head sank down upon her bosom � what what exclaimed the but ere he could complete the question the timid creature fell upon the floor for a long time she lay in that friendly trance for such in truth it was to a delicate being subjected to an ordeal so as that she was called upon to pass through we have that there is in the young especially in those of the softer sex a feeling of terror and shame and confusion when called upon by their parents to disclose a forbidden passion that renders its perhaps the most formidable task which the young heart can it is a fearful trial for the youthful and one which parents ought to conduct with surpassing delicacy and unless they wish to drive the spirit into the first steps of falsehood and deceit father said john i think you may rest satisfied with what you witness and i am sure it cannot make you or my mother happy to see poor miserable who been during greater part of her supported in her weeping and alarmed mother s arms now opened her eyes and after casting an look about the room she hid her face in her mother s bosom and exclaimed as distinctly as the violence of sobbing grief would permit her oh mother dear have pity on me bring me up stairs and i will tell you the of � i do i do pity you said the mother kissing her i know you ll be a good girl yet said her father placing his hand gently on her shoulder was i ever harsh to you or did i � father dear she returned interrupting him i would have told you and my mother but that i was afraid there was something so utterly innocent and in this reply that each of the three persons present felt sensibly affected by its extreme and simplicity don t be afraid of me continued the but answer me truly like a good girl and i swear upon my that i won t be angry do you love the son of this not father because he s s son said whose face was still hid in her s bosom i would rather he wasn t but you do love for three years he has scarcely been out of my mind something that might be termed a smile crossed the countenance of th at this intimation god help you for a foolish child said he you re a poor when left to defend your own cause she won t defend it by a falsehood at all events observed her and affectionate brother no she wouldn t said the mother and i did her wrong a while ago to say that she d anything about it and are you and o promised to other inquired the father again but it wasn t that proposed the promise returned oh the desperate villain exclaimed her father to be guilty of such a thing but you took the promise you did you did i needn t ask no replied vol l� l z the mi ok no re echoed the father then you did not give the promise i mean she rejoined that you needn t ask oh faith that the case now this all this promising that has passed you and o is mere folly if you prove to be the good girl that i hope you are you ll put him out of your head and thin you can give back to one another whatever promises you made this was succeeded by a silence of more than a minute at length arose and with a energy of manner that was evident by her sparkling eye and blood less cheek she approached her father and calmly kneeling down said slowly but firmly father if nothing else can satisfy you will give back my promise but then father it will break my heart for i know i feel how i love him and how i m loved by him i ll get you a better husband replied her father far more wealthy and more respectable than he is ril give back the promise said she but the man is not living except o that will ever call me wife more wealthy more respectable oh it was only himself i loved father i m on my knees before you and before my mother i have only one request to make oh don t break your daughter s heart god direct us exclaimed her mother it s hard to know how to act if it would go so hard upon her sure � amen said her husband may god direct us to the best i m sure god knows he continued now much affected that i would rather break my own heart than yours get up dear rise john how would you advise us i don t see what serious objection after all replied the son either you or my mother can have to o he is every way worthy of her if he is equal to his character and as for wealth i have often k ths of li na heard it said that his father was a richer man than yourself all said the mother she might be very well him i ll tell you what i ll do then said the let us see the ould man himself and if he settles his son in life as he can do if he wishes why i won t see that poor foolish innocent girl breaking her heart who sat with her face still averted now ran to lier father and throwing her arms about his neck wept aloud but said nothing ay ay said the latter it s very fine now that you have ever your own way you but sure you re all the daughter we have and it would be too bad not to let you have a little 