The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-11-08
ONLY A COUNTRY GIRL.
By JAMES LESTER.

i1 By JAMES LESTER.
"You are mistaken ] would rath
er die than to marry a mere coun
try girl"
''But. Fred, suppose her intelli
gent, full of natural poetry, tender
hearted, graceful. unspoiled by ad
miration, guiless. simple, loving
ereatureg" ea s s'saas
90" said Fred. laughing, schoice
selection of virtue aud grace. Coun,
try beauties are always sweet, and
so are country cows. No, I tell you
if she was as lovely as All angel,
with the best sense in the world
still if unskilled in literature and
music, with no soul above churne
and knitting needles. I would not
marry her for a fortune
"Ha, ha r. laughed Helen Irving.
Hidden by the trunk of a tree. she
sat reading within few feet of the
egotist.
In another moment the young lady
came in sight. Fred's face crimson
ed, and he whispered in visable
trepidation, do you think she heard
me-"
"No," rejoined the other audibly
"she has not even looked from her
book. You are safs.''
Leaning on one white arm, the old
oak tree in the background, flowers
strewed around her, she sat quite at
ease apparently unconscious that
two handsome young men were near
her.
Approaching with low bow, up
on which his mirror had set the
stamp of faultless elegance, Frederic
Lane took the liberty Of asking If the
young lady would inform him where
Mr.. Irving lived?
g With an innocent smile the lady
looked up. 'sMr. Irving, the only
one living in the village, is my fa-
ther." she said, rising In a graceful
and charming manner. ''The large
house on high ground, half-hidden
by trees and thick shrubbery; there
is where we live as
Fred replied with very graceful
"Tell your father shall do myself
the honor TO call on him tomorrow,
He will remember me - Frederic
Lane, at your service
Eyes, sir, / will tell him. said
Helen, tuoNing her sleeve around
her pretty arms, and making rather
q formal courtesy. Then. catching
up her books and gathering the scat
tered flowers, she hurried home.
Now. father. mother. aunt and
SIS" exclaimed the merry girl, bounc
ing into the room where the family
were at supper, $50 sure as you and
1 live, that Mr.. Lane you talked sc
much about is in the village. He
will call here tomorrow, the finesi
specimen of city beau, (as, o.
course. he viii be-, all sentiment
faultless in kid and dickey, import
ant and self assured as one of the
kind can possibly be. Promise me
all of you, that you will not lisp one
word about music, reading and writ
ing in his presence, because 1 have
a plan. Father will not, know
and if you, sis. will be quiet and asl
no questions. 1 will give you tina
work box you have coveted so long
"Why, on that condition. III be a
still as a mouse, but what's the rea
s0nY
"Oh. that's my own business
said Helen, dancing out of the room
So
Helen sat at the open window
through which roses thrust thei
blushing buds, making both shad
and sweet fragrance. The canar
overhead burst forth every momen
in wild snatches of glorious music
Helen was at work on long blu
stockings, nearly finished, and he
! fingers flew like snow birds.
'You knit most admirably: ar
you fond of it p
"Yes, quite I like it better tina
anything else-that is, mean ca
churn well. /"
''And do you read much! Z" Fred
glance had travelled from the corner
of his eyes to every table, shelf an,
corner, in search of books and ps
pers, but not a page, yellow or ret
repaid his search.
.sOh. yes," said Helen, with
sanctifed air.
"What books? permit me to ask.
81 read the Bible a good deal,
she said gravely.
is that ali!''
Call of course not-yet what d
yoa not find in the Bible? Histor,
4 poetry, eloquenee, romance, the mo'
thrilling pashos blushing and r.
collecting herself, she added in
manner as childish as it had befol
been dignifed "As for other book
let me see what / have got in IN
library; there's the Primmer, (eoun
ing on her 6ngers,) Second-cla'
Reader, Robinson Crusoe, Nurse.
Tales, two or three Elements
something, Biography OF some pc
son or other, Mothers Magazine, ar
King William III. There, isn't th.
a good assortment p
Fred smiled.
Perhaps | do not know as muC
as those who have been to scho
more, she added. as if disappointe
at the mute rejoinder "but in ma
: ing bread, churning butter, 81
keeping house, | am not 60 be OF
ldone.
= The young man felt more in pi
than in love, but his visits did n
always so result. He began to fe
q magnetic attraction, and he mai
ly attributed it to Helen's beaut,
but the truth is. her sweetness aI
artless character, engaging mann
and disposition; quite won the Gil