The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-12-31

half for myself, though Pm not Oh the family.
Well, we'n see. When accepted the old man'a
| Abbey farm, and made myself the slave OF all
his whims and caprices, reokoned his life at
some four or i've years; and now there are ten
years gone by already, and I'm no longer .
young man; half isn't enough to pay me now ;
| must have all. Bot Cscilia-yes, there's the
hitch. must make friends with her, and then
sound her about marriage. But how to go
about i'll Suppose really loved her. do
believe feel something of that sort for her.
Come, come, Thys, no fooieries they'll never
answer; Pm hardly the sort of man to come
ways and means just as efec.ual, and perhaps
more So" -
Then he was silent awhile, till suddenly his
countenance darkened again, and with his eyes
f xed on the ground he muttered:
Bot what if she's not to be movedf If
everything should run counter TO my plans r.
a diabolical expression distorted his ooun ten
ance; but he recovered himself almost on the
instant, and added in lighter tone:
p" Bat why should enc put oneself out before
one knows that there's any need for it Let
u,e first, and if it won't do that way, why,
then, / must try it on in some other. Mean
while I'll be off to the garden, to grub up Uncle
JAMS turnips from the snow, and at the same
time to con over some fine speeches against
Cecilia comes home"
And he disappeared through the back door,
chuckling as he went.
CHAPTER II.
a little beyond the miser's dismal habita ton
just upon the verge of the bare and open moor
stood a small farm house, the clay built walls
of which cuff ciently testified to the modest
position of its occupants in the social scale.
Nevertheless poor as its appearance was, and
monotonousiy as the universal white around it
showed, yet all about the humble dwelling
there regned an air of life and movement, not
TO say of joyousness, which made the whole
scene q fitting subject for painters ideal of a
cheerful landscape. $50
Beside the drawing Machine of the we'll,
which swayed its long arms up End down aloft
in the air, stood peasant girl busiiy engaged
IN drawing the water 70 wash turnfps for the
cattle. ri ght blooming complexion. rather
perhaps to be likened TO The peony than the
rose. testified of vigorous health. She not
afraid 70 plunge her bare arms elbow deep in
the haf-frcZsn water, and sang aloud at her
work with a voice SO clear and high, aud a tone
soiively, tina; one was irresistibly carried away
into a dreamy anticipation of the yet far-off
mouth of May.
Near the cottage stood young peasant, qst
as healthy looking as the girl. In his large,
mild eyes was miIrored mind at peace and
soal foil of kindness his whole countenance
thusiasm that seemed to look on life with
perpetual smile. There spoke out in his fea-
lures and bearing so much of intelligence SO
much of freedom and refinement that from
among q hundred peasant. lads of his age he
must inevitably have been picked ont as the
most highly endowed, both morally and intel
lectuslly.
The young man was busily at work splitting |
up long hazel-staves, to be afterwards made |
into hoops; and certainly he seemed TO be |
losing no time about the job. So easy were all |
through his fingers. Nor were his feet at rest |
either he did not stand still q moment with |
out shifting their position; one might almost |
have said he was dancing at his work. And |
in fact, while his sister was warbling away at |
hers by the we'll, he whistled an accompani- |
ment to her song, and unconsciously kept time |
to the measure with hand and foot. black |
dog kept careering around him, diligently |
WapOinU hja tail. and iumDinD n1avfnllV |
1t his hands, now vociferously barking, as |
though he too was minded to join in the con-
cert.
On cherry. tree near by sat the friendly and |
familiar robin-redbreast; in the bushes not far |
off the hedge-sparro VS. twittered cheerily, while
the modest little wren hottered hither and |
thither from branch to branch and from spray |
TO spray.
Over all this the sun threw his streams of
Lights the snow on the cottage roof sparkled |
ike diarond dust, gardens and fields showed |
as bathed in react olored and purple mist,
After while, however, whether it WAS that |
her song was at an end, or because she now |
had to stoop more deeply over the bucket in |
which she was washing her turnipS, the maid |
ems voice was heard no longer.
Immediately, as though be had all the While
only been waiting for his turn, the lad flung
his cap high in the air, caught it as it fell, and
with pleasing voice and manner, opened a
merry country ditty:
away away with grief and sorrow.
Away with trouble and with carel
And ali the fun that's in the fair.
Horns E-braying, 6fes playing,
Drums a-heAtiDg, all go gay
Down Withcare and away with sorrow
Here's today, and our fairs o-morrowT
bart! Bartw cried the damsel, laughing,
I" you'reain one OF your wild f5s again; you're
enough to send one into hts with your madcap
tricks!'
That's right, dear Wantje Johanna )" an
swered be keep me in order, or shalI soon
begin playing know not what prSnks. The
truth is, 1 feel as happyeeAs happy as if had
more money than Cecilia's old uncle"
" Indeed and why SO. prsyi What is there
in tho wind, thenf I suppose your going to
the fair on Aondayf"
"Well, 1 suppose 1 shall have to go to the
fair; You know, Wanna, it's time were look
ing out for pig; but that's not what I'm go
happy about. I've kept i5 a secret all this
while; but come, I'll tell you all about it now"
He went up to his sister, took her by the
hand, and led her away behind an angle of the
house, with such air of mystery that she
opened her eyes and looked at him all aston
ished.
well what does it all mean what's it all
about 7" at last she murmured out.
-" Be quiet 7" whispered Bart; and then, with