The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-01-13
From Chambers Edinburg Journal.
A SIMPLE STORY,

A SIMPLE STORY.
The following little story derives no in.
terest from any surprising entanglementin
the plot, or peculiar romance in the situa-
tons. 1t will, however, we trust, be found
striking as series of actual and recent oc-
currences in the life of an individual, while,
as it chances, there is not wanting in its
conclusion pretty strong inference in ia.
yor Of prudent and virtuous conduct.
In small town, in certain part of Scot
land, there lived sometime since respec-
table writer or agent, whom We shall call
Brydon, widoWer, with 4 family of two
daughters and one son, all of them grown
up. Mr.. Brydon, like many of his pro-
fession, kept up respectable appearance
in society, but in reality had nothing to de-
pend upon except the current proceeds Of
his business. At his death, which took
place rather Unexpectedly, he left his
daughters entirely;depending upon the ex-
ertions Of their brother, who had been
trained to the pursuit oftheir fathers pro-
fessiou. But the son was not long in fol-
lowing the father to the grave, and the
two girls were then without a friend or
guide in the world. Necessity compelled
them Immediately to make an endeavor
to support themselves by the use of their
needles, and to do them Justice, they set
about il activity and ungrudgingly. The
elder Miss Brydon, however, was of a
weakly constitution, and subject to fire.
quent attacks of severe illness, so that the
whole burden, almost of their maintenance
fell on the youngest sister Margaret. She
toiled almost necessarily; yet let her do
what she might, she was barely able to
earn enough to procure the mere necessa-
ries of life, where its mere comforts were
almost Indispensable to the poor invalid.
Whether the issue would have been other
wise or not under happier circumstances,
| it is impossible to say; but, as it was, the
elder sister continued to decline until she
died.
Alone in the world, fricndlcss and pen
niless, with heart weighed down by
these successive calanities in her once
happy family, Margaret Brydon, then on
| y eighteen years of age, struggled for
some time longer to maintain herself in her
native place. But she found it difficult
task to live upon sympathy, of which she
received a suficiency, although extremely
little real assistance came in her way
At length she bethought her of female
relative in England, cousin of her late
father, and a person usually reportedto be
in wealthy circumstances. With this In
dividual tits true, Mr.. Brydon never kept
up any correspondence, and had never
mentioned her to his family but as a wo-
man of rude manners and Of a hard heart.
Poor Margaret, nevertheless, thought her
destitute condition might awaken pity e.
ven in the bosom of such a being, suppo-
sing her to prove all she had been repre-.
sented. A Journey to Nottingham, where
this relative resided, was therefore resol-
we'd upon, and it was soon accomplished,
as Margaret was not burdened with any
great effects, to render her removal diff.
cult. "
For three months after her arrival al
Nottingham, did Miss Brydon reside with
her relative, whom she found to be all and
more than her father had said. The old
lady, if such name should be given her
had started in life as housemaid, coarse
and uneducated, and had ended her ca
reer of service as housekeeper of noble.
man, who at his death left her consider.
able annuity to subsist upon in her latter
days. Her original rudeness Of character
had only been aggravated by alter-habits
of petty domestic rule; and although she
had asked Margaret to stay with her, she
behaved subsequently with such unkindnes:
as to make life almost unsuppbttable tc
the poor girl Finally proposal made
by the old woman who had added a keer
love of money to her other qualities, thai
Miss Brydon should take upon herself the
duties Of house servant at the coming
term, brought matters to point. "Hea
ven knows" said Margaret to herself, 81
am not unwilling to work! But if an
Ito maintain myself ] shall at least do +