Beadle's Dime Novels No. 35: East and West — page 72: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

72 THE BEAUTY OF WILLARD’S MILL. CHAPTER IX. UNEXPECTED EVENTS. THE summer passed more quickly than was anticipated. The ponies were a great means of pleasure, and did daily service. Mr. Willard, whose business prospered after his losses were repaired, purchased a handsome pair of horses, and a light wagon, with which the family made several visits to Kanesville;—and once, Minnie and Constance had stayed a week at the hotel, to gratify Charles Lord, and been admired to his heart’s content. Minnie had enjoyed it too. It was her very first appear- ance in society ! and the embarrassment of it at first rather detracted from the pleasure. In truth, with a less skillful manager than her cousin she might not have been 80 well received. But Constance had added, to the few purchases Minnie’s purse enabled lier to make, the superfluities of her own wardrobe ; so that the city girl and the little wild girl of the prairie differed little in outside refinement; and it was astonishing, Charles declared to his sister, how such an unso- phisticated child could make such an impression. So Minnie was delighted with her experience; and espe- cially with the serenades they received. Constance had laughed herself nearly ill on the first occasion of this kind ;— so almost frantic was Minnie’s enjoyment of the music. She would not let Constance stir—and was as anxious to get a peep at the performers and their instruments as if they had - been Gorillas. Stl. “Why you silly child,” said Constance, “that’s only very ordinary music to take on so about.” “ Hush !” whispered Minnie. “I never heard any before ” Every glimpse she got into a higher sphere of life, strength- ened her purpose, if possible, to equal those she saw, in elegant attainments. Books were procured, which she studied diligently, making rapid progress in every new study. But best of all she loved her drawing. Having received from Fletcher, after his departure, an ample supply of the best materials, she conmiclbooks.com