The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-05-13
Or, COnstuncy in the Nineteenth Century.

The assertion that "What is every body's
business is nobody's," is true enough; but
the assertion that ''What is nobody's busi-
ness is every body's," is still truer. Now,
love affair, for example, is of all others, a
thing apart-an enchanted dream, where
"common griefs g. cares come not" 1t is
like matrimonial quarrel-never to be ben
Gifted by the interference Of others; it is \
sweet and subtle language, ''that none un-
derstand but the speakers" and yet this fine
and delicate spirit is most especially the
object of public curiosity. 1t is often op-
posed before it exists; it is taken for grant
ed, commented upon, continued and ended
without the consent of the parties them
selves: though casual observer might sup
pose that they were the most interested ="
the business. .Ncite the greatest posi-
.,soe attention; but never was so much atten-
ton bestowed as in the little town of Aller-
ton, upon that progressing between Mr.
Edward Rainsforlh and Miss Emily Worth
ington. They had been charming couple
from their birth--werc called the little low
ers from their cradle; and even when Ed
ward was sent to school, his letter home
once quarter always contained his love to
his little wife. Their course of true love
seemed likely to run terribly smooth, their
fathers having maintained a friendship as
regular as their accounts. Mr. Worthing-
tons death, however, when Emily was
just sixteen, led to the discovery that his
affairs were on the verge Of bankruptcy
Mr.. Rainsforth now proved himself true
friend; he said little, but did every thing.
Out of his own pocket he secured small
annuity to the orphan girl, placed her in a
respectable family, and asked her to dine
every Sunday. With his full sanction,
"the little" became the "young lovers;"
and the town of Alerton, for the first time
in its life, had not a fault to find with the
conduct of one ofits own inhabitants.
The two old friends were not destined to
be long parted, and few months saw Mr.
Rainsforth carried to the same churchyard
whittier he had so recently followed the
companion of his bOyhood. A year passed
away, and Edward announced his intention
OF (pray let us use the phrase appropriated
to such occaslons,) becoming a votary ofthe
saffron god. The whole town was touch
ed by his constancy, and felt itself elevated
into poetry by being the scene of such dis
interested affection. But, for the first time
in his life, Edward found there was anolh-
erwill to be consulted than his own. His
trustees would not hear of his marrying till
he was two-and-twenty, the time that his
fathes's will appointed for his coming of
age. The rage and despair Of tie lover
were only to be equalled by the rage and
despair Of the whole town of Allerton. Ev-
cry body said it was the cruelest thing in
the world and some went far as to proph-
ecy that Emily Worthington would die of
consumption before the time came of her
lovers majority. The trustees were de-
= clared to have no feeling, and the young
people were universally pided. The trus-
tees would not abate one atom from their
brief authority; they had said that their
ward ought to see a little of the world, and
, they were both of them men of their word.
Accordingly, it was settled that Edward
should 90 to London for the next three
months, and see how he liked studying the
law. He certainly did not like the pros
pect at all; and his only consolation was,
that he should not leave his adored Emily
exposed to the designations of Allerton.
She had agreed to 90 and stay with heraunt,
some forty miles distant, where there was
Al n.