Year: 1861

1t was fine spring morning the balmy
ar was sweet with the odorous breath Of
early June, and from the morning room at
Rutherford Place the thin white mist might
be seen drifting gracefully across the smooth
ly-shaven lawn; or, as the light summer
wind, creeping tremblingly through the
young leaves, brought down a sparkling
shower from the branches surcharged with
the past nights rain, the veil of sill
very yapor would be lifted for a moment and
show a glimpse Of the noble river thickly
dotted with white sails, and here and there
an ungraceful steamboat with its long, heavy,
trailing pennon Of thick, black smoke.


Rutherford Place was fine old manson
house, built in the stately and imposing
fashion Of the olden times. Smile not, read
eri we use the words Golden times" under
standingly: for age is relative, and the house
had stood nearly century, and that is an
tiouity in e country like ours, where cities
spring up as by magic in q single day, and
spread like the coral reefs before one has time
20 notice their existence.


The morning room, or breakfast room,
into which we shall take the liberty Of intro
ducing our friends without delay, was fair
ard lofty apartment, large enough tor the
nurpose for which it was intended, and sim
gularlv well-proportioned. 1t was finished in
a stvle rather gone by now, but very hand
some. the walls being of light green, richly
ornamented with wreaths, rosettes, and long,
narrow compartments Of white stucco work,
each of the panels containing design OF
fruit or flowers, instruments OF music, war,
agriculture, or the chase, suspended by long
wreaths, all of the white stucco.


The mantel-piece was of white statuarV
marble, and rich Y wrought-a head of Hebe
being the central ornament, supported on
either side by mythical mousters-grifhns and
those queer fish, the fabulous dolphin, posi-
by, who have the obliging habit of standing
upon their heads for an indefinite period OF
time, and making obeisance with their tails !;
though why they do it remains mystery,
the grace Of the execution not seeming to be
commensurate with the exertion, for it must
be confessed they do make awful faces
abcnt it.


Above the mantel-piece was large convex
mirror, in a gilded oval frame, supporting
two branches for wax lights, and ornamented
with abundant chains of large gold balls, the
superintendent of which seemed to devolVe
mainly upon a bronze eagle. who, perched
upon the top OF the mirror, held the chains
viciously in his beak aud with solemn eyes,
putstretched neck, aud spread wings, like a
brooding hen disturbed by a hawk, seemed
resolved to do this duty, ready to do battle
for his weighty responsibilities, and die. IT
need be, at his post.


The carpet was a rich turkey fabric OF
brilliant hues, and heterogeneous pattern. in
the soft, thick pile of which the foot fell
noiselessly, and the eilded French clock, In
dian cabinets, and real tapestry screen, were
all OF corresponding date and richness.


But still, amidst all the multiplied COM
forts and luxuries of the room, there was
something wanting which would have be-
trayed to the first glance of an obseryant eye
that woman was not the presiding genius OF
the place. The heavy green brOcade cur
,ains which draped the lofty windows were
full and rich, but they were put back by no
woman's hand mot gracefully looped up with
tassel or band, but twisted up into hard
roll, and tucked aside in a summary manner
to let in the morning sunshine. The tables
we're Uttered with passee newspapers, book;
and namphlets-thOse denominations In the
eyes of all tidy, housewifely woman kind
The breakfast table was still standing al
ITS appointments were good; the silver upon
1t was abundant, massive and rich the Ole
family plate, bsaring, besides the crest ano
cipher of the owners. the Flower stamp,
which was once regarded as the test of extreme
purity the China was rich and old, though
slightly mixed in kind the cut ham, thC
iuicy beef-steak, the broiled chicken, th,
hot rolls, t9e omelet and hominy, told o
healthy masculine appetites and untroubleC
digestions but silver fork had been off
cicasly doing duty on the ham conjointlJ
with the carying-knife, the butcher-knif
had been confscated to the service OF the ONE
let. and a small lake Of coffee had flooded on
end of the silver tray. These were but tn
Res, undoubtedly, but they were suggestive


There were three gentlemen in the room
perhaps we might have said four, for YER
gentlemanly pointer lay on the rug betor
the wide marble hearth, and with his from
paws hanging over the low brass fender, an
his nose resting thoughttullY upon them
seemed quietly watching the wood fire as
fell in white ashes before him.


The three gentlemen 1--WE ought TO De
their pardon Tor having named their do
hrst, although we are By no means sure the
would not have done the same thing them
selyes) were the three Messrs. Rutherford
Brothers; the JOINT occupants and proprietor
of Rutherford Place, which had been i
their family stree, in the early colonial day,
il was conferred upon their ancestor for som
state service.


The gentleman who sat near the tabl,
dressed in loose morning coat with his rigi
foot upon his left knee, where his left han
caressed it, while with his right hand
was carefully balancing his gold egg-spoo
on the edge of his cofee-cup, was Nj
Oliver Rutherford, the eldest Of the thrt