Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-03-09
THE BROKEN PRIMROSES.
A Highland Love Story.


AMONG all the flowers that make the
country beautiful, I think none have such
q tender place in memory as the primrose
Who ever passed the months of spring in
the country, In childhood, who cannot re-
call how joyously the first appearance of
the favorite was hailed, and its opening
watched as its delicate buds peeped from
among the thick green leaves under the
shade of brier bush, or around the roots
OF Wide-branching ash-tree, or on the
tiny shelves of the hoary rock?
To see even a bunch of artificial prim-
roses on a pretty young lady's bonnet
seems to me to give touch of poetry to
the wearer; while to see them worn by
matron about to enter into the sere and
yellow leaf period looks like the ripe
the livery Of spring. They seem more in
keeping even on the silvery locks of old
age; for an early primrose may blossom
on the brow of winter. But to our story
The laird Of a certain Highland estate,
which we will call AcEaneileau, was early
by q very wise, although a doting, mother.
Sir Evan was fine, high-spirited young
man, who gave her the very highest salts
faction in all things, excepting in the wan
dering habits lie had early formed. He
would often dress himself in the strangest
DISCUSSES and mingle with his tenants,
taking leading share in their games and
.pastimes. During his strolls he frequent
ly gazed with delight upon such piano.
ramas as that so beautifully delineated in
. 4 Mountain Scene in Scotand'-a view
not uncommon in the Highlands.
Sir Evans mother, knowing his high
and honorable nature, was never afraid of
his doing anything wrong at such times,
but she thought his conduct unidentified;
SO, as she could not win him from this
strange habit, she tried to influence 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 Evan was courteous and attentive to
all her guests, but he was still fancy free
and she loved him too tenderly to wish to
see him married without sincere attach
ment. She knew the requirements of his
nature, and understood, therefore, that
loveless marriage would only drive him
further 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 es-
tate, which he had never visited before
and, hearing there was to be wedding,
he went to ii i'll disguise as minstrel He
wore tattered old tartan coat, and car
ried his fiddle over his shoulder in
green baize bag, while his fair skin was
stained 10 appear dark as gypsy's
1t was toward the latter end of spring
d clear, beautiful afternoon-and by the
river side the young people were gaily
dancing, while an old white haired man,
with palsied hand, was trying his best to
give them music. The young man drew
near, and, bowling to the company, he drew
his old bonnet over his brow and began to
play
The dancers were delighted, Tor they
had never listened to such strains before;
anu the old fiddler, trembling for fear of
losing the reward he expected, went to
the young minstrel in the first pause of the
music, and proposed that whatever was
paid TO either OF them should be equally
divided with the other. The young man
laughingly assented, aud when the best
man came to offer him glass of some
thing to drink, he refused it; but said. as
1t was getting cold, if the old man would
play them spring, he would be glad to
be allowed TO dance reel.
Permission was at once given, and the
minstrel asked for his partner pretty,
gray-eyed, modest looking maiden, whose
graceful movements he had watched in
the dance. She readily gave him her
hand, and such dancing was seldom seen
by those present. When he led hel back
to her friends, he offered her a few prim-