The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-05-19

ing.
In SO many points had the indenture
been violated, that Pogue was easily
terrified into releasing Ben, and paying
the two hundred dollars that he was
bound to pay when Ben attained his
majority.
III.
Four years, and another May-day.
Perhaps can not do better than to
use part of another letter written by
Sarah Little to William Henry Harrison
Little, ESQ.,, Attorney-at-Law in Beach
vile. insert it, adjectiyes and all.
"NEw GENEVA, April 9th, 1860.
\ ave have the greatest time
studying French. It's Just splendid.
You know that since Teetlet's father
died she teaches French and Music.
And Teetlets splendid teacher. She
is regular Sister of Charity, too. There
are five of us in the French class, and
the best scholar of all Is my old hero
Ben Lamson. You know he has come
to be assistant editor and part owner Of
the Gazette. 1t beats all how splendidly
he gets along in his studies and in his
business You'll say I'm in love with
worships Mary Patterson. For the first
two years Mary did not seem to think
so much Of him, but now she takes his
attentions in way that makes me sure
they are engaged Teet knows about
it, think, for Ben tells her everything.
Mary's splendid looking enough, but
Ben's too good for her. You'll say I'm
jealous, but | am not. Ben has started
a library in town, and he leads off in
very many things. Teet thinks Ben is
splendid. So do |. So does every body.
She sat up every other night for three
weeks with Mrs. Gray, before she died.
There's wife for you.
30! wish you were here for the
first of May. Mary Patterson came home
three days ago, looking splendid as ever,
and Ben has fixed up May-day picnic
out to Tardy's field. Would you believe
it? They say Ben has kept the course
: of studies of Mary's school before him,
and that besides all the rest he has
learned he has studied through every
book she went through without letting
her know it. Won't he make husband
do think he is splendid. SALLIE."
The week before this May-day was a
week Of disillusion to Ben. He had
seen little of Mary since she went away,
and any lack of sympathy, when to-
gether, he was inclined to attribute to
his own lack of culture. There had
been an engagement for o. year. But
now Ben found it hard talking to Mary
She had passed good examination, but
hers was emphatically boarding-school
education.
: When Mr.. Blank sends Henrietta
Blank to the RobinsOntown Female Col
lege and receives reports OF her stand
ing in her classes, it never occurs to him
to doubt that the quantity of fact stored
in her memory Is true measure OF hel
culture. 1t never occurs to him to sus
pect that the president Of the institu
ton would be guilty of veneering, OF
, that examining and education are pro
cesses quite diverse. Perhaps he may
afterward feel something of the disap
pointment that Ben felt in Mary But
Ben stihed it and struggled against il
loyalty, and by all the jugglery that his
imagination was capable of he tried tC
cheat himself into the belief that this
was an educated girl. He knew thai
;, her graduation was the solemn stamp O
! the regular authorities certifying tha
her education was the genuine article
I. up to grade, first quality, A No. !, fourth
1 proof, and all that. Nevertheless, hi!
), talk of books wearied her, his enthu
!; siasm for nature or art met no response
!, and his noble purposes seemed to he
/ evidence of mental unsoundness. TC
t engage herself and display the learr in!
e she had acquired going through he
IA ! ! Il
? the sole purpose of life. She wa
2 pleased with Bens growing distinction
e and thought him in every way orna
e mental to herself.
/ Ben spent the night of April 30th II
$ great struggle. The battle of tn,
:, gable window and the fog was as moth
/ ing to this. That was boys trouble
u this was mans great fight.
o think the result was that Bel
:, reached this conclusion Il am bounC
r in honor; | will make the best of il
q After all, Mary is perhaps as good a
women generally are, except Teetle
y and few others who are meant to b.
n saints and die old maids"
h May-day morning found the schoo
2 children in one group, and Ben's part,
r of older ones in another. Mary wa
e very gracious and very beautiful. Bel
r, felt her beauty and did it homage. III
d forgot his doubts and resolved to b.
z happy. There was one little occurrence
IS however, that had its effect upon him
e will copy from another of Sarah Lit
d ties "splend.d'' letters:
is May ID, 1860.
l. "DEAR HARRY: 1t was splendiC
g day, and we "a grand time. But ther,
IS was one curious thing happened. You
Y know the grapevine swings, by the ole
It Lighthouse on the hill. Well, we hao
y Just had splendid swing, when Mary
l. and her school-chum began to tall
y French. Evidently, they did not know
}. that we understood them. You see I'll
It Just splendid to understand French
Q But what did they do but compare Bel
e with other beaux of Mary And there
It was Ben, looking right in my eyes al
" the time. Finally, Mary's friend said
o 'Nais IL est 6on,' which means you see
But he is good wish you under
}, stood French.) And Mary answered, a