American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-02-15

through the Dlackeneu clouds tnere
could not have passed a greater change
over our widower neighbours saturnine
face. His dark gray eyes beamed again
from underneath his furrowed brows,
his smile was quick and bright as a ray
of light. My eyes dropped beneath his
impassioned gaze; l felt suddenly con-
scious that L had said too much for
maidenly reserve, and before could re-
cover my composure he babe us good
morning and walked away.
Twas amused and surprised at myself.
My girlish dreams usually took tone
from phases of life rarely different
to the humdrum aspect of the familiar
faces around me. The unknown, the
far fl. whose distance lent enchantment,
those fairy forms witch Hope is ever
building, these were my cherished ideas.
My knight-errant, who would surely
come some glorious day to rescue me
from " this dear thraldom," would be
young and de6onnaire; on his milk
white steed he would come galloping up,
and carry me over the merry cam
paign.
- Dunno leave your flowers to spoil,
Lissie," my uncle said, again disturbing
my day dreams.
81 will take care of them,'' l said,
proceeding at once to arrange them.
The Christmas rose had fallen on the
table amid cluster of red fuchsias, the
creamy tinge of the rose mingling with
the deep crimson of the lobes with ex-
cellent effect.
"How sweetly they have blended
their colors," 1 exclaimed, rapturous-
ly. (" See, uncle, what q lovely group.
Could not sketch them, just as they
are, for valentine? 1 will try my very
best"
"D'ye want to send it to Mr.. Black
shawl" my uncle asked, mischievously.
"No,I was not in earnest when said
1 would send him one."
"He'd be rare and fain of a sketch of
your own, know"
"Would hep Well, he may have one
with the greatest pleasure; he is so kind
to bring me flowers out of due season."
was already arranging my colors,
and sketched the outline of the flowers,
while my uncle watched me. He liked
to see my fingers busy in occupations
that kept me near him, and l was too
much accustomed to his continuous bab-
BILE to be Kindred at my work.
"What little things please little
minds" he said, amused at the earnest
ness l evinced. "It's foolish genera
ton is this, with its love-letters and val
entines. When was a young man an
goin' a courtin', there was no time
wasted o. such foolish things"
"How did you manage without
themp"
~ fixed on my lass, an said III
have her or nobody else shall, an I'll
be true to her, an was always a man
o. my word-an' when I'd pick out my
lass didno' go send a valentine to one
an shawl pin to another, but man.
aged t. tell her whenever saw her as
loved her and meant to marry her in
spite of every body. Time after time l
spoke to her an gotno encouragement,
but liked the way she tossed her head
an didn't care brass button for her
mothers black looks.''
GA pretty valentine sent one morn
ing would have soon brought matters
to crisis, uncle"
can tell you. I went straight to their
house one night-they lived DER at
Bennington yonder-an' 1 saw her
standing in tn garden, under tn old
lilac tree, but as soon as she saw me she
boiled inside tn house and slammed tn
dur to in a jiffey. Well, didn't care !;
1 went up tn steps, and gave that
door as good hiding as if it were a
BLACKBOARD. Then, when I'd made
clatter enough to be heard as far as
Portwood Bridge, 1 stopped, and bark
ened, and there were her mother at tn
back o. tn dur, screamin' out, 'Whoa's
theerp'
"'It's me-John Lester shouted
back.
"An' what's done that for, John
Lister?'
"'Nowt,' said, but my boots ar no.
half done yet
"She just opened tn dur, an put tn
border of her cap o. this side ont, and
says, Com in, lad; COM in, an let's
ha' no bother.'"
"What a strange wooing! I still
maintain my belief that valentine
would have been far preferable, said
but of course my uncle gave me no
quarter, and continued his reminis-
cences of days gone by, while 1 plodded
on with my sketch. -..
The golden stars were twinkling be-
yond the poplar trees when Mr. Black
shaw returned. He came in with the
boar frost shining on his dark brown
beard, and the glow of the frosty wind
on his face. My uncle was DOING in
his corner, and our neighbor seated
himself near me, and in low whispers
we conversed. Owonder how it is that
two people, conversing close together,
are SO apt to say such confidential
thingsD
cit is very quiet here for you, Miss
Lissie," my Ots-a-uis remarked.
Rather" assented; "but l do not
mind it so much now. 1 am getting
used to a quiet life. used to think 1
never should never settle down here
with Uncle. I long to travel, to see
different countries. to know more of