The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-05-22
HER BLUE-EYED BOY.

Z" NV boy, my boy, my blue-eyed boy,
For thee l sign, for thee l weep,
When others tread the May dance,
Or smile in happy dreams and sleep.
Torn from these loving arms away,
By those who rocked not tear or prayer,
Ere thou couldst speak thy mothers name,
My tiny bud, my babelet fair.
{" Ny boy, my blue-eyed boy,
Could within thy bright eyes gaze,
Or nave an hour TO kiss thee in,
'Iwould light up my weary days,
But thou art far away from me
Between us oceans pillows beat,
and can but tiny plotNSe kiss,
Ny fairy rose, my babelet sweet"
As Miss Isabella Spooner finished
reading these verses, and proceeded to
cut them out of the paper they had
graced, with pair of scissors that, in
company with bunch of keys, hung
from her generous girdle, a murmur OF
admiration and sympathy arose from her
audience. This audience consisted of
Mrs. Spooner, Isabella's mother, q tall,
thin, pale woman with a great deal of
forehead-that is, in regard to height
and very white, well-shaped hands,
which looked SIS though they had been
nodded out of lard Mrs. Dusenberry, 8
lady who looked about five and.fofty,
but who, according to her own calcula-
tions, grew young SO fast that her friends
confidently expected that in few years
she would be girl again, with lips SO
thin that they came near being no lips
at all, bumpy brow, small, black, uneven
eyes, nondescript nose, and figure
remarkable for its unobtruSiveness
Capt. Hottop, Miss Spooner's uncle,
hale, hearty, rather handsome man, who
had spent most of his life in q sailing
vessel Mr.. Wellington Octoper, young
pork merchant, called "Devil-fsh" by
those OF his companions who had been
to the aquarium, because it came SO
devilish nesr being Octopus, you know"
with reddish hsir, reddish complexion,
and no forehead TO speak Of; Miss Euge
MIA Ann Octoper, sister Of the pork mar-
chant, g pretty, pert young girl, who
came down to breakfast in diamond ear
rings, and talked great deal about
style; ;" and two or three elderly men
and three or four young men, who being
near nobOdies, can, OF course, only expect
mere mention.
1t was lovely day in the last week of
July, and these people were gathered
together on the broad veranda of the
Spooner homestead. Mrs. Spooner took
q few summer boarders for company,
and, truth ID tell, they could not have
been in plessanter place. The house, sub
stantially built of gray stone and draped
with beautiful wlstarias that climbed to
the very roof, faced the Delaware river,
and the CLEAN of the water through the |
branches of the catalapa trees that stood |
Just outside the garden were laden with |
snowy flowers among which the bees
were having rare riot, was pleasant |
sight to see.
Miss Isabella spooner, the real mis-, |
tress of the homestesd-her mothers |
extreme lassitude rendering her only the
nominal one-was a comfortable, septi- |
mental old maid, with an obtrusive |
figure, tin which respect she formed a
great contrast to her friend Mrs. Dusen-
berry, light, very light blue eyes, and a
snub nose. She wore her hair crushed
back like her mamms's-and falling in a
curly crop on the hack of her neck. In
evening dress these curls were always
tied with bit of bright ribbon, which
impaired to them quite Juvenile ap
and charm.
Miss Isabella dotted on poetry, and
looked upon all rhymers as "heaven-
born" Intact, she had an intense re-
spect for and admiration of all persons
connected with literature, and was wont
to say, "Could l have been pen-gifted l
would have asked no other boom"
"How very sweet !" said Mrs. Dusen-
berry, ia a soft, too soft voice, as Miss
Spooner, after reading the verses quoted
above, took her scissors in hand. "They
remind me of some lines l introduced In
nv first letter to Prof GAM at the time
| became 80 interested in the habits OF
the birds of North America. He said
atterward, by-the-hye, that the bright.
ness of that letter absolutely dazzled
him." Mrs. Dusenberry prided herself
on her. letter-writing, and anxious that
her talent should not be hid under
bushel," wrote on the subject which she
thought would be more interesting to
him, with hint as to the impression he
had made on her susceptible heart, to
every man with whom she came IN
contact, as soon as possible after forming
his acquaintance.
"And when do you expect her,
Isabellap' asked Mrs. Spooner, lifting
her hands, of which she was very proud,
from her Jap. to regard them more
closely, and then listlessly dropping
them again. ;,
"This afternoon, toward evening""
answered Mrs. Spooner, taking letter
from her pocket and referring to It.
!" She writes; Il hope to srrive just as