MAY $ 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
UNDER THE DAISIES. 
It Is strange what a gT«at deal of trouble we take. 
What sacrifice most of us willingly make, 
How the lips will smile, though the heart may ache. 
And we bend to the ways of the world for the sake 
Of Its poor and scanty praises. 
And time runs on with such pitiless glow 
That our lives are wasted before we know 
What work to finish before we go 
To our long rest under the daisies. 
And too often we fall in a useless fight 
For wrong Is so much In the place of right. 
And the end Is so far beyond our sight— 
'Tis as one starts on a chase by night, 
An unknown shade pursuing. 
Even so do we see, when our race is run. 
That of all we have striven for little is won. 
And of all the work our strength has done. 
How little was worth the doing. 
So most of us travel with very poor speed. 
Falling in thought where we conquer In deed 
I,east brave in the hour of greatest need. 
And making a riddle that few mny rend 
Of our poor life’s intricate maces. 
Suoh a labyrinth of right, und wrong. 
Is it strange that a heart, onto brave and strong. 
Should falter at last, and most earnest ly long 
For a calm sleep under the daisies? 
But If one poor troubled heart can say. 
“ His kindness softened my life’s rouah way,” 
And the tears fall over our lifeless clay. 
We shall stand up In heaveo In brighter array. 
Than If nil earth mug with our praises. 
For the good we have done shall never fade. 
Though tne work he wrought aud the wages paid, 
And the wearied frame of the laborer laid 
All peacefully under the daisies. 
®ur $torr>-®^r. 
JOSIE MAKSH’S ELOPEMENT, 
BY MRS. GEO. RARTLETT. 
“ Well, Lyddy, did you ever hear of aucli a 
going on as this?” 
“As what?” 
** My gracious 1 and you haven’t heard a word 
about It I” and Miss Clarissa held up her hands 
In astonishment. She would have been dread¬ 
fully disappointed If Miss Lyddy had heard— 
hut she dropped in the old wooden rocking- 
chair and commenced rocking back and forth. 
“ Why, every one down in the village is talking 
about It, and you haven't heard a word! Well, 
Josik Marsh ran away this morning and got 
married." 
“Good land!” Hnd Miss Ltddy's knitting 
dropped, and the ball rollod across the floor. 
“ My gracious, yes ! She went off In that new 
traveling dross she’s Just had made; she and 
Clifford Bronson, and they’ve got married. 
Everybody’s talking about It. I just dropped 
In to see Debby and I found she was over to 
Mr. Marsh's, so I went over there and she was 
telling all about It to Abigail Root and Jane 
Mason. 
“ Well, you Bee the way it was— Debby told 
me all about It— Mr. and Mrs. Marsh started 
very early this morning to go to Hampton, and 
they left Josir. ail sitting quiet there, doing 
some sewing: what she was making Debby 
didn't know; but about uine o’clock she ran 
over to Debby, and she says,’Aunt Debby, I 
want you to come over to our house and stay 
two or three days, for pa and ma have gone to 
Hampton and l want to go to Plainfield to see 
Sue Coi.man.’ So Debby she went, and she 
says when she got there Josie had got on her 
traveling dress and her bag was in her hand; 
and she went off in the eleven o’clock train.” 
“ Good land 
“ Well, that Isn’t near all. Of course, Debby 
didn’t think nothing; but this afternoon she’s 
heard all about It. Harry Hastings came in 
and told her; and he knows, because he was 
there. You see, they were going to be married 
next month, ami to have a real splendid wed¬ 
ding, and IIarry was going to be—what do 
they call It?—why, groomsman. Well, you see 
Mr. and Mrs. Marsh started about seven this 
morning to go to Hampton, uever thinking of 
anything at all, and Josie she sat there bowing; 
and then you see at eleven off she went In the 
cars, she and Clifford. Harry just happen¬ 
ed to be lu the ear too. Well, when they got to 
Plainfield, Sue Colman got on the train ; now 
you see that was all planned out.” 
“ Of course It was.” 
“ Well, they got off at Waterford—you know 
Clifford's uncle preaches there,—and Harry 
said he thought he’d stop there too; but sure 
as you're allve.lt was all planued out. Well, 
this isn’t near all. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh just 
happened to stop and rest the horse there at 
Waterford—you know it's about half way to 
Hampton. Josie, I guess, never thought they’d 
stop there; but a* good luck would have It, 
they did; and I do think when a girl does such 
a thing she ought to be come up with ; and a 
girl that has got such a nice pa and ma aa she 
has.” 
“ Well, did they catch her?” asked Miss Lyd¬ 
dy, bracing herself by the arm of her chair, 
“ Catch her 1-didn’t they 1 Well, Mr. Marsh, 
you see, just drove up to the Eagle Tavern—he 
always stops there—and Mrs. Marsh, she got 
out and went In the tavern, aud Mr. Marsh he 
stopped to tie hla horse: when all of a suddent 
there came a man, a great big man, real fierce 
looking—he nad awful, bushy, black whiskers I 
and fierce black eyes, concealed by a great pair 
of green spectacles. He was a sort of brigand, 
Harry says. I suppose he had a gun over his 
shoulder and a sword, as brigands do.’’ 
“ Good land!” 
“Yes, and be handed Mr. Marsh a letter. Of 
course he took the letter, because the man stuck 
it into his hand. How he ever read it I don’t 
know, expecting so to be killed every minute.” 
“ Land's sake!” 
“ Well, all the letter said, • Be at the Brick 
Church at two o'clock.' That was every word. 
Of course he didn’t dare to go ; because you see 
he didn't know that anybody wanted him to 
catch Josie, and he was awful ’frald this brig¬ 
and wanted to get him off by the church so as 
to shoot him or cut his head off with the sword. 
“ Oh, I forgot to say when he'd done reading 
the note, bo couldn't see the brigand man any¬ 
where, aud he and Mrs. Marsh just thought 
they'd better drive home Just aa fast as they 
could. Mrs. Marsh, she was a-w-ful scared; 
then all of a suddent, she says, says she, ‘Now 
just you go the church and I’ll go along with 
you.’ ” 
“ Good land!” 
“Well, yes, they Just went to the church,—l 
guess one or the select-men went with them 
and some of the hired folks from the tavern. 
And the first thing when they looked In the 
church door—what do you think they saw? 
Why, their Josle and Clifford Bronsou a 
standing up and getting married ! Sue Colman 
was standing up by Josie, and Harry Hast¬ 
ings had some flowers in his button-hole, and 
was standing up too.” 
“ Harry Hastings !” 
“ Yes, such a nice young man as he is; but 
theu I a’pose be didn't know really what they 
was a going to do; but he says,‘Didn't they 
feel awful queer when Mr. and Mrs. Marsh 
came right in and caught them t" 
“Well, theu they didn’t get through getting 
married?" 
“ Why, good graolous 1 if they wasn’t so struck 
up In aheap, Mr. and Mrs. Marsh both of them, 
that they couldn’t say a word; and the minister 
didn't stop as he ought to—It was such a shame 
to him—but he kept right on and made the pro- 
nouncing.” 
“My land! then she really Is married I” 
“ Yes, and if that minister oughtn't to be 
takeu up, 1 don't know who ought. Harry 
says Josie cried when she saw her pa and ma, 
and as for Mrs. Marsh, she near about fainted 
away.” 
“ Land's sake! And did they catch that aw¬ 
ful, murderous man?” 
“ Harry says they haven’t got him yet, bu 
of course they will; they say somebody has 
seen him going off t^ the oorners." 
Miss Clarissa Green flung herself bank in 
her chair and commenced rocking violently as 
she finished her story. Of course she and Miss 
Lyddy went over It again ; indeed, again and 
again, detail by detail. For It was not a matter 
of uncertainty; but that hrlgand had very black, 
hushy whiskers, and his eyes were awrul fierce 
and concealed by green goggles. Also, It was 
perfectly certain that Josie was quietly sowing 
■when her father and mother left In the morning. 
Now, it was indeed not only Miss Clarissa 
jsroibTii Wales. 
and Miss Lyddy who were discussing this affair, 
but the whole village had been startled with 
the news aud every individual was exercised. 
Additional particulars were coming in. Mr. 
Simpson was In the cars and saw Josm ; he 
was Just going to speak to her when she drew 
a thick vail over her race and turned her head 
toward the window. Miss Blake saw Clif¬ 
ford and Harry together on the platform and 
didn't know, but rather guessed, they meant to 
get on the train. 
They were talking about this affair at the 
post-office; at Deacon White’s store; at the 
railroad station and among the Seminary girls. 
Harry Hastings was fairly a hero, for wasn’t 
he there, and didn't he see Josie ory and Miss 
M arsh faint? and wasn’t he surprised himself, 
never dreaming of such a thing when Clifford 
asked him to go up to Waterford with him, be¬ 
cause Clifford wanted to see a man there ?— 
and then they found Josie on the train ! 
The next day at evening, before people had 
half got through talking, back came the chaise 
with Mr. and Mrs. Marsh. Some folks said 
they looked angry, and some folks said they 
didn't, but that they had made up their miDdB 
to overcome anger and forgive Josie. 
E e long the public mind was satisfied that 
the naughty girl was to be forgiven ; and when, 
two weeks after, she made her first appearance 
In church with Clifford, she was as blooming 
and happy as bride might be. 
And now, after a fashion which 1s anything 
but proper in telling a story, let us go baok to 
a particular evening just a week before the 
elopement took place, Josie Marsh bad bade 
her father and mother good night and retired 
to her room when, finding Bhe had left a part 
of her sewing, she (stepped down again to the 
parlor. Her slippered feet stepped lightly, but 
she stopped at the door because her parents 
seemed in earnest conversation, aud at the In¬ 
stant her own name fell upon her ears. Josie 
was most certainly not an eave-dropper, but 
could she help listening Just a moment ? 
“ 1 as,” she heard her mother say, “ it would 
be a great disappointment to her; sho has quite 
set her heart on having the wedding a great 
affair; and then you know we have always 
promised that when she was married no money 
should be spared.” 
“Of course,” said Mr. Marsh, “I couldn’t 
expect Josik or any other girl to appreciate the 
case fully. You couldn’t mike a woman under¬ 
stand how damaging a grand display would be 
be to my credit, ooming just after all these fail¬ 
ures and the shaky state which ray own affairs 
have been In lately.” 
“ I understand It all,” said Mrs. Marsh. 
“ \ es, dear, as far as you can ; then, after a 
pause, “Johik's heart, I know, is set on this 
grand wedding, and l cannot bear to disappoint 
her.” 
"Well,” said Mrs. Marsh, " I think I ought 
to tell It her to-morrow and have It given up. 
We might, you know, Invite just a few friends 
and make a simple affair of It.” 
“Then, too,"said Mr.M arsh, “ entirely aside 
from tills very grave consideration, I do not 
think you are at all able to go through the fa¬ 
tigue of a large, fashionable party.” 
“I suppose that I ntn not,” replied Mrs. 
Marsh. “ I should, of course, get very tired ; 
but If my strength will only hold out to get 
through with It, that is ail I shall ask. I wish 
it was all through with.” 
They were preparing now to leave the room, 
and Josr» crept softy up stairs. 
Dear, dear,dear 1 What had she beard 1 The 
splendid wedding that she had thought so much 
of to be given up, and a little , private affair in 
its place I She remembered her mother had 
smiled sadly the day before, when sho had said 
It was time the satin was bought—that white 
satin at seven dollars a yard. That night Josie 
experienced the first real disappointment of 
her life. The elegant wedding, had she not 
thought and dreamed of It Tor the last half 
year ? 
And now she put out her light and sat down 
by the window to think and also to cry a little. 
Her father she Idolized, and should she be the 
one to bring trouble upon him? But a quiet 
affair! Oh, dear, that would mean a light silk 
instead of a long, trailing white satin, with a 
vail and wreath of orange flowers. This quiet 
wedding waa possible to think of. And Josie 
sat and pondored late Into the night. Suddenly 
she threw back her head, laughing softly. An 
idea had struck her; there were no more tears, 
but she laughed to herself as she crept In bed. 
The next morning, Just after breakfast, JostB 
spied Clifford going slowly by, with many a 
little glance toward the house. That Impatient 
Josle had, of course, something to say, so out 
she stepped on the piazza. Yes, she would just, 
get her hat and walk a little way with him; but 
full as she always was of fun and laughter, 
how should Clifford know what wa* In her 
head this morning? 
At last she said, “ Clifford, when people 
run away to get married—elope, you know—do 
they carry along bridesmaids and groomsmen ?» 
“ Why, bless me, l don’t know! Why, are 
you going to run away—from me?” 
“ Oh, no, no 1—hut there, you are laughing, so 
I shan't say another word ; I was going to tell 
you something, but now I shan’t.” 
Then followed a little gentle solicitation and 
Josie said, “ Well, perhaps this evening I will 
tell you." And so they parted, Clifford prom¬ 
ising, on no account, to use the word elopement 
during the day. 
What was said that evenlngby Clifford and 
what by Josie, does not transpire ; but the full 
particulars of that which followed have been 
given. 
A party did come off, two weeks after the 
return of the bride and groom, when everybody 
was invited and nearly everybody came, Miss 
Ltddy aud Miss Clarissa Included — the 
brlde’smald and groomsman also assisting. A 
quiet affair It was to be but, from the peals of 
laughter that sounded from that house, any¬ 
thing hut quiet It seemed. Every one had learn¬ 
ed that the story, as at first heard, was essen¬ 
tially true. It was ascertained that if Mr, and 
Mrs. Marsh were somewhat prepared for what 
happened in the Brick Church that day, they 
wero not precisely expecting it when they left 
home that morning. They were assured, too, 
that JosrE had really cried, and if Mrs. Marsh 
had not fainted, she had been much affected, 
which waa Just as good. 
Tne brigand still preyed upon Miss Clarissa, 
-figuratively speaking, “Clifford," she asked 
at the party, “ has anything ever been seen of 
that muderoua ruffian ?” 
“Why, Miss Clarissa,” was the reply, ” navo- 
'nt you heard that he was caught this afternoon 
and Is in the lock-up now ?” 
“ My gracious 1” 
“Why, yes; and now l think of it, I'll just 
step down there and bring him, to let you all 
see the scamp.” 
In about fifteen minutes Clifford was drag¬ 
ging In the resisting brigand. Suddenly there 
was a shriek;—the brigand pulled himself from 
his conductor, and rushing up to Miss Claris¬ 
sa, threw hia arms around her neck. 
Poor Miss Clarissa ! what could she do but 
struggle, throwing her bauds out wildly? But 
the brigand waa vanquished. In the lady’s grasp 
was a big, bushy, black beard, while a pair of 
green goggles fell to the floor and Harry 
Hastings stood confessed. 
Aud so ends our story of Josie Marsh’s 
Elopement. 
