The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-10-25
THE BROEEs pRIMRosgS.

Among all the flowers that make the
country beautiful, think none have
such Q tender place in my memory
as the primrose. Who ever passed the
months Of spring in the country, in
childhood, that cannot recall how joy
ously the FIRST appearance of the favorite
primrose was hailed, and its opening
watched as its delicate buds peeped from
amongst the thick green leaves under
the shade of brier-bush. or around the
roots of o wide-branehing ash tree, or
ON the tiny shelves Of the hoary rock?
To see even q bunch of artificial prfm-
roses on pretty young lady's bonnet
seems to me to give touch Of poetry to
the wearer; whilst TO see them worn by q
rnatron about TO enter into the sere and
yellow leaf period, looks like the ril q
months of September or October wearing
the livery of spring. They seem more
in keeping even on the silvery locks of
old age; for an early primrose may bios
som on the brow Of winter. But to our
story.
The laird Of certain Highland es-
tate, which we will call Achaneilean, was
early left fatherless, but was carefully
trained by very wise, although adoting
mother Sir Malcolm was q fine, high
spirited young man, who gave her the
very highest satisfaction in all things, ex-
cepting in the wandering habits he had
early formed He would often dress
himself in the strangest disguises and
mingIe with his tenants, taking aleading
share in their games and pastimes.
His mother, knowing his high and hon
orable. nature, was never afraid of his
doing anything wrong, of such times,
Int she thonght his conduct undignified; I;
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 Lon
don and at home. al the young ladies
she most admired; both her efforts
seemed in vain. Sir Malcolm 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 q sincere attachment.
She knew the requirements of his nature,
and understood, therefore, that love
less marriage would only drive his far
ther into the wandering habits from
which she wished him to be weaned.
When Sir Malcolm was in his twenty
fifth year, he went to distant part of his
estate, which he had never visited before
and, hearing there was to be q wedding,
he went to II in disguise as q minstrel
He wore o tattered old tartan coat, and
carried his fiddle over his shoulder il
q green baize bag, whilst his fair Skin
was stained to appear like a gypsy's.
1t was toward the latter end of spring
IA clear, beautiful afternoon--and by
the riverside tile young people wert
gayly dancing, while an old, white
haired man, with palsied hand, was try
ing his best to give them music.
The young man drew near, and, bow
ing to the company, he drew his old
bonnet over his brow, and began tc
play
The dancers were delighted, for they
had never listened to such strains before
and tfia old fiddler, trem bling for fear o
losing tAe reward he expected, went Il
he young minstrel in the first pause o
music, and PROPOSED that whatever wa
paid to either Of them should be equal,
divided with the-other. The young maj
laughingly assented, and when the bes
man came to offer him glass of some
thing to drink, he refused it; but said
as it was getting cold, If the old mai
would play tune, he would be glad t
be allowed to dance reel.
Permission was at once given, and tn
minstrel asked for his partner pretty
Rray-eyed, modest-looking maiden, who's
graceful movements he had watched il
the dance. She readily gave him he
hand, and such dancing was seldom see
by those present When he led her bac
10 her friends, he offered her a few prim
roses from small bouquet he had gath
cred from the riverside, and turning t
another fair girl, he offered her the re
mainder of the flowers, and begged he
hand for the next dance. She tossed he
head Indignantly, and her looks sal
plainly
sDo you think I would dance with
gypsy9'f she broke them and cast thel
away, saying
II don't care for flowers, and I'm nc
going to dance with you, thank you.
The young man turned away, hastily
and the maiden who had danced with hiI
said to her naughty companion
aHow could you wound the youn
mans feelings soS What harm could
doyou to dance with him? And oh! th
dear prifuroses; the first have seen thi
year Seei you have broken them" an
Jessie bowed down and gathered tn
scattered flowers, and carefully placin
them among those given herself, fixe
them in her belt.
s'How could you, rather, dance with
fellow like that-Ekely one of the gam
OF tinkers that passed yesterday? AM
will you really wear the flowers he gave?
continued the maiden, with an exceed
ingly scornful sneer.
II wear the flowers for their Owl
sakes. How could you break them-th
beauties?' replied Jessie, caressing th'
bouquet with tender touch. As fo
dancing with the young man, I am sure
am quite ready to do it again, were i
only for his delightful music"
Margaret drew herself away in digni
fed silence. She was quite Mortified a
the conduct of Jessie; and the young
man, who was lowering near, and watch
ing the maidens, again offered his haat
to Jessie; and, anxious to heal the WOUND
her companion had given, she danced
with him gladly.
He saw she was enraptured with hi,
music, and he was delighted when, at the
close OF the festival, she asked him Il
proceed to her fathers house, where she
wished to hear again his sweet strains
She had an old piano-nota a very good
one, but nevertheless one that gave hel
pleasure; and she wished to try some Of
the tunes he had played to the dancers
Jassie's sisters were very much afraid she
al compromised the family dignity By
lancing with this stroller, and they
grnmbled about her asking him to theiI
home 50 late in the evening.
He went, however, and after Jessie and
himself had discoursed music for a con
siderable length Of time, to the delight
OF tile old folks, who were rather promo
OF Jessie's musical taste, he rose tC
leave.
They offered him bed in the barn
but ne said he had to be miles away be
fore daylight: so Jessie gave him piec,
Of money and stuffed his pockets Will
bread and beef and large piece o
cheese, at the same time begging Of him
il he ever came that way again, to Civ
them the pleasure Of listening to hi
lninstrelsy,
Sir Malcolm returned TO his own castle
but he could not banish the image OF til
gentle Jessie from his heart. When b
slept or woke he always saw her as sh
stood fixing the broken primroses In he
bels-looking SO sweet and pretty in he
white dress and blue ribbons, and he
rippling brown hair tossed by the ever
ing breeze and by the dancing; and 9
length, when his mother renewed her 81
tacks upon him about getting married
he told her of the maiden he had learne
to love SO well. $3.50