The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-11-02

be broken up. And so il would inevitably
have been, but for the eldest girl, child of
eleven years old. Margaret Glover was
shy, modest little creature, and during her
mothers life renowned for nething but the
despatch with which she performed an er-
rand; and furthermore, she had been prais.
ed, by Miss Molly Griffin, for being always
careful to make her courtesy and shut the
door after her-two observances!from which
the thoughtful spinster angured that Marga-
ret would make an accomplished and use
lul young lady. And so it proved, for i'm
mediately on her mothers death she took
charge of the children, five younger than
herseif-managing them and the household
affairs with the diligence and discretion of
woman.
The inside Of their humble dewlling was
in reality more comfortable than the out
ward appearance would have Indicated
The large room was ceiled around and
plastered overhead, and always kept as neat
as fairy would have prescribed. 1t was
pleasant sight to look on the bright row
of pewter plates and porringers in the open
cupboard, with milk pail and wooden bowl
on the bsttom shelf--all arranged in the best
order for display. II was innocent and USE
fui vanity, however (f vanity ever de-
serves to be so consdered) for the praise
bestowed on Margaret's industry and neat
ness never made her proud, only more anx-
ious TO OBSERVER such commentator. Meth.
er were her thoughts all engrossed by her
housewfery, as is too often the case with
young notables. The necessity she felt Of
instructing her younger sister and brother.
aroused her to impose her own mind, and
she soon cxcelled in her taste for reading.
sef-instruction for strengthening the mind.
One twelvemonth's determined attention TO
our own progress in literature, is worth
years lounged away in the schools. In the
latter case, we are too often satisfied if
our instructors know what we should
Iearn-in the former, we learn for ourselves.
There are but very few people among
us reduced to such poverty as TO place their
children at service, or put them from their
care while young. Even Captain Glover
indifferent as he was to the opinion Of the
world, would have felt disgraced had he not
maintained his children. 1t was wonder
to many how he did it-but who ever knew
miller to starve! Notwithstanding the
few customers to his mill, his children were
(or rather his brother's) always looked
sleek. These things were set down not TO
the Captains credit but his daughters and
she became heronie of her own immediate
neighborhood, and her praise even reached
the extremities of the two contiguous
towns-quite a miracle for the fame of a
woman. She had many heroine accom-
plishments to be sure was fair as the fair
est are described, sung sweetly, and cut
bread and butter for her little sisters and
brother. as gracefully as Werter's Char
lotte and all before she was seventeen.
Such was the girl who had captivated Al
bert Eaton, graduate from Harvard, with
all the pride OF the college in his head, anC
the hope of eminence in the profession hi
had chosen the law, in his imagination
Could he marry poor miIler's daughter,
who lived in a house resembling salt boz
He probably never would have married he
but for one lucky circumstance in the con
stitution of ouI laws, the militia system wa'
all that gave him any hope of reconcilinl
his parents to his choice of wife.
Americans have two ardent passions tht
love of liberty, and love of Distinction
These passions mutually stimulate and in
crease each other the enjoyment Of equa
rights, as citizens, giving every man
chance of becoming eminent, aud that emin
ence being derived from living under frer
government, the Americans arc thus neces
sarly as ambitious of fame as they are te
paoious Of craedom We have oGIen heei