Year: 1874

.


A STORY TOLD BY FARMER BROWN.


| have no words for her sweetness I
can't describe her perhaps were to
do so! or even could I place a picture
before you. you might not see her as I
did and do. Every eye makes its own
beauty, and to me she was more beauti-
full than any other living creature. Nell
lie Brodie, [ mean lovely Nellie Bro
die, whose father was the sexton of our
church, good old man, but prosy, and
prone to tell one or two good stories
about ghosts, proved to be no ghosts af
ter all whenever one found him. Many
and many time have I listened to
them, out of his little porch, of sum-
mer's night, with the moon bright above
us, and mysterious chirps and cries in
the bushes, and the smell of the even
ing primrose growing far sweeter, and
sweeter, and Nellie still and quiet as
a mouse, sitting with folded hand be-
tween us.


We are busy folks enough by day; but
we idle away the long summer evenings
together and thought no harm of it, 1t
is good to be idle sometimes, in that
happy sort of way; and to tell the truth
liked it. No man could say that l
neglected my duty. A better farm no
man ever had. and larger crops none
gathered, aud no starved cattle grazed
in my meadows. As for my dairy--but
that was sister James doing. A good
house. A pretty bright-eyed girl with
warm heart, and a laugh that seemed
to be catching. Alone together we two
were, and we were fond of each other.


never told her liked Nellie Brodie,
but did not hide it from her. Nellie
and she we're great friends. Over and
over again | tried to find out from Jen-
ME what she said about me-Nellie |
mean-but the girl would never let a
word slip out A true woman hides an
other woman's secrets. | knew that and
built on it.


For" said to myself, "if Nellie
disliked me Jennie would give me a
hint, siser-like, and save me from NOR
tification. Either she knows nothing,
or he knows Nellie likes me"


AT er that, I may say / courted Mel
lie. She knew | loved her, I'm sure of
that even if I had said so out and
out. she could not help knowing it.


But there was other young men IN
the place, Of course, and many willing
enough to listen to old Brodie's stories
for the sake of looking at his daughter;
and many a Jealous pang ] had IN those
davs for Nellie ha the same pretty,
kindl y ways to all, and the same smile
for every one.


I used to think that ono" from
Nellie's lips would go straight through
my heart, like a bullet, and | found 1t
hard to risk the hearing of it. She
must say it to all but one OF us, and |
was not so handsome as one, and not
so witty as another and not so rich as
third. | think | never knew how
plain I was, until l had my photograph
taken one day, by a man who had a
gallery in the village. l thought at
first he must have made too much OF
nv mouth and too little OF my eyes !;
but he showed me plainly that the ma
chine must take a good likeness, be-
cause it was machine and couldn't
make mistake. I took the things
home and put them in a drawer, and
showed them to nobody but they took
the little vanity l had out OF me, though
I kept saying over and over again,
" What do looks matter for many


I meant, you see, to give Nellie one
for her album, but thought If looked
like that it was not best. I've heard
other people speak of the same feelings
since in regard to photographers and
I am not sure now that they are always
perfect. ,


Waiting and watching, hoping and
fearing, / let the time slip by; and win
ter came with its frost and snow, and
oId Mr.. Brodie told his stories by the
Are instead of on the porch; and the
lamp light fell on Nellies yellow hair,
as she sat knitting, making the prettl-
est picture you ever saw and l made
up nv mind to put nay fate to the test
before Christmas, and didn't. You see
when young fellow is in love he loses
courage. But one thing l vowed
Nellie should take sleigh ride with
me. =,


Tom Armstrong had said.--I heard
bim-that he meant to drive the pretti'
est cutter, the prettiest pair OF horses
and the prettiest girl in New Bridge
He meant Nellie by the prettiest girl
His turnout might be what he chose
but Nellie should never go with him.
She should go with me.


The snow fell fast, and by morning
Won could see nothing for miles arounC
Int great drifts, though the sky hat
grown clear as though it had been sum
mer. l called for Nelliein the afternoon
and she was ready, and away we went
She looked charming, with her ROSY
cheeks and bright and sunny eyes ant
sunny hair; and / was happier than
had ever been in my life.


Going out Of the village we met Ton
Armstrong, with splendid cutter. H,
looked daggers at us both--or at least
Thought SO, and he went as | heared at
terwSri TO invite Sue Nichol TO rid
with him. Asho drove out Of sight


made up my mind TO ask the question
that would settle everything, on on
way home.


Man proposes but Heaven dispOSes