Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-09-29
As INTERESTING PICTURE.

AZ INTERESTING PICTURE
A young merchant, whom we shall cal
Morton, was united few years since to a
ss1>ost e liable girl whom he sincerely low.
ed, aud who returned his affections with
all the warmth and ardour his MANY yir.
tues deserved. At the time of their nup.
tlals MIR. Morton's business was lucrative
and apparently increasing, so that he
could indulge in reasonable anticipation
not only of eventual independence. but
OF attaining that desirable end without
denying himself and family the fashiona-
bic qualifications of the day. According
ly he furnished his house in a style Of
considerable elegance, kept several ser.
wants, and in other respects conducted his
family arrangements on liberal scale, and
which his iorefathers would perhaps have
deemed idly extravagant. His wife. too.
thinking to do credit to her husband. paid
little attention TO economy, and rather
made it her study to CRAFTY his taste than
to regard the expense it might occasion.
There was time when such general
propensity pervaded this country that
prudence herself semed to justify extraya-
gance. But these times had gone by, and
on those conntenances, where once sat
hope and confidence, now sat disappoint-
ment and despair. No longer could the
merchant engage in schemes of enterprise
tor he saw the more extensively he was in
business the more extensive were his los
ses. No longer could he place reliance
on the stability of his neighbour, for expe-
rlence was daily teaching, in painful les
sons, that the foundations of credit were
loosened, and those who had withstood
many storm now bent and yielded to the
calamities of the times.
But still the storm howled only without
the dwelling of domestick peace-it had
not yet wounded the merchant in his ten
derest concerns. Soon however, Mrs. M.
saw the gloom that misfortune was gather
ing on her husbands brow, and which
neither fler own affectionate solicitude nor
his chlldren's sportive playfulness could
chase away. Day after day passed, and
she sighed in silence. Atlength she ex.
torted from him the cause of his detection,
and learned that his business had declin-
ed. and that he had sustained multiplied
losses, which had deprived him nearly of
all his earning. There are women and
those whom the world call women of sense
too, who could have contented themselves
with sympathising with their husband,
and supposing that by affectionately shar-
ing his regrets, they had discharged their
duty. Not such women was Mrs. Nor
ton. She felt deeply for her husbands
misfortunes,but that feeling prompted her
to do what was in her power to assist him.
She Immediately commenced rigid sys-
tenn ofreform, retained only one servant !;
her table was not, as before, loaded with
luxuries, and the wine was banished from
her side-board. Her two children were
neatly but simply dressed, and she gazed
upon them with more heartfelt delight
than when covered with ribbons and use
less 6nery. She applied herself to domes-
lick avocations with undated diligence,
and carried economy into every depart.
ment of her household.
All this was not done, however, without
the opposition, and in some instances the
sneers, Of her acquaintance, but happily
the suggestions of pride and Incidence fell
harmless on the ears of Mrs. Morton for
she weighed them against her duty to her
husband and her affection to her children,
and the scales mounted in the air. Her
husband, in the mean time, though he
would have persisted rather than have pre-
scribed such conduct, saw her thus en-
ployed with new delight springing in his
heart, and in his appreciation she found at
once,a reward for past exertion and an
additional excitement to new. From the
much decreased expenses of his family he
was encouraged TO struggle against mis-
fortune, and his business soon began slow.
ly to revive, and though he cannot, as be-
fore, anticipate speedy wealth, yet from
the prudent care of his wife, and kis own
industry and application, brighter pros
poets are daily opening to his view. To
his partner he is now attached by new
tender tie of affection, for he has seen
that she can share and alleviate the dis
uess of adversely, as well as adorn and
dignity the prosperous station. Happy
Morton, who has such wife, and thrice
happy and lovely the woman who can thus
act From her example may every Ameri.
can fair learn to what course of conduct
lies the true dignity of female character,
May they learn that they were intended
by Providence, not merely to Goat. on ths
surface Of pleasure. OF auttsr like butter