The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-03-24
A PYRAMID OF CABBAGES.
(From Harper's Weekly.]

s- From Harper's Weekly.]
"Why, where are you going, Isabel
Eastman! Not into the farm-yard,
surelyP
eyes, Miss Lottie Mayell, I am
going into the farm-yard, SURELY
replied Isabel; with mischievous
light in her gay eyes, and charming
smile on her prettily curved lips, as
she opened the gate leading to that
place. "Nowhere else can we be con-
fidentially without running the risk of
being overheard. The farmers fam
lily are in the orchard; Charley and
half-dozen of his playmates are play
ing in the flower garden; there's a
young couple in the parlor at the
piano, he making love, and she not
making music, and still younger
couple whispering and giggling in the
bay-window auntie in my room enjoy
ing Splendid Misery; and grandma
is in auntie's room darning stockings.
And so, if you really want to hear
fright away why am here instead
of at one of my usual summer haunts,
you must cen follow me to the farm
yard. Besides which ''-speaking with
Increased animation-''I have lately,
strange as it may seem to you, devel-
oped quite passion for farm-yards."'
eft doesn't seem at all strange to
me, my dear, for during our ten years
friendship you've always been deyel.
oping some odd passion or other. But
I've never lost faith in you. Lead on;
I'll follow
And stepping daintily and grace
fully, unimpeded by trains or demi-
trains, the young girls threaded their
way through the crowd OF hens and
chickens holding a loud and lively
conversation preparatory to going to
roost; past the COWS waiting to be
MIXED, and turning their heads to
look after the intruders with great SOL
emn brown eyes; and old Lowhead,
the white horse, Stacking his thirst at
the interchangeable the extreme
end of the yard, where pile of cab
bages, neatly arranged in the form of
pyramid, confronted them.
s'Behold,'' said Isabel, stopping
before it, show nature lends herself
to art! THAT sounds we'll though I
don't know as it means anything.
This mighty structure, formed of the
green and succulent cabbage, is no
doubt the work of some humble field
laborer. who having heard of the
Pyramids of Egypt-incited thereto,
odoubt by the newspapers paragraphs
about our own dear obelisk-has
sought to vary the monotony of cab
bage life by building as close an
imitation as his material would allow.
Let US hope that this flight Of imagi-
nation may lead to a higher one, and
that the cabbage man like the butter
woman, may meet with public recog.
milton, and at last be crowned with a
wreath of laurels. Often from the
humblest source spring great works
of genius. Burns-Lottie break
ing off suddenly. and assuming a
reproachful tone" why do you break
in upon my eloquence with rude and
unseemingly laughter! I was about
to repeat to you Longfellow's last
poem now I won't. See what your
frivolity has lost you! And take a
seat on the extreme base of the pyra-
mid I prefer the mound of sods in
this secluded corner, sacred to some.
body's rake and hoe), while I go
back to the commonplace"
sThank you, Bell, dear. I'll share
the sods with you, if you please. I
have an idea that cabbage would
prove a very uncomfortable seat
under any circumstances. And do
go back to the commonplace, that's
a darling, for I'm dying to know
what has happened since we parted
an age ago.
can age ago. One year and a
half exactly. was then engaged to
Claude Wenner. Pertty name, isn't
it? And he was a pretty little fellow,
with nice curly hair and lovely blue
eyes, with lashes long enough for a
bang, small dimpled hands, and not
an idea in his little round head. My
mother-with all due Difference I say
it-and his mother-to whom I &C
cord much less deference--made. the
match when was but Is and / un
made it at twenty. l never loveC
Claude. How could And he never
loved me. How could he? We were
the victims Of circumstances ono
match-m aking mammas, and two
mortals more unlike it would be hare
to find. He was the most conven
tional of men, and would have nearly
died if at any one those dreary dinner
parties in which his soul delighted
somebody had whispered to him thai
his back hair wasn't parted straight
while / have often been strongly
tempted to shock the full-dresse6
guests, at the very start, by asking
for some more soup.
swell, last June, at Newport, m,
diminutive friend, Eda Smythe, Will
head the exact counterpart o
Claude's, appeared upon the scene
and she and my betrothed fell in low
with each other at first sight. Nam
ma fretted and fumed, and scolded
and asked me, with tragic emphasis
how I could look calmly on and see s
many thousands of dollars being los
to the family, for she was sure tina
artful mink would persuade poor dea
Claude to elope or something; bu