Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-03-15

where. ara.
Poor Sir Peter did not manage matters
well; indeed, with the best intentionl in the
world, he made them worse. Ii WIS no,
likely that one who had never beenaccus-
TONED to opposition, should all at dnce O..
hey the dictaton of grandfather. Oppo-
sition TO the match would Immediately have
brought matters to the desired poini-ior
Frederick though not quite aware of ii him.
self, devotedly loved the fair Maria. Blu,
she, like the rest of the world, had assisted
to spoil him she had been too accessible,
too asily won and really loving him, who
had paid her such marked attention, Fred
erick had never seen look or word be.
slowed upon another, which could give him
the slightest uneasness. A panG of jeal-
ousy would probably have at oseess opened
his ewes TO the state of his own hsesrt. nut
always kindly received by Maria, and al
ways happy in her society, the spoiled child
saw in her kindness, and in her smiles,
nothing beyond the voluntary and unsolici-
ted preference which he had been but too
well accustomed to receive from others.
He was therefore never driven by doubt or
any solitude TO pause and scrutinize the
state of his own heart.
Instead of offering fegned opposition to
the match, however, Sir Peter opposed the
line of conduct pursued by his volatile heir,
and, continually horping on the subject, he
at last made the wilful young man believe,
that Of all disagreeable things in the world
marriage with the woman who was really
dearest to him Of all beings on earth, would
be the very worst.
'My dear sir, he cried one morning AT
breakfast, after hearing long lecture on
the subject, 'how you do tease me about
Miss Denman.'
tease you, Fred said Sir Peter, tease
you for shame; am urging you to Sc
cure your own happiness.
'Surely, sir, he replied there is plenty of
time--I am still very young ~
young, sir!-you are a boy, sir; boy
in judgement and discretion very
child, sir; and what is worse a spoiled
child
'Well,' said Frederick laughing, don't be
angry; if am a spoiled child, the fault is
not mine.
'Yes it is, Fred-I say it is things that
are really good of their kind are not so cast
ly spoiled
'lndeed = said Frederick, with look Of
innocent surprise, and, taking up Sir Pc
:er's gold watch which lay upon the table, he
opened it and pretended to poke about the
wheels.
q sec what you mean, you satirical mon-
key cried Sir Peter, laughing: give me
my watch, sir, and let me now tell you that
where there is real sense and stability, the
man will very soon learn 10 get rid of the
selfshness-yes, Fred, | am sorry to re-
peat it, scfishncss was my word--tho sell
lishness and selfimportance, resulting from
over Indulgence in childhood
Il wonder that any one should care about
a selfish consequential fellow, like myself
said FREDERICK.
you mean to insnuate that you have
been and arc q general favorite, popular
with every body, and well received by all :?
| grant it, my dear boy, / gra mt it, and |
should be the last person to say that wonder
at it; but then you have got into one or two
scrapes lately
How do you MAN, said his grandson,
when and where.
why, for instance, the Simonses, with
whom you were SO intimate; did not Mr..
Simmons ask you rather an awkward
question the last time you were theref'
He asked me my Intentions said Fred
erick, my views with regard to his eldest
daughter Caroline, he inquired in fact if
was serious
"A puzzler that, hey Fred!' chuckled the
baronet, who was not sorry the occurrence
had happened.
ut was awkward, certainly said the youth
but how could ! help it'll They invariably,
encouraged me to 60 to the house, and
positively never was more attentive TO one
daughter than the other.'
Possibly not, said Sir Peter, but depend
upon it, where there are young unmarried
daughters in family, fathers and mothers
never receive the constant visits of a young
man without calculating probabilities, and
looking to consequences. However, for
Susan Simmons care not three straws:
am only anxious that a similar occurrence
should not deprive you of Miss Denman's
society,"
THAT is a very different affair, sir
said Frederick surely you would not
compare Susan Simmons with Miss Den.
man.
'Ahp said the old man, that delights me-
now you are coming to the point, tho other
was mere flirtation-all your former fan.
cies have been mere filtration you really
love her, she is the woman you select for o
wife,
q did not say any such thing, have nc
thought of marriage, | am too young, toe
unsteady, If you will.'--
Unsteady enough, admit said Sir Pc
ter, 'but by no means too young beside:
your father being dead, and your mother
having made second marriage, your homo
as a married man will be SO desirable fol
your sisters
Il wonder you never married again, sir,
said Frederick.
You would not WONDER said Sir Pete
feelingly, 'had you Witnessed my happiness.
with the woman I loved never tel me tina
taking second wife is complimentary Il
the first. II is tacit culogium on the mar
rage state, grant you: but consider
any thing rather than a compliment to tht
individual in whose place you put success
sor. They who have loved and who have
been beloved like myself, cannot imagine
the possibility of meeting with similar hap
piness in second union. Plead the pas
sions If you will, as an apology for secon'