Jasper Banner, Volume 4, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1857 — CAPTER III. [ARTICLE]

CAPTER III.

The first of the May following merchant Bennett and family left town in their family carriage, followed by loads of expensive furniture, without a kind word or respectful good-bye from those they had known many years. He was pitied as the poor tool of his vain wife and idle daughter, who had failed him in his trouble, and taught him to tread the thorny way of the erring, instead of bearing bravely up under difficulties, and standing firm by his principles. That same morning was the time ap- . pointed for Nelly to deliver Blossom to inquire West The piano had been sold, the cutter, harness, furs, jewelry and furniture, all "likewise disposed of; and the little family found themselves possessed of eight hundred dollars and good substantia! clothes with which to emigrate to the land of promise—Wisconsin. Nelly had worked bravely, and never flagged, her fine health and spirits supporting her through all. Major Stewart seemed to have renewed his age in the excitement and stir of the proposed change ; he wore a proud, happy look- — as his largest creditor in New York said, after he had paid him every cent due—a look that was worth going to Wisconsin to behold; and he handed him back fifty dollars as a present to his wife, for, said he, *you have a most worthy wife, I am sure, dr you would never do as you have done.’ ‘Yes, indeed, Mr. Lee, and a daughter worth her weight in brilliants.’ The sun rose bright in the blue fair sky, as Nelly arose, and the grass.put on its richest green, the birds sang gaily, as she donned tier riding dress’for a last ride on bay Blossom. •Ah! ’tis the last time, ’tis the last! and to-morrow, she said, as she stole swiftly down stairs, and passed out to the stable, ‘and to-morrow we go also.’ Lovingly she patted Blossom’s sleek coat, and with now and then a falling tear, she fastened the saddle that was to be berth rone once more, calling him every pet name/ and looking in the large full eve, to see if he had auy knowledge of Whk wta to happen—’Happy Blossom!' she said, and she repeated a verse of the 'Arabs’s farewell to his horse:’ •My beautiful! my beautifull Thou atandest meekly by— With thy proudly arch’d and gloss j neck. And dark and loving eye; Fret not to roam the desert new, With all thy winged speed— Fleet lim’d and beautiful farewell! ■ Thvu’rt sold my Arab steed!’ She finished the stanza with a trembling voice, sprang with a bound into the saddle, and giving him the rain, dashed with a quick gallop down the street, over the hill, and out into the flourishing country around M - ■ —.* It was early, but the crowd had gathered around the steps of the public house, to see tiie Bennets’ depart, and they now stood with looks of admiring respect, as Nelly passed. Bending her plump head in friendly recognition,and gracefully swaying to the wavy motions of the proud horse she rode, Nelly Stewart went , on in the glad sunshine, the- picture of growing health, of beauty and grace. Many a sigh from young adoring hearts floated with her on the soft air,’and many a God bless her, the brave girl,’ escaped the lips of older men. Just then Squire West rode in from ' the opposite way, stopped, and had his horse put up, and began talking with the group around him. ‘What has happened that you all look so sad toy he asked. ‘Why, Bquiito, JfeDy Stewart just rode by for the last time on Blossom, the family go to Wisconsin to-morrow, and -we hear she has sold him io pm for three hundred dollars,’ «tid the village politicirtUrrAtell you what*Squire,’said the village Crw&ps, Dexter Child, ‘ it is too bad that that noble girl should have to sell Blossom. She raised him from a sb highly, and then she rides and drives in such incomparahfer father’s losses and troubles, and she is gtflng to teach out Wert; and half supptft the family; if * girl deserved a crownofgl<*f,Nhappy Nelly Stewlooted moved, and the <P r rh;.' - *W^ 7 tte

‘I came over to take Blossom, and pay Nelly the three hundred dollars, I want bsn qnd would use him well, but if is as ydu bay, and Nelly feels ted at parting with her pet, I will give a hundred dollars if you qdll, apd the i-est of the gentlemen here another hundred, and she shall have the money and Blossom too. I am not very rich, but such worth deserves to be encouraged, and we ought to set up Nelly as an example for other girls to copy. What do you say, childs!’ ‘With ail my heart,’ said the rich Mr. Childs. 'lam a close man, and a good many of you think me a hard-hearted fellow, but Nelly Stewart has taken my heart by storm, at least has taken my purse, which is about the same thing.' Now came proof of the high appreciation of Nelly, in M , the other hundred was speedily made up, and an. odd fifty added by the village physician, a wealthy Bachelor, who had seen much of Nelly’s benevolence, medical skill, and gentle nursing, among the sick of her own family and neighborhood. When the hour’s ride was over, and she came back at a slow walk, and dismounted at her father’s gate, she found her father, Squire West, Dr. Childs, Dr. French and two or three others there ; she was glowing and inspirited by her brisk ride, and looked animated and very beautiful, as she. shook hands with the Squire and offered him the bridle, turning her moistened eyes away from Blossom as she said ’Take him, my dear sir, the pride of my young heart, and be kind to him always, and do not sell him, for my sake.’

The Squire took the bridle and handed her three hundred and fifty dollars, trying to look unconcerned and smiling, yet hardly repressing a tear, as he saw the little hand tremble. ‘Why! here is three hundred and fifty! you have made a mistake, sir, said she, handing him back the fifty, and at the same time giving the three hundred to her father. ‘No mistake, my child,’ said the Squire; ‘the truth is, Nelly, we have concluded to make you a farewell present as you go to-morrow; and besides w'e admire you a great deal, owing of course to the excellent manner in which your good father has reared you; and the fifty is the gift of our kind old Dr. French here. Here is Blossom, your own Blossom again; he is the united gift of Mr. Childs, —who says you have won his heart, though you must not let him steal yours, for it would be a sad loss to your father—of your fel-low-townsmen, Messrs. Hale, Stephens, Foot and Ryan and myself, if you please. So, Nelly, you lead Blossom to his stall, shake us all kindly by the hand,, and get up early to-morrow and I will take the family all over to C for the morning train, while you gallop beside us. — You are a real woman, Nelly, and present a fine contrast to some who shall be nameless, who left town to-day.’ Nelly Stewart stood electrified, covered with blushes, and looking tearfully amid her smiles at her father, as if to ask his opinion of all this, and then at the honest, admiring faces around her, so full of pleasure and sympathy, then flinging her arms around Blossom’s neck, she burst into tears, and sobbed out her thanks. Blossom answered with a low, affectionate neigh, and her father taking her hand and that of the Squire, thanked the kind friends with a trembling voice, for their attachment to his child. She wiped her bright eyes soon, however, aad with a warm clasp of the friendly hands, and a few low, earnest words of loving adieu, she led bay Blossom to his pleasant quarters, telling him to be a good and thankful horse, for she would want him to-morrow at sunrise to go with her a long, long journey. I need not relate how the Major’s family left M , on the following morning, with blessings and tears, and many a tender ‘God speed you,’ and how they became prosperous, influential and wealthy in the great Wisconsin, and. how Nelly married, at the ago’of twenty-five, a most noble man, and a member of Congress. Rumored Death of Gen. Santa Anna. —The Independence, a Spanish paper published at New-Orleans, states in its issue of the 28th ult., that on the departure of the steamship Texas, from Vera Cruz, rumors were in circulation there that ExPresident Santa Anna had died. No particulars are given,,and the Independence adds that these rumors probably sprung from the same source with similar ones it had received a few days previous from Havana. KT Miss Flora McFlimsey, of Madison Square, and all the other fine young ladies are going into spasms. The Europa brought over, two live lords—real lords—not the kind our fashionables have generally been housed with, French barbers, but the simon pures. They are. Lord Althorp and Lord Hervey. The first is the son and heir of Earl Spencer; the decendant of the great Duke of Marlborough, and a nephew Visepunt Althorp, the distinguished statesman who was , Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Melbourne Administration. Lord Hervey is the' second son of the Marquis of Bristol. They are both. . quite young men, under 25, and unmarried.—/V. K Paper,