Year: 1859

- ~" 5NhNiN Nilh ulNNblOhht


withal, possessing a depth of feeling an


sentiment which few are able to fathom.


Now Sweet Nettie Gray as she was call


ed, had long been loved by one Charlie,


Graiton-the handSomeet young merchan


who kept the only store in the village 0


" could boast of where he had


for some four or five years, dealt out tea


sugar, coffee, tobacco, calcos, silks, pins


needles, hardware and variety of mer


chandise, to the villagers and surrounding


farmers, he had realized quite little for


tune /; part of which he invested in tht


purchase Of widow MOrton's beautiful cot


tagc and grounds, which, at the death o.


her husband, she had been obliged to dis


pose of and take a cheaper place where she


could live less extensively while from the


surplus of the price received for the cottage,


she realized a snug little income. Charley
| had also taken the widows son into the


store, as his increased business made it ne.


cessary to procure assistance. The salary
paid to little Johnny was material help


to his mother, for which she was very CRATE.


ful to the young merchant, and she never


failed to speak a word in his praise when


ever an opportunity presented.
This, with the numberless acts of gener.
oslty which Charley was never tired of per-


forming, made him the hero of that little


village, and caused him to be beloved and
respected by both young and old, for many
miles around. To say that Nettie Gray
was Indifferent to his many visits or for
the ardent love lie entertained for her
would be doing injustice to her warm ap-
preciatiye heart But the spirit of mis-
chief seemed to possess her, and, though
she was uniformly kind and gentle in her
disposition towards her lover, and would
converse freely and unreservedly upon any
topic, yet when he approached the subject
nearest his heart, she was off like a fright
ened bird. Not that she was afraid of him
or that the subject was distasteful to her.
(ior her own heart was equally interested)
but she delighted to tease him, and hearth
Iy enjoyed his discontinue on such occa-
sions. She knew he loved her with all the
strength Of his soul, and she had no fear of
alternating his affections from herself-an
event which would have given her the deep
est pain.


Charley had begun to think seriously of
marriage and why not There stood
the cottage embowered in trees, many of
which were bending under their heavy load
of rare fruit, unoccuped. 1t needed only
the gentle presence of his bright eyed Net
tie to make it a paradise. His income was
more than sufficient to satisfy their most
extravagant wants, and why should he not
marry Many times he had visited Net
fin fnr fhn &c
known his wishes, bnt had as often been
prevented from saying what he wished to
say, by the little mischief's running away
at the first word he uttered on the subject.
To think Of supplying her place from the
many fair damsels in it-who would gladly
have accepted his hand, was out of the
question. 1t was Nettie he loved, and
Nettie only, and he felt sure she returned
bis affections, but how could he ever get
married if he was never permitted to pro-
pose. Il must resOrted to stratagem,' he |
thought, and he partially formed many
plans to bring the little beauty to terms,
and as often abandoned them.


His mind was busy with such thoughts
Is one bright morning in September he
walked towards Farmer Gray's mansion
lie leisurely assembled the hill, at the top
If which upon level table land stood the
great old house, when he was startled by
familiar voice calling out


Bring the ladder, Dick ! want to get
lown.' And looking up, he behed Nettie
eated in the wide spreading branches of a
lrge apple tree that stood in the field near
he road. Dick, perched upon the topmost
onnd of a ladder that leaned against
,car tree, was quietly filling basket with
he delicious fruit.


"Wait minute, sis" replied Dick with
ut looking up 81 have got my basket
lmost full I'll come in a minute"


Come now, Dick quick, quick, quick p
gain called the impatient voice of his sis,
er.


Dick evidently began to think there was
omething wrong, for, as he turned
round, his eye instantly caught sight of
ur hero coming up the road, but few
DDS from where they were. He in
family descended the tree, but instead of
arryng the ladder to assist his sister to
escend, he gave loud shout, threw bis
ap into the air, cleared the wall with a
Ound, and ran rapidly down the hill, shout
lg at the top of his voice, 90, Mr.. Graf.
on, Pve treed coon !" Then placing his
ands upon the ground before him, he turn
five or six summersaultS, picked up his
ap, and ran with all might to the house.
he little rogue evidently loved mischief as
el as did his pretty sister


Charley's first thought was to go to the
ssistance Of Nettie and he leaped the wall
nd approached the tree Taking the lad
er from the pear tree, he was about pla-
ing it for her to descend, when sudden
bought suggested itself "Sho cannot
IN away from me now" and not stopping
} consider the ungallant act he grasped
lower branch, and with some gay remark
ypng himself lightly up and took seat
y her side.


Nettie, who was an amiable girl and
oud take joke as good naturedly as she
ould give one, only laughed heartily at
le trick her brother played upon her, COM
imented Charley upon his agility and in
ted him TO help himself to the blushing
nit that hung in such tempting profnsion
bout them. After chatting on variety
themes, he determined to approach the
lbiect, and if possible. get an intelligent :