Year: 1859




bellies but gay, romping, saucy piece Of
natures own handiwork, yet gentle and
afectionate withal, and possessing depth
of feeling and sentiment which few had
power to fathom.


Now "sweet Nettie Gray" as she was
called, had long been beloved by one Char
lie Grafton-the handsome young mer-
chant, who kept the only store in the vii
lGge Of N could boast, where he had
for some four or FIVE years, dealt out tea,
sugar, coffee, tobacco, calicoes, silks, pins,
needles, hardware and every variety of
merchandise, to the villagers and sur
rounding farmers, till he had realized
quite little fortune, part of which he
invested in the purchase of widow Nor
tons beautiful cottage and grounds, which
at the death of her husband, she had been
obliged to dispose of, and took cheaper
place, where she could live less expensive,
which from the surplus of the price re-
ceived for the cottage, she realized a snug
little income. Charlie had also taken the
widows son into the store, as his increas-
ing business made it necessary to procure
assistance. The salary paid little Johny
was a material help to his mother, for
which she was very grateful to the young
merchant, and never failed to speak word
in his praise whenever an opportunity pre-
sented.


This, with the numberless acts of gene
rosity which Charlie was never tired fper-
forming, made him the hero of the 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 be entertained for her
SELF would be doing injustice to her warm
apprcciative heart. But the spirit of mis-
she was uniformity kind and gentle in her
disposition towards her lover, and would
converse freely and unreservedly with him
upon any other topic, yet, when he ap-
preached the subject that lay nearest his
heart she was off like frightened bird.
Not that she was afraid of him, orthat the
subject was dstasteful to her, Cfor her own
heart was equally Interested but she de-
| lighted to tease him, and heartily enjoyed
his discontinue on such occasions. She
knew he loved her with all the strength
of his soul, and she had no fear of aliena-
ting his affections from herself-an event
which would have given her the deepest
pain.


Charlie had began to think seriodsfy
of marriage and why not? There stood
the cottage, embowered in trees, many of
which were bending under their heavy
load of rare fruit, unoccupied. 1t needed
only the 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 had he visited Nettie
for the express purpose Of making known
his wishes, but he had often been preven-
ted from saying what he wished to say by
the little mischief's running away at the
first word uttered upon the, subject. To
think of supplying her place from the
many fair damsels in it-who would glad
ly have accepted his hand, was out of the
question. 1t was Nettie he loved, and
Nettie only, and he felt sure she returned
his affections, but how could he ever get
married if he was not even permitted to
propose. | must resort to some 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
as one bright morning in September he
walked slowly towards farmer Gray's man
sion. He was leisurely ascending the hill
at the top ofwhich, upon a level table land
stood the great old house, when he was
startled by female voice calling out,


"Bring the ladder, Dick | want to get
down" And looking up, he beheld Net
tie seated in the wide spreading branches
of a large apple tree that stood in the field
near the road, while Dick, perched upon
the topmost round of the ladder, that lean
against the pear tree, was quietly filling a
basket with the rich fruit.


"Wait minute, sis, replied Dick, with
out looking, "I have got my basket almost
full. I'll come in minute"


"Comc now, Dick quick! quick ~ again
called the impatient voice of his sister.


Dick evidently begad to think there was
something wrong, for he turned around
and his eye instantly caught sight of our
hero coming up the road, but few rods
from where they were. He instantly de-
scendcd from the tree, but instead Of car
rying the ladder to assist his sister to de-
scend, he gave loud shout, threw his cap
into the air, cleared the wall with one
bound, and ran rapidly down the hill,
shouting at the top of his voice, ooh >Mr.
Grafton, I've treed coon I've treed a
coon" Then placing his hand on the
ground before him he turned some FIVE OF
, six summersslts, uttered as many bolster
| GUS shouts, and, picking up his cap, ran
t with all his might to the house. The lit
rogue evidently loved mischief as we'll as
= did his pretty sister.


5 Charley's first thought was to go to the
e assistance of Nettie, and he leaped the wal
= and approached the tree. Taking the lad
der from the pear tree, he was about plac
ing it for her to descend when sudder
k thought suggested itself, "She cannot rur
awov from mo un,y - and not atOnninU 4,