The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-07-24
THE BROKEN PRIMROSES.
A HiG HAND story.


Among all the flowers that make the
country beautiful, I think none have
such tender place in memory as the
primrose. Who ever passed the months
of spring in the country, in childhood,
who cannot recall how loyously the first
appearance of the favorite was hailed,
and its opening watched as its delicate
buds peeped from amongst the thick
green leaves under the shade of briar
bush, or around the roots of wide
branching ash tree, or on the tiny shelves
of the hoary rock
To see even bunch of artificial prim-
roses on q pretty young lady's bonnet
seem to me to give touch of poetry to
the wearer whilst to see them worn by
a matron about to enter into the eere
and yellow leaf period looks like the
ripe months of September or October
wearing the livery of spring. They
Seem more in keeping even on the sill
very locks of old age; for an early
primrose may blossom on the brown oil
winter. But our story.
The laird of q certain Highland
estate. which we call Achaneilean, was
early left fatherless, but was carefully
trained by a very wise, although 9
doting mother. Sir Evan was a fine,
high-spirited young man, who gave hel
theivery highest satisfaction in all things,
excepting in the wandering habits he
had early formed. He would often
dress himself in the strangest disguises
and mingle with his tenants, taking q
leading share in their games and pas.
times. His mother, knowing his high
and honorable nature, was never afraid
of his doing anything wrong, at such
times. but she thought his conduct I'M
dignified so, as she could not win him
from his strange habit, she tried to in
fuence him to get married. With this
object In view she gathered around her,
both in London and at home, all the
young ladies she most admired ; but
her efforts seemed in vain. Sir Evar
was courteous and attentive to all heI
guests, but he was still fancy free /; and
she loved him too tenderly to wish to
see him married without a sincere at
tachment. She knew the requirements
of his nature, and understood. therefor,
that loveless marriage would only drive
him farther into the wandering habits
from which she wished him weaned.
When Sir Evan was in his twenty.
fifth year, he went to a distant part Of
his estate, which he had never visited
before and, hearing there was to be 8
wedding, he went to it in disguise as 9
minstrel. He wore o tattered old tar.
tan coat, and carried his fiddle over his
shoulder in q green baize bag, whilst his
fair skin was stained to appear like 9
gipsy's.
1. was toward the latter end of spring
"a clear, beautiful afternoon-and by
the riverside the young people were
gayly dancing, whilst an old white
haired man, with palsied hand, was try
ing his best to give them music.
The young man drew near and bow
ing to the company, he drew his old
bonnet over his brow, and began tc
play.
The dancers were delighted, for they
had never listened to such strains be
fore; and the old fiddler, trembling
for fear Of losing the reward he expect
ed, went TO the young minstrel in the
of the music, and proposed
tever was paid to either o
Id be equally divided with tn,
he young man laughingly as
nd when the best man came t.
b q glass of something to drink
Used it but said, as it was getting
if the old man would play them |
spring, he would be glad to be allowed
to dance a reel
Permission was at once given, ani
the minstrel asked for his partner ,
pretty gray-eyed, modest looking maid
en-, whose graceful movements he hai
watched in the dance. She readily
gave him her hand, and such dancing
was seldom seen by those present
When he led her back to her friends
he offered her a few primroses from ,
small bouquet he had gathered by thu
river side, and turning to another fai
girl, he offered her the remainder of th,
flowers, and begged her hand for tn,
next darce. She tossed her head indig
nantly, and her looks eaid plainly, "Dt
you think would dance with gypsy ?
She had taken the flowers out OF hi
them away, saying suddenly, "I dom
care for davYs, nnsd I'm not going t.
aape with you, thank you
The young man turned away hastily,
and the maiden who had danced with
him said to her companion, Chow
could you wound the young mans feel
TO dance with him? And oh the dear
primroses, the first / have eeen this
year see, you have broken them ;; and
Ellen bowed down and gathered the
scattered flowers, and carefully placing
them among those given herself, fixed
them in her belt.
"How could you rather dance with 6
fellow like that-ikely one of the gang
of thinkers that passed yesterday? And
will Won really wear the flowers be
gave ?" replied the maiden with scorn
full sneer.
"I wear the flowers fer their owl
sakes. How could you break them-tht
>1nnouties ?" replied Ellen, caressing The
net with a tender touch Gas TO-
with the young man, am SUR