands slip Of paper. 1t was
her character from the minister Of the par
ish where she had been brought up. That's
very eXcellent, ealu WiLho, iSsuinu6 sne
paper; "very satisfaetOry-very, indeed.
But-can ye-can ye hoe 2" added be, hes
itatingly. "Not WE'LL" answered she. 81
like that, that's honest" added he; hoein's
easy learned. Can ye milk GOVT" enc" "
she replied. ''That's a pity" returned
Willie. But be looked again in her face
be saw the tears still there. 1t was like The
sun gliding summer cloud after a shower
it rendered her face more beautiful
"Weel, it's nae great natter" added be
"my mother can learn ye." And Willie
Forbes hired Menie Morrison through BIZ
heart In short time, Menie became ar
excellent servant. Willie and bis mother
called her-''Our Menie." She loved bel
as q daughter, he as man loveth the wifi
of bis bosom; and Menie loved both in re
turn. She had been two years in their ser
vice, and the wedding day Of Menie anC
Willie was to be in three months. For {
few weeks, Willie, from his character anC
abilities, had been appointed farm-stewaid
He looked forward to Ihe day when b
should be able to take q farm Of bis own
and Menie would be the mistress Of it.
But Berwick Fair came-Willie had I
COW to sell, and Menie was to accompany