Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-08-24
A Canadian Romance.


THERE is credited to Canadian paper,
called the st. Mary's Ve1ette, pleasant
and romantic little social "Reminiscences,
which, while prompted by line in the
last edition of the "Peerage and Baron
etage" of England, refers to one Of the
! humblcst stations in Americ IN life. Among
the travellers brought by stage coach to
the tavern of the village of Stratford,
Canada, many years ago, was ayoun 6 man
of ra, her boyish countenance but not un-
dignified bearing, who, attracted by the
pleasant scenery Of the place, and its or
porlunities for fishing and hunting. lin
gered on at the inn many weeks beyond
his apparent first intention. Known as
Sterling, and believed to he from England,
he was for some time credited only with
the whim of free and easy young tour
ist enjoying an interval of rural Incidence
between city sight.seeings; but at last the
true reason of his delay was discovered.
Immediately across the road from the taV-
ern stood the cozy cottage and sparkling
forge of the village blacksmith, named
Folsom, whose only daughter was girl
of extraordinary beauty and the belle Of
the place. From spending certain idle
hours in the smithy, the young stranger
had contracted quite AL intimacy
with the smith, and thus, by de-
grees, formed an acquaintance with
the family; and fortnight's Incl
dental association with the beautiful
daughter was what had caused the weeks
OF his stay in Stratford to lcngthen un-
noticed into months. In short, this Eng
lish youth upon his travels fell in love to
depth deeper than all f1irtations with
the blacksmith's child and was manly
enough to confess as much to her and to
her father The latter he frankly told
that his feelings in the matter had become
much stronger and more serious than he
had intended they should be; that his
station in life was much above blacksmith
ing; but that, being IN love beyond the
power Of recantation, he wished to marry
the young lady, and, in due time, raise her
to his own position. To the girl herself
he not only offered ardent suit, but con-
fidcd in confidence his position and ex-
pcctations Trusting his honest face and
manner, the worthy blacksmith favored
his pretcnsions; trusting his love and
honor, the humble belle Of the village re-
turned his honorable passion, and, as
a consequence, there followed wedding,
Of which the elder spinsters and sages of
Stratford could not predict too much evil.
Af'er few happy weeks of married life
Stirling Informed his wife that he must
visit New Orleans, and took leave of
her with a promise to write very soon.
Then, of course, the "I-told-you-so's "
OF the village were sure that he would
! never come back again, and chOrused hints
and fears innumerable to that effect; but,
to their discontinue, the Englishman re-
appeared at Stratford even earlier than he
had promised, and his calumniators &C.
know]edgcd their defeat by an abashed
silence. Only few days from thence,
however, after receiving a formidable
bundle of letters bearing foreign post
marks, the young husband declared that
he must return Immediately to England,
aud alone. Without thought Of distrust
or single question the wife bade him 60 !;
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 pr dictions,
and only the wife hcrs:lf belle we'd that it
was not final desertion. In the two
years of absence and silence on one part,
aid trustful waiting on the other, son
was born to Mrs Stirling and helped her
to bear the more patiently the trial Of the
fathers absence; but, at the end OF the
p:'riod namel word came across the At
lantic from that father himself, briefly ask
ing he wife and mother to 90 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 splen
dilly furnished for her use, and two
servants to o ,ey her every wish during the
voyage Unquestioningly still but full OF
happy hopes, she sailed for old England.
to be there received by her delighted hus-
band in his true character of heir to a name
aud estate second to none in the English
baronetage, and to entertain luxurious
home under the title of Lady Stirling.
BY her beauty, virtues, and simple graces
doing honor to the "staliOn unto which
she was not born" the village blacksmith's s
daughter passed many happy years before
following her husband. Sir Samuel Stir
ling, to the grave. After his frhcr's
death, the sou succeeded to the title and
estate; and the mention of him in the
Lust "Pccragc and Baronctag:,' as the
i$s &c of the former Miss Folsom, OF
Stratford, North America is what incitcs
the Canadian paper to tell the above
romantic story Of his parents courtshlp
and marriage.
The following valnahlc rcCiDc for