Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-04-28
THE BRIDAL ROBE.

Y III r
aprs,,v oo;ngs ON indeed :" cried Mrs. Biug-
,.n,,nn addressing her daughter, "l'll warrant
o,d u,rs Ket,lrr.s Golfers will soon be emp
,;sd INV that reprobNe prodigal son OF his =
There's 10 be a grand feast Of the tp-top bur.
.s.sess forsooth, and the serving men have all
CO, new liyeries, that would be tit Tor the reti-
nur of the Duke of Burgundy himself. they
are rolling in the hampers aud barrels oil wine
,s if il was so much water; nothing but IN.
hes, vintage will 60 down it seems, with 'hIs
dainty gentleman The ,iands are all OF the n
mes, and most costly description, and there have
beep two extra cooks hired 10 dress the dinner:
while here am !. who little thought, when
married Mr. Bruggemann, the senior partner
in the firm, of coming to distress, Obliged to
fac hard all day long for little more than
dry crust. and to ZEE you working your hngers
to the bone to keep life and soul together
have no pa,ience when look at that ungratetul
Maurice Kettler, and think Of all tina! my hus-
band did for his family, raising them out OF the
dirt, as one may saw" "Nay, but dear moth
cr," returned Lena, Maurice is in all prooa-
bili,y. ignorant of the benefit which his father
received from mine, and you know that /, was
moi the elder Kettler's fault that the partner
shin was dissolved We must strive to forgeI
the errors of one so deservedly dear TO us, YET
Justice compcs me to remind you, that my poor
fathers tenacious adherence 10 ruinous sys-
tenn, was the sole cause of our mistortunes: had
he taken Kerilers advice, our circumstances
would have been as fourishing as those OF his
SON.
Lsna's mild remonstrance was last upon her
mother. She continued to gaze from the mar
row window Of the mean apartment which she
occupied over an clubhouse, looking upon Mau-
rice Ke,tler's new mansion and gardens in the
suburb Of the CITY, TO comment upon the iuxu'
~, proiligacy, and extravaganza Of their neigh.
bour, and TO lament over her own fallen fortunes.
The theme was particularly distressing TO Lee
ma, she felt the hardships fher lot very severely,
but, resigned 10 the will Of heaven, & depending
upon a gracious Providence. she earnestly eDded-
vored TO Danish disc on ient from her mind. Bend
ing over the embroidering frame, 10 which she
devoted herself with interchangeable industry, she
stro,s To fix all her attention upon the tiowers
which sprane up beneath her creative fingers.
This state of qui.tude, however, was Lot per
mi,ted; Mrs. Bruggemann's continual exclama-
tions disturbed her meditative thoughts. Not
fowl, or ham. or quarter OF venisop could
pass through Ke,!ler's gate, without exciting
animadvcrsion "Ohr' cried the old lady,
vcxed at Lena's unrufArd composure," if peo,
pie were honorable and kept their contracts,
you would have been the mistress Of all this
magnihcence; but there is no chance OF tina,
now; Won fine gentleman mus, needs match him.
self with nobility, and his marriage with Miss
Cunegonde, Baron Hodenburg's daughter, is
all The talk 60 where you will" '
Poor Lena suppressed the sigh which swell
ed her gentle breast at this speech. She re-
membered the time when Murice kettler de
lighted TO call her his little wife; indeed, so
strongly had the solemnity Of the engagement
entered into in more prospe rous times between
the two families, been impressed upon her
young mind, that it was with difficulty she
eound fancy the possibility Otis being dissolved.
She tried to exonerate Maurice from all blame:
he probably had not heard the subject mentioned
SO often, and, sent away very young 10 attend
TO his fathers mercantile concerns at Antwerp,
he might have forgotten those idle words whic h
she had cherished in her heart OF hearts. II
was during the absence Of Maurice in Holland,
that old Brnggemann withdrew from the firm,
and pursuing some very hazardous specu!ations,
LOST all his property, and died Of broken heart
In the interim Hans Keitler amassed great
wealth, which he bequeathed TO his only son,
who returned from Antwerp, after residence
OF eight years, 10 take possession Of his inheri
her beloved playmate with delight: he had been
the partner Of all her infant sports, her tutor,
and her guide; she loved him with undivided
affection, for his place had never been supplied
by any new connsxion, either male or female:
as Mrs Bruggemann maintained decent pride
10 her adversely, and though abandoned by her
old acquaintance, refused to assoc late with the
mean people who composed the circle around
her, upon the decease of her husband, the dis
,ressed widow retired with her daughter TO
cheap lodging in the outskirts OF the city, where
by spinning and embroidery, they earned a
scanty subsistence. The tenement which al
forded them shelter was buili,- as before des.
cribed, against the wall of spacious garden;
and when they frs, took possession, the demesne
having been long uninhabited, was exceedingly
quiet and secluded Lena liked the spot: after
she had 6nishedsher day. work, when she found
leisure to inhaIe the fresh air from hes window,
the whole place in its solitude seemed 10 belong
to her; and she the less regretted the loss Other
own flowers, since she could gaze upon the lux
uriant though untrimmed blossoms of the par
,erres below. Both mother and daughter, from
e