Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-08-31

FRox FORCE TO FASHION. II
credited to Canadian paper. cslln
st. Mary's Teattss. pleasant .
mantle little social "reminiscences
while prompted by line in the 1t <
tion Of the "Peerage and Bsrontae
England, refers to one of the hn6
stations in American life. Amou&c
travellers brought by stage-coach ~ 1I
tavern Of the village Of Stratford. "a xAnE
ada, many years ago. was young
of rather boyish countenance-huk ~ - ~
tdipi6cd hesriaGu vho. cl1fe
 8 -
pieasznt scefiei U the place. and i(s cp-
portunities for fishing and hunting, lin
gered on at the inn many weeks beyond
his apparent first intention. Known as
Mr.. Stirling. and believed to be from
England, he was for some time credited
only with the whim Of a free and easy
young tourist enjoying an interval Of ru-
raj Incidence between city sight-sceings;
but ut last the true reason Of his delay
was discovered. Immediately across tho
road from the tavern stood the cosey cot
tage and sparkling forge Of the village
blacksmith named Folsom, whose only
daughter was girl Of extraordinary beau
ty and the belle ofthe place. From spend
ing certain idle hours in the smithy the
young stranger had contracted quite an
intimacy with the smith. and thus, BY de-
grees, formed an acquaintance with the
family; and a fortnight's incidental as
sociation with the beautiful daughter was
what had caused the weeks of his stay in
Stratford to olengthen Ynnoticed into months
In short, this English youth upon his ira
vels fell in love TO depth deeper than NIL
firtations with the blacksmith's child, and
was manly enough to coufess rs much to
her ard to her father. The latter he
frankly told that his feelings in the mat
ter had become much stronger and more
serious than he had Intended they should
be: that his station in life was much above
blacksmithing, but that, being in love be-
yond power of recantation, he wished to
marry the young lady, and, in dne time,
raise her to his own position. To the
girl herself he not only offered ardent suit,
but confided in strict confidence his posi-
tion and expectations. Trusting his hon.
est face. the worthy blacksmith favored
his pretensions; trusting his love and
honor, the humble belle of the village re-
turned his honorable passion; and, as a
consequence. there followed a wedding of
which the elderly spinstcrs and sages Of
Stratford could not predict too much evil.
After few happy weeks of married life,
Stirling informed his wife that he must
visit New Orleans and took lessc &c mes
with promise to write or return very
soon. Then, Of course, the sI-told-you-
sos of the village were sure that he would
never come back again, and chorussed
hints and fears inHumerable to that effect !;
but, to their discontinue, the English
man reappeared in Stratford even earlier
than he had promised. and his calumnia-
tors acknowledged their defeat BY an
abashed silence. Only few days from
thence, however, after receiving a formi-
dable bundle of letters bearing foreign
postmarks. the young husband declared
that he must return Immediately to Eng
land. and alone. Without a thought of
distrust or single question the wife bade
him go; and from the hour Of his going
until after two years had elapsed she never
saw nor heard from him again. This
time the social critics of the village were
sure of the veriication of all their predic-
tions, and only the wife herself believed
that it was not a final desertion. In the two
years of absence and silence on one part,
and trustful waiting on the other, n son
was born to Mrs. Stirling, and helped her
to bear more patiently the trial of the
fathers absence; but, at the end of the
period named, word came across the At
lantic from that father himself, briefly ask
ing the wife and mother to go at once to
New York, from whence to embark, as
directed, for new home in England.
Coming hither with her babe, she found
that the ship named had apartments splcn-
didly furnished for her use. and two SER
wants to obey her every wish during the
voyage. Unquestioningly still, but full
of happy hopes. she sailed for old Eng
land. to be there received by her delight
ed husband in his true character of heir
to a name and estate second to none in
the English baronetage. and to enter a
luxurious home under the title Of Lady
Stirling. BY her beauty. virtues, and
simple graces doing honor to the ..station
unto which she was born," the village
blacSsmith's daughter passed many happy
years before following her husband, Sir
Samuel Stirling. to the grave. After his
fathers death, the son succeeded to the
title and estate. and the mention of him
in the last ''Peerage and Baronetage, /"
as the issue of the former Miss Folsom.
of Stratford. North America, is what in
cites the Canadian paper to tell the above
romantic story Of his parents courtship
aud marriage.