The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-01-17

in the dark as to details. He had GER
tainly had his history before coming, as
| happened to know; but he was, like
most of the people there, that much the
better worth knowing. During years
of acquaintance l, at least, came to like
them, too, the longer they were known.
As rule, the past was let alone there.
True, when you were introduced to a
new conner, after asking "Where are
You from, sir?" it was a standing joke
to add: And what was it you did there,
sir? In the case, however of Mrs. Nc
Gregor the reference was purely to the
exercise of a certain vigor on the good
lady's part in days past, for which she
was not more TO be blamed than
are her countrymen for Ban
nockburn. 1t was impossible
not to become very much attached
TO Mrs. McGregor. Certainly more
! original person one does not often
meet. She was so shrewdly sensible,
striking at the very heart of matters in
all she said
1t was an event to dine with her, after
/ special invitation. She lived in double
log cabin, it is true; but it was white
washed until marble could not have been
whittier and the prim yard in front was
radiant with flowers. No other house
! keeper could make the oaken floors so
clean; the redeemed fireplace so bright,
! filled as it was in summer with ever
! greens; the rag carpet and oval mats,
woven of many-cOlored strips, so
smooth, as was the case in her house.
The door of the corner cupboard in the
/ parlor was ajar, so that you could see
/ how much silver there remained over
and above that used upon the table.
And what a dinner it was! So great
was the variety, every thing was cooked
so much better than anywhere else. She
was so importunate in her hospitality
! that the choice was hard one to make
between an illness from having already
INDUCED too freely and the risk of Of
Tending her by decling to eat any more.
But the best of the feast to me were the
Scotch words, which | had never before
met with outside of Scott and Burns
words treasured by her during all
these years, like old coins, more care
fully than were her teaspoons and the
fashions of her caps and frills.
My pleaSantest surprise was the night
of her marriage. She was about the
same as ever, for it was out of the ques-
ton for her to be neater than she always
was; but | could hardly believe my eyes
when the old Squire stood up beside
her. 1t was plain that she had got him
ready for the ceremony herself. You
could not have wished to have seen a
more decent, even venerable man. He
was clearly shaver, for the first time in
20 years, and stood, with his flowing
white hair, erect, triumphant in his char
acter of a somewhat suddenly made
"John Anderson, my Joe, John"
Immediately after the marriage they
went on a bridal tour to Scotland, the
bride promising to bring back, if she
ever came back, Highland plaid for
my little boy. She excused herself, on
her return, so much sooner than was
expected, for not doing so on the plea
that she had left Scotland suddenly.
eye may say so," her husband said,
significantly. at was in a hurry, sure
enough
"Hold your tongue, gudeman," the
lady interrupted and with Indignation
''You should be ashamed to mention
it,
"I'm not ashamed" he insisted. at
was in this way" he continued, as his
wife got up and withdrew in some heat:
"She told me so much about Scotland,
Scotland, Scotland; about the Queen,
and the riches, and the dukes, and the
great cities, and the good eating, and
her kin, and her clan, that l agreed to
go. | had nephew, too, i'll Liverpool.
Well, we went to Liverpool, and it is
not much for town-nothing but big
docks, that | could see. From there we
went to Scotland. Whew! Scotland!
1t is little bit of country, not as large
as one of our counties. Like it! What
was there to like?" And my friend
entered upon a vituperation of food,
housing, and clothing there, of town
and country, mountain and valley, Gus
toms and people, from his point of view
as an old backwoodsman, which was as
ludicrous as it was violent.
No, SRI" he added, at last. You
don't catch me! l wouldn't live in
Scotland not for Scotland. told her |
couldn't stand it. She said | must. /
told her wouldn't stand it. She said
| should. Very well. 1 wrote to my
nephew in Liverpool, and found out
when the next vessel was to cross the
Atlantic. When the time came, got
her to 90 to Liverpool on a visit, you
see, to my nephew. OF course, she left
her things; but | had all mine. As soon
| as | got 10 Liverpool l sent my trunk
on board and bought ticket. One hour
before the ship sailed | said to her:
Look here, old lady, I'm going back
home. If you'll come with me, well; if
not, goodbye You see she had to
come ScOtIandi' with unspeakable
disgust. "No, sir. Not for me. Not
if know it,"
And so they settled down. The one
weakness of the Squire was for drink.
No wonder, after half century of in
diligence. Excellent Mrs. Surge eX-
changed her town property for small
farm few miles out, SO as to keep her
husband from temptation. She kept a
supply of spirits; but she also kept the
keys. Every day, at a certain set time,
she gave him exactly so much, and never
drop more.
NO. SuueiuaHs Sne WOuIu say, III
answer to his pleading. "No!" And
the grit as of the Scotch granite was in
that unchanging no. 1t was the same
hand, as firm as it was loving, which had,
somehow, suppressed the tobacco-So
/ far, at least, that there were no longer
the traces of it on chin or bosom. The
only relic of the habitual profanity was
an occasional "Good gracious, Gran
N.Y." from his lips, when astonished.
Few things were more delightful to us
than to accept an invitation for day
at their farm, which was order and neat
ness itself. There was sickness in The
COW, a propriety in the conduct of the
AIuscovy ducks, decorum in the very
pigs, telling of the hand of their mis-
tress. But the glory of the place was in
the transformation she had wrought in
the old Squire. He was as scrupuious-
ly neat and clean now as herself When
! | add that he was a Darby in perfect