Connecticut western news., 1874-05-15
AT THE COUNTY FAIR.

AT THE COUNTY FAIR.
 Amanda Wheating and Nell Eusti, were neighbors in the town of Brierly Centre, both daughters of well-to-dt farmers. They had both been at Soutl Hadley together for finishing toucl after the district school had done it. best for them, and Nell had learned among other things, to play few tunes on the piano by means of a natural ap titude for the fine arts l; and since re turning home she had found time te look after her fathers house and dairy and by teaching the district schoo -theynever allowed that privi lege to woman during the winter tern -she had laid up enough money to buy second hand piano in the city. Whe1 Nell showed Amanda the money, and confided her intentions to her, Amands had new sensation. Hitherto she had always been ahead of Nell, so to speak Her black alpacas had been finer thar Nell's, and had borne off the palm i1 the matter of trimmings, her shawlf had been more numerous and more gorgeous, her bonnets more showy, he1 ribbons more frequent for 8 country girl, in short, she had invaribly led the styles in Brierly Centre, and she had done them credit with her sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks. But now if Nell was to have 8 piano, if she was to learn to play on it, Amanda's 8 existence would be embittered beyond peradventure. There was bnt one piano in all Brierly Centre, and that was up at old Squire Brierly's, and nobody to open it from years end to years end.
 "Oh, dear sakes Nell, "said Amanda, "what makes you think of wasting your money on such foolishness as 8 piano, when you don't know how to use it, either, and it Il take up such sight of room ?" rs7.s- -
 "Oh, it I'll just fit into the niche by the chimney" said Nell, happy as g cricket on the hearth '" and mean to learn to use it-see if I don't"
 CT don't see who'll teach you and il costs power of money"
 "Ive thought maybe Deacon Small might give me some hints he plays the bass-viol in the choir, you know. And then folks can learn by themselves. I've read about 1t-there's Mozart and"
 "Lor sakes l" laughed Amanda. ss] s'pose you're Mozart, or some of those fellows who knew music by nature. You aren't vain nor any thing, are you Nell ?'' ......
 Maybe I am," answered Nell, pleas antly. "One can't get on without g triAe of vanity it's sort of wholesome stuff, after. all that has been said about it, though it's like homeopathic medi cine-a little goes good ways. But anyway I could play Fishers Horn pipe, Chorus Jig, and 'Old Hun dred,' at South Hadley. And I thought it would sort of liven father up, afte1 the days chores were done, to hear { little music, if it wasn't so fine, before the candles are lit, between daylight and dark. It's sociable like, d little music is and then it would be al handy for dance any winters even ing." -- 7s @2
 "What's that about winter even ings p asked Tom Brierly, tLe squire', son, and the hero of the place, loungine in at the open door, with that familiar air of his which made him welcome ev cry where. "A dance? I'll engag, you for the first cotillon, Nellie, shal T?" ...s .-. .--.. .-. ',as'-
 "Oh dear, no," giggled Amanda "She's going to be the band herself" |"
 "Mandy's laughing at me, ' explained Nell, because I'm going to buy { piano with my earnings"
 Let those laugh who win," criet Tom, lightly. "We'H play duets to gether, Nell" ..- .-s.. -... ]
 "Well, I'm no company for sucl famoAs musicians" said Amanda. ss guess I'll be going home" !
 "1'm going your way" said Tom rising. f--' =. -.-- as
 "Oh, so soon ?" pleaded Nellie. .
 "I didn't think of stopping-I hear the music of your voices as I cam by." ..,.-.
 cit don't compare with the n1usi Nell will make on her piano" i
 "Well, good-by, Nell. Let mo kno, when you're ready to begin that duet By-the-way, what shall it be- The ros that ali are praising 2" and then went off laughing with Amanda, an left Nell looking after them with hur gry eyes, and heart heavy with LII spoken wishes. What happiness woul there be in the possession of 8 piano or world, if Tom preferred Amanda And yet, who was she to dream of takin the fancy of young fellow like To1 Brierly-she with her pale face an serious eyes and plain waysp The w men of his family had been used to ru in stiff silks, and shine in sheen (
 ace, with sunshine and powder tangle in their curls, and rouge and smiles c their dimpled cheeks; at least that WI the story their portraits told, hangin and growing dusty in the great ha year after year. It was hardly ikel that the heir of such traditions woul think of her; and yet it was her da dream, her aspiration, that some da he might-a presumptuous dream; bl he was always so kind, and migl not kindness c1ystalize into love al day? Amanda, with her vivid colo
 and pretty confidence and dashi1 ways, might beguile the heart out of
 seraph, she fancied; and, after al Tom was only young man, with
 mans relish for warmth and vitality ar
 beauty. And what if it should come pass, and she should have to live h
 life next door to Tom and his wife, al
 watch their shadows upon the curtain
 and see their children go in and ou
 After all, perhaps she needed the plan
 in order that she might confide u , secret that sometimes seemed too 8 for her heart to hold. ... .-,...-. 2 Nell is SO odd l'' sad Amanda.