te
were engaging in a matter of a very different nature. A little flame of
love had begun to burn in their youthful hearts, and was giving out such
manifestations of tenderness. I have noticed that when once the little
under-current of love begins to ebb and flow in young and innocent
hearts, it will break over whatever obstacles you put in its way, and
rarely stops until it has reached that haven of happiness called
matrimony. The parents of these young people seemed to have been cast in
opposite moulds, mentally and physically. Their modes of thought, their
expectations, and their manner of living differed entirely. Hanz
Toodleburg was simple-minded, honest, contented with his lot in the
world, smoked his pipe, and lived in peace with his neighbors. And these
he esteemed the greatest blessings a man could enjoy. Chapman was
restless, designing, ambitious of wealth, and ready always to quarrel
with those who did not fall in with his opinions. Indeed, he never
seemed happier than when he had a quarrel on hand; and he had the rare
tact of turning a quarrel into profit.

It was very different with the young people. In their innocent hearts
the fires of love had been kindled, and they were burning brighter and
brighter every day. The thought that they should incur opposition from
their parents never entered their minds. They would meet together of a
Sunday afternoon, and walk by the river side. They would meet and talk
over the gate as Tite passed and re-passed Chapman's house. And Mattie
was sure to meet him at the gate as he passed on his way to New York.
And then there would be an affectionate good-bye, and Mattie would watch
him until he had disappeared beyond the hill. The ordinary observer
would have seen in Tite's blushes and confused manner, whenever he met
Mattie, how the current of his love was setting. And when he returned at
the end of the week there was something for Mattie, some little token of
his affection; a proof that he had cherished her in his thoughts while
absent.

This little love affair did not fail to attract the attention of the
Chapman family. Nor was honest Hanz Toodleburg indifferent to what was
going on. Indeed, the gossips at the inn had joked Hanz about it,
hinting at a future connection of the two families. To all of which Hanz
would reply that Tite was only a boy yet, and had a good deal of other
kinds of business to do before thinking of what sort of a wife he
wanted. "If ta torter ish