Year: 1871

From Forge to Fashion. |

 There is credited to Canadian paper, called the St. Mary's VedeHe, pleasant i and romantic little social reminiscence which, while prompted by line in the last edition of the 6 Peerage and Baron etage" of England, refers to one of the humblest stations in American life. Amongst the travellers brought by a stage-coacb to the tavern of the village of Stratford, in Canada, many years ago, was young man of rather boyish coun- tenance but not undignified bearing, who, attracted by the pleasant scenery of the place, and it's opportunities for fishing and hunting, fingered on at the inn many weeks beyond his apparent first inten- tion. Known as MT. Stirling, and be- lieved to be from England, he was for some time credited only with the whim of free and easy young tourist enjoying an interval of rural indolence between city sight-seeings but at last the true reason of his delay was discovered. I'm mediately across the road from the tavern stood the cosy cottage and sparkling forge of the village blacksmith, named Folsom, whose only daughter was girl of extraordinary beauty and the belle of the place. From spending certain idle hours in the smithy the young stranger had contracted quite an intimacy with the smith, and thus. by degrees, formed an acquaintance with the family; and fortnight's s incidental association with the beautiful daughter was what had caused the weeks of his stay in Stratford to lengthen unnoticed into months. In short, this English youth upon his travels fell in love to depth deeper than all firtations with the blacksmith's child, and was. manly enough to confess as much to her and to her father. The lat ter he frankly told that his feelings in the matter had become much stronger and more serious than he had intended they should be; that his station in life was much above blacksmithing; but that, be- ing in love beyond power of recantation, he wished to marry the young lady, and, in due time, raise her to his own position. To the girl herself he not only offered ar dent suit, but confded in strict conf dence his position and expectations. Trusting his honest face and manner, the worthy blacksmith favored his pre- tensions trusting his love and honor, the humble belle of the village returned his honorable passion and, as a conse- quence, there followed wedding of which the elderly spinsters and sages of St-atford could not predict too much evil. After few happy weeks of mar ried life, Stirling informed his wife that he must visit New Orleans, and took leave of her with promise to write or return very soon. Then, of course, the "I-told you-sos" of the village were sure that he would never come back again, and chorused hints and fears innumera- ble to that effect; but, to their discomft- ure, the Englishman reappeared in Strat- ford even earlier than he had promised, and his calumniators acknowledged their defeat by an abashed silence. Only 8 few days from thence, however, after receiving formidable bundle of letters bearing foreign post-marks, the young husband declared that he must return immediately to England, and alone. Without thought of distrust or a single question the wife bade him go and from the hour of his going until after two years had elapsed she never saw nor heard from him again. This time the so- cial critics of the village were sure of the verifcation of all their predictions, and only the wife herself believed that it was not final assertion. In the two years of absence and silence on one part, and trustful waiting on the other, a son was born to Mrs. Stirling and helped her to bear the more patiently the trial of the fathers absence but, at the end of the period named, word came across the At lantic from that father himself, briefly asking the wife and mother to go at once to New York, from whence to embark, as directed for new home in England

 Coming hither with her babe, she found that the ship named had apartments splendidly furnished for her use, and two servants to obey her every wish during the voyage Unquestioningly still, but full of happy hopes, she sailed for old England to be there received by her delighted husband in his true character of heir to name and estate second to none in the English baronetage, and to enter luxurious home under the title of Lady Stirling. By her beauty, virtues, and simple graces doing honor to the station unto which she was not born, " the village blacksmith s daughter passed many happy years before following her husband, Sir Samuel Stirling to the grave. After his fathers death, the son succeed ed to the little and estate and the men tion of him in the last Peerage and Baronetage," as the issue of the former Miss Folsom, of Stratford, North America" is what incites the Canadian paper to tell the above romantic story of his parents courtship and marriage.