The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1841-08-20

} ing old man, "wouId you still be SO de.
sirous of wedding her -
"Why, to tell the honest truth, uncle,
do not think should, for an excellent
reason. Laura has been brought up as a
rich mans daughter, and, therefore, can
scarcely be expected to have had proper
training for a poor mans wife. If | were
compelled to support family on my pal
try business, it would be necessary to
have more prudent and economical com
panion than Laura is likely 10 prove ;
but, thank Heaven, that is not the case
"All are liable to revcrses of fortune,
Charles, and should such belal you in
future, you might chance to find that a
prudent wife without money is better
companion in misfortune than an cXtrava-
giant one who has brought a rich dowry.'
"My dear uncle, do not imagine all
kinds of unpleasant contingencies the
idea of what you call a prufcH icoDiaa
is shocking to my notions of feminine
character it always cOniures up in my
mind an image Of a sharp-voccd, keen
eyed creature, scoldIng at servants, fret
ting at children, and gathering slip-shod
about the house to look after candIe-ends
and cheese-parings. Before a woman
can become parsimonious she must in a
measure unscX herself, since the foiblc
most natural to the sex is extravaganza
the excess of liberal spirit"
"Nou are mistaken, Charles; that
there are such woman rs you describe,
busting, notable housewives, who pride
themselves on their ability to manage, as
they term it, and who practise cunning
because unable to use force, | acknow-
ledge; but they are chiefly to be found
among those who have been placed i'll an
unnatural position i'll society-womcn,
who having neither father, brother nor
husband to protect them, have been obi
gcd to struggle with the world, and have
LEANED to j0SfIe lest they should be j0Stled
in the race of life. But bachelor as am,
| have had many opportunities of study
ing the sex, and | can assure you that
economy, irugality and industry are by
no means incompatible with feminine de-
licacy, refinement of thought, and elegant
accomplishments"
"Well it may all be true, uncle" re-
piled Charles, utterly wcaried of the old
mans lecture, 'but it is too late TO reflect
upon the matter now, even if ! were so
disposed. am to be married next week,
and hope when you see Laura, you
will think, with me, and give me credit
for more prudence than you seem to be-
lieve | possess.
Charles Waterton possessed good feel
ings, and, as he believed, good principles;
yet, scduced by the ambition Of cquaIling
his richer neighbors, he had persuaded
himself into choosing a wife, less from
affection than from motives of interest.
Had Laura Tarleton been poor, he GER
tainly would never have thought of her,
since, pretty as she was, she lacked the
brillancy of character which he had al
ways admired. But there was n sin upon
his conscience, known only to himself
brow, even in the midst of his anticipated
triumph. There was 4 young, fair, and
gifted girl, whom he had loved with all
the fcryor of sincere attachment, and he
kncr that she loved him, although not
word on the subject had been uttered by
either. He knew that his looks, and
tones, and actions had been to her those
of lover, and he had little reason to
doubt the feeling with which he had been
met.-lIe had looked forward to the time
when he should be quietly settled amid
the comforts of a peaceful home, and the
image of that fair girl was always the
prominent object in his pictures for the
future. But change came over the
spirit Of the whole nation. Wealth pour
ed into the counry--or at least what was
then considered wealth---and with it came
luxury and sloth.-Thc golden stream
came to some like mountain torrent,
and others began to repine at receiving it
only as the tiny rlvuIct. People made
haste to be rich" and Charles Watcrton
was infected with the same thirst after
wealth. lie met with Laura Tarlcton,
learned that she was an orphan hclrcss,
and instantly determined to secure the
gliltering prize. Ambition conquered
the tenderness Of his nature I; he iorsook
the lady of his love, and after an acquaiut-
ancc of six weeks, succeeded in becom-
ing the husband Of the wealthy votary Of
fashion.
Not long after his marriage, he discov-
cred one slight error in his calculations,
and found out that his wiic's hundred
+ thousand dollars had in reality dwindIed
down to thirty thousand. But even this
was not to be dcspiscd, and Charles, con
scious that he had nothing but talents and
: industry when he commenced life, felt
that he had drawn prize in the lottery.
l Grateful TO his wife for her preference o