The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-06-03

and Lucy withdrawn into snug corner,
debated the questions whether he were
handsome or otherwise; if he had dark
hair or light, If he had not several broth
ers, etc.
Dreams, such as had never visited
them before, came this night to the
members Of the Harper family. A tall,
melancholy man, with black whiskers
and black coat, disturbed the slumbers
OF the gentle Fanny; mamma talked in
her sleep of 'fine establishment--ju
the thing for Fan; don't you think SO,
PAP And Mr.. III. answered without
waking: eyes, my dear, he'll put his
name on my notes, dare say" Pretty
little young men, brothers Of Mr.. Som
erby, fitted around the apartments Of
Lucy and Of Ann, while visions of plum
cake danced temptingly before the eye
Of Tom and Sam.
Poor Fanny was in sad perplexity,
Her mamma had expressed it as her
opinion that the match was q desirable
one, she had even limited TINT her
daughter might never have 'another
chance, and that for her part she could
depart in peace should she see her fam
lily comfortably settled for life.
And Fannys filial affection conquered
all her scrupples, and she resolved to
sec, to accept Mr.. Somerby
j eyes. said she to herself, as she again
dwelt upon the tenderness Of the prec-
ious letters, s'the sacrifice must be made.
l must crafty my dear mother, even
{ though it be at the expense Of my own
! happiness. [ will be Mrs. Somerby.
; Fanny looked out upon the quiet sky,
the moon and stars, and thought, How
fine tale could be made from this--a
: daughter sacrificing herself for tho sake
, of her motherl"
1t was time to write her answer to the
/ letter; but how should she begin? Must
it be with "Nr, Somerby, sir?' oh, no,
d that was too formal. With my dear
sir?' That was too afiectionate. And
}, when the matter had been settled and
tile letter fairly written, the equally i'm.
portant question remained how she
+ should subscribe herself. Was she to be
! e.Yonrs, respectfully" or truly, o.
! ''sincerely,' or ''affectionately? a dill
cult problem!
d But all things have an end, and the
letter was sent. Then it was that
( Fanny's heart began to quake. WHAT u
4 Mr.. S. should not fancyher handwntlngt
Perhaps her note was too cold, maybe
I too hot; he might not expect an answer
y SO soon and would be shocked at hel
: haste. But all these heart-qualdng'
: were i'll yain-the letter was gone.
! To pass away the time, which nov
!, hung heavily upon her hands, Fanny
called to tell Julia the whole story. The
4 kind friend was III raptures "Just thu
man for you, my dear, she cried. IS
!. he SAYS he has met you in your walk
I and at church. Well, ! can imagine
: : how he looks; he's the very image Of m.
husband, Two no doubt
!, Fanny next called upon the second di
rectress Of the Anti-M Matrimonial Society
a young lady of an uncertain age, ant
i, informed her that for private reason
y she must resign her own Office, begginl
u her friend to make this resolution know
n to the society at their next meeting
Meanwhile the four sisters ran to tel
4, the news, Each one had her own pal
y ticular friend who must not be forgotten
le and in the course Of two days, it wa
!, known to all Fanny's acquaintance tha
the fair daInsel had been wooed an
% won. The third day passed, and thel
aO had come no letter from the impatier
y lover. Fanny resolved not to sleep
q, wink that night "What will become
" me" thought she; sI must be in love
In the midst of her despair she fe
% asleep.
ou l,i The next morning little note, scale
- - with "Forgive and forget!" was brougl
~ ~ from the office. Fanny ran to her oT
- room to read il at her ease, pressing it
nd her lips all the way up stairs. Beho
ell the note opened:
} a DEAR FANNY ("Why how bold
thought she)-"We have been amusii
gh ourselves at your expense by writing y,
ce q letter signed Thomas Somerby.'
IN, are afraid that we have carried the ms
es, ter too far, and must now beg You
ar think Of this imaginary person no longt
nix Now don't be angry, Fanny dear, for J
are both quite sorry, and are ready
on hunt up for you real Mr.. S., who "
10. write better letters than the pretend
lat one. Affectionately,
"JuIIA AND GEoBGE. .
'ou Fanny sat like one petrifed. At i
er- she slowly rose, looked in the glass
lp- know if she were pale, tried to fa
~ away, ana culieQ neE ulallLnd. M
Harper's indignation knew no bounds.
ate ''And so we shall have no weddir
ars after all, said Ann.
re- s'And we shan't have our new dresser
my sighed Matilda.
no ''And there1l be no wedding cak
screamed Tom.
as "It was that horrid George Thon
,sa su- son, suggested Fanny.
lia' "What an impertinent fellow" or
s. Kate.
Aeo And everybody, vexed and dis
pointed, turned away to fret, to want
teu and to scold. Ann and Lucy ran to bi
j up the verses which they had writ
about welded bliss; Kate descended
tch the kitchen to tell the story there, q
ked Sam. and Tom, having vented their {
appointment in bestowing upon ]
to George THOMPSON the name Of sfw,