Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-03-16
From Godey's Iady's Book.
MY COUNTRY CLOWN.
BY L. s. CRASDELL.


DEAR LITTLE ELSIE: We long to see
thy CHEEKY face in thy quiet circle, and
now that summer is come, we send thee
our most urgent pleadings to redeem
that oft repeated promise to visit us.
Thy uncle bids me say, our nephew,
Herbert Grave, will be here also to as
sist in rendering thee contented. Give
our love to thy parents, and do not re-
fuse to accept our invitation. Very
lovingly, thy aunt,
MARTHA HAYES.
This is the note that was handed me
as I returned from drive with the
elegant and accomplished Conrad Nc
Lean.
Glow provoking! / will not go one
step," | cried, throwing the note from
me in vexation.
Ny mother picked it up, and, after
perusing the contents, remarked, calm
1y:-
"Of course you will go, my daugh-
teri"
"Of course I will not. Mr. Mclean
just told me he should spend the sea-
son at the White Mountains, and You
know very well could not exist with
out without lively company
'But, no doubt, Elsie you will find
Mr.. Grave to be very pleasant. "
Pleasant, indeed A great, awk-
ward country clown!"
/ fairly shed tears ut the prospect OF
being obliged to spend the summer in
such company But when father unit
ed his argument against me, l was OBJ
hged to yield reluctant consent Ac.
cordingly, one bright morning, | found
myself on the platform of II station
with only my great Saratoga and little
satchel for company. / looked about
for some one to claim me, expecting to
behold an overgrown youth, still wear
ing the cloths of his boyhood, with a
broad brimmed quaker hat, and aspir-
ing red side whiskers, who
"Trudged along, unknowing what he sought;
And whistled as he went, for want of thought
l had not long to wah. Down the
road came uncle's span, driven by a
masculine representative, who must, OF
course, be Mr. Grave. And there, in
deed, were the vertiable side whiskers,
under broad brim, modified, however,
in color, being black.
"This is Miss Hayes, l presume?
The bow which accompanied these
words, though evincing embarrassment,
was not ungraceful
"It is" Ireplied, "and this is my
trunk. suppose you are Mr.. Grave
He assented. In few moments VT
were off toward "Fern Dell Ileanet
back to contemplate my escort, by nc
means satisfied to be deprived of Con
RAIDS refined society, and obliged tC
endure his.
True, Herbert Graves manly face, il
its frame of black curs, did not lack
symmetry, and could imagine, will
those curious, i'll fitting clothes, ex
changed for more fashionable attire
lie would be comely. Yet his Who'll,
person bespoke the country-bred man
and to me nothing could be more dis
tasteful
"I'll tlirt with the clown, if it's pos
sible," was my mental ejaculation.
We had preserved solemn silenc,
since we left the depot, and l began t.
think the man MS grave by nature, as by
name when he. turned his black eye,
on me and asked -
Have You visited this section be
forel"
| saw by the half hidden merrimen
that lurked in those jetty depths, he
did possess irritable qualities. This
gave piquance to my efforts to please
We chartered costly as we rode along
until his excellent language and innat,
refinement showed me had misiudget
him.
At Fern Dell l was received will
open armes, deluged with kisses, auC
soon made at home. For few days
missed Conrad and contemptuousl,
avoided Mr.. Grave; but, finding this
would never do, | reused myself b,
Sunday, resolved to make stir NJ,
uncle's family were good Hicksite'
friends, and started early to meeting
After they had called me several times
appeared upon the portico, robed il
dashy suit of blue satin, with othel
things to accord, while outside IN,
glove flashed the diamond cluster,
which sealed my engagement with Mr.
Mclean. No wonder my aunt ant
uncle opened their eyes saw disap
probation in their faces before aunt
said, My dear child, thee would have