The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-11

tiers who, having been judiciously brough
up to habits of industry and economy, were
rather assistants than drawbacks upon thei
parents. They were all well behaved
good looking girls, and in the bright sum
mer holidays, and long winter evenings
seld ap failed to he plen,ifully supplied
with those necessary, though often mis-
chievous, troublesome, and WORTHLESS.
things, called gallants. The Mertons hae
some wealthy relatives in Philadelphia
and one of them, generous old bachelor
sent Mary one summer an elegant golf
chain, with diamond clasp, of exquisite
workmanship, and great value. | do no
know precisely the amount in dollars, blu
it was some hundreds; and these were
speedily magniiied into thousands by the
astonished ratives, whose eyes had never
beheld so rich spectacle.
Mary Merton was accordingly the toas
in all the country round-the golden chain
evidently added wonderfully 10 her charms
she was courted by every body, and had
her choice among the beaux. She mar
ried The chain adorned her neck at the
wedding; and the bridegroom looked mos,
lovingly on her and on the bright folds Of
that gay ornament alternately, 'and smiled
and looked, and smiled and looked again. >
For time she wore it in every party, and
was the envy Of her less fortunate COM
panions, and although when the first Won
der wore away they ridiculed it a little,
and remarked that Mary's wedding and
outfit was only ten times more costly to
her father than it would have been had
she never seen the chain, that it made
fine clothes necessary TO correspond with
it, &C., yet it was easily seen that the
young married couple bore themselves
more stately, and with more self compla-
cency than was usual, on its account, and
the young bride even showed some symp-
toms of superior Importance towards her
husband, and these proved that she did
not regard what others might say or think.
Time passed away; the young people
began the world genteelly-but things did
not prosper well. The mistress of such a
golden chain could not descend to the en-
tire level of usefulness and industry in
family matters. The husband became in
tected with sundry notions of gentility,
not altogether compatible with his circum-
stances. The chain became sinking
fund. 1t brought one expense after ano-
Their, and yielded no profi;--for it was a
present and could not be sold--and it
Turned out in the end ruinous affair."
One Of the last recollectons associated
with Mary and her partner, is the sale of
the golden chain, by the constable. for a
store debt, containing many an item Of
silk and satin and all the C, ceteras of ex-
iravagance. They left the country soon
after, in poverty and notification
The story is short and leaves the greater
room for improvement. Whenever see
a poor person wrappedu up iii family pride,
and holding his head, full of notions Of
quality, in lofty idleness, above the CON-
mon class, canno, help thinking of the
golden chain, and the consequences that
grew out of its possession.
When | see young lady, remarkably
or accomplished, and priding
herself on the one or the other, | fear the
lad who catches her will catch golden
chain into the bargain.
1t Is somewhat questionable, whether,
under any circumstances, a life of idleness
is an innocent life. He who is not en-
gagged in some useful employment, cannot
certainly fulfil the duty every one owes to
society and his maker. No elevation, no
wealth, no rank, can be disgraced by
labor. SO the great Cincinnatus thought.
A mistake has in our days crept into So
ciety, viz: Industry is considere dis
graceful, and Idleness, honorable - the
reverse is the motto of WISDOM Oqh,coo1.