The ladies' garland. [volume], July 07, 1827, Image 1

About The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828

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VOX.. 4. HARFEr.S-FERRY, VIRGINIA, JULY 7, 1827. NO. 8
PUBLISHED EVERT SATl’RDiT EVEKISG,
BY JOHN S. GALLAIIER.
TERMS.—One dollar and fifty cents per annum,
payable at the expiration of the first quarter, or
one dollar and twenty-five cents, to be paid at the
time of subscribing. Payment in advance, from
distant subscribers who are not known to the pub
lisher, will invariably be expected. Should pay
ment be deferred to the end of the year, $2 will
be required.
*,* Postage on all letters MUST be paid.
THE REPOSITORY.
THE QUAKER.
In a beautiful village on the banks of the ri
*er Avon, not far distant from Stratford, the
birth-place of the immortal Shakspeare, there
lived a benevolent Quaker, named Steady ; he
was rich, and his utmost delitrht was to see the
villagers happy. Being a great admirer of learn
ing, he was sorry to see any of his fellow-men,
however lowly their station, steeped in ignorance:
he was therefore at the expense of supporting a
free school, at which all the poor children of the
neighboihood were educated; and every May
day rewards were given to those who succeeded
best in their various studies. Questions were
also proposed, and he who was skilled enough
to expound these questions received a sum of
money as a marriage portion with the girl he
loved, provided he had, or was likely to obtain,
her parents’consent ; and it very seldom occur
red that any father or mother refused their con
sent. if good Mr. Steady asked it : he was, in
short, the blessing of his tenantry, and every
body loved him.
In this village there lived a farmer whose
name was Easy, and it seemed as if his name
was a part of himself: he was a good-natured,
quiet man. and so careless in his disposition
that if his corn did but grow, and his hay was
got in well, he was as merry as the day was
long. If there came an indifferent season, he
contented himself with hoping the next would
be better. So long as he had a mug of ale and
a nap in the corner after dinner, he cared little
how the world went on : whether the nation was
rich or poor, at peace or at war ; whether times
were good or bad, all was the same to farmer
Easy. He took ever thing in good heart, whilst
his wife, Dame Cicely, ruled the roast ; what
ever she proposed the farmer replied, “yes,
sure, if thee likest, dame.’’
Farmer Easy had one daughter called Gillian,
a very pretty girl, admired by the whole village.
Mr Steady had often noticed her modest art
less manner, and proposed to her father and
mother that she should become his wife; they
were both highly delighted at this proposal.—
Dame Cicely was almost out of her wits with
joy. to have her daughter the mistress of the
great house, ride in her own coach, and be her
self dressed out in fine clothes. Oh, how charm
ing! She looked in the glass to see what colours
were the most becoming to her complexion;—
and determined that her dress on the day of her
daughter’s wedding should be. the gayest that
had ever been seen in the village of Mayhury ;
she would wear a pink silk petticoat, and a blue
silk gown, with yellow trimmings; scarlet rib
bon on her cap, and green bows on her shoes ;
and she could not help thinking, it she were on
ly twenty years younger, and unmarried, how
many sweethearts she should get.
Dame Easy had all the joy to herself, for
poor Gillian was wretched ; being attached to
Lubin, an honest lad, who had been brought up
in a neighboring village with his uncle. He had
asked the consent of farmer and dame Easy to
marry Gillian, who hadsagreed to it; and lie
was now gone to the west country to ask his
father’s consent also ; and on his return, the
wedding was to take place immediately. Gillian
could not bear the thoughts of giving up Lubin,
who was young and handsome, for old Steady,
who was ugly and formal. She did nol care for
riches; she would rather milk the cows and feed
the poultry, with Lubin for her husband, than
be the greatest lady of the land without him ;
but her mother told her she must marry Air.
^Steady. Gillian believed that no young woman
ever dared to disobey her parents; and she
knew her mother would be obeyed, for her fa
ther did every thing she bid him. and never sail)
nay. Gillian was taken to live in the great
house; was dressed out in nice clothes; had
masters to teach her the uselul arts, and ser
vants to wait on her; but Gillian was very un
happy; day and night site thought of Luhin,
and when alone, was always in tears. She was
afraid to tell Mr. Steady that she disliked him and
loved another; still hoping Luhin would return
and find some way oi' getting her out of Mr.
Steady's hands; and, if she was hut once the
wife of Luhin, w hy then it would he her duty
to obey him, and no sin to disobey her mother.
Day after day she watched and waited, hut
Luhin did not return; and her mother began to
taunt her, saying, he was unfaithful and had
forsaken her; Gillian knew better; she felt as
sured Luhin was true; she was always trying
his truth, and in all her trials he was ever con
stant: when she tied her garters round the bed
post, repeated verses nine times, and went back
wards into bed.she was sure to dream of Luhin ;
or, if she put apple pippins on her cheeks, and
gave them names, Luhin w as sure to stick close,
though all the rest fell off; then, if she pared
a turnip and threw the rind over her head, it
would be sure to make the letter L.; and, there
fore, to doubt him was impossible, yet she was
very unhappy at the delay She feared he was
very ill, or his father would not consent: hut
how to get a letter to him was the difficulty:—
she had money enough (for Mr. Steady gave
her plenty) to pay any body well, yet who to
trust she could not tell; and if they were to be
tray her, what could she then do ? Mr. Steady
would send her home, and her mother would !
perhaps turn her out of doors.
It was a trying situation ; she knew not what
was to become of her; it was now the 28th of
April, and on May-day she was to be married :
the wedding clothes were making, hut the pret
ty white silk dress, all trimmed with satin rib
bon , so fine and handsome, to her looked very
ugly indeed. The mantuamaker was just gone,
and she was sitting crying when Floretta came
in. Floretta was her waiting maid, a good-na
tured, smart girl, who grieved to see her young
mistress so ..continually unhappy; but she feared
to own her jiky, or try to serve her with Lubin,
li'st she should offend lier master, who had been
very kind to her father and mother: yet she
thought it very odd so good a man shoulddo such
a ivieked thing as to force a young creature to
marry him against her will: and feeling certain
that if it were her case she would run away
from him, 8he thought too it was better Gflhan
should runaway before her marriage than after,
and determined to try some way or other to
serve her.
“Whatdo you cry for, Miss Gillian?” said she
as she entered the room. “ I’snt it enough to
make any one cry, Floretta? Am I not going
to be married?” The thought of going to he
married makes most girls laugh and be merry.”
“ Ay, that is when they are going to marry the
man they like. Ilcigho! you have no pity forme,
Floretta, or you would find out some way to
help me.” “ What fault have you to find with
Mr. Steady? he is a very good man.” “ Oh!
yes, 1 know that ; so is a haystack very good,
but i dont see why I should be obliged to eat
one : why does’nt he marry old nurse Grimshaw?
she would suit him better by half than me.”—
“ Why don't you tell him?” “ So 1 would if I
thought he would not be angry : suppose Flo
retta, 1 was to tell him he is very disagreeable,
and that I hate the very sight of him ; do you
think he would let me marry Luton ?” “ It
would he a curious mode of courting his favor;
hut I really think something should be done.—
uut wnai can Keep so lung r ne ougni io
have been back two months ago. Suppose we
were to get somebody to go to him. and find out
if be is faithful, and if he is-” “ O! my dear,
dear Floretta, that is the very thing I have been
thinking of; but I did not know who to trust;
but what does it matter now? we could not
hear in time to prevent my marrying Mr. Stea
dy !” “ Why that is true; let me see, I have
it; can't you contrive to be taken ill on May
day morning ? and then the wedding must bo
put oflf, you know.” “ I don’t know ; I never
was ill but when 1 had the hooping-cough ; but
if you'll tell me what to do—” “ Why, then,
in the first place, you must faint away, and then
1 11 scream for hrlp, and throw a jug of cold
water over you, and rub your temples with
hartshorn, and burn feathers under your nose,
roar and bellow, say you are dying, and frigh
ten my poor master out of his seventeen senses.”
Gillian was in raptures to find Floretta her
friend ; and while the latter left h^r to seek out
some one who could be trusted as a messenger
to seek Luhin, she, like a bird just let out of a
cage, was gaily singing
Again I feel my bosom bound ;
My heart sits lightly on its seat ;
Mv cares are all in rapture drown’d,
In every pulse new pleasures beat.
When Mr. Steady came to inquire how she liked
her wedding clothes ? “ ! should like them ve
ry well, said Gillian, if I were going to be mar
ried to Lubin.” “ And wherefore, Chilian,
sirouldst thou prefer Lubin unto me ? do 1 Dot
love thee as much as lie does ?” “ Perliapsyou
may, sir, but I don’t love you !” “ And yet tnou
shouldst love me : do I not give thee every
thing thou canst w ish for ? am 1 not thy friend ? ’
“Yes, indeed1 and indeed you are very good
to me, and 1 love you as a father; but 1 ran
never love you as a husband, unless—unless—”