Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-07-02
oppose as barrier to the encroachments


, Pardon me, my dear mother, if / ven
ture to tell you that women. however sen.
slble, are totally unable to Judge of the
characters of men. Living in the seclu.
sion of domestic life, assaied by few
temptations, and those of very ordinary
Kind, they cannot possibly comprehend the
nature and the circumstances of those who
must go into the world and face its perils
TO women, a very slight offence against
propriety and rigid morality seems dead.
~ sin; and a man is never forgiven by them
if ne has once been found guilty of the
least dereliction from the path of duty
F You are mistaken, Charles. l grant that
young and pure-minded girl can have but
little insight into human nature as il exists
in the opposite sex. To her, the pages of
that sinful and sorrowful volume, the heart
of man, must necessarily be sealed: but
when a woman has been wife, and has
fathomed the hidden depths of character
in her husband-when she has made his
, nature her study for years, the knowledge
which she then acquires enables her to
read much of the mysterious LORE
i Il suppose you mean that if a woman
has an evil-dsposed husband, she will learn
to doubt all the SEX
NO; mean that it is the duty of every
wife to study the character of him to
whom she has promised to devote her life.
since without such study she cannot learn
to assimilate herself to him, and let his
character be what it may, it opens new
!, and strange world to her. There is so
much in the nature of man which differs
essentially from that of her own sex, that
she often finds herself puzzled and con-
founded; but if she once succeeds in her
researches, she then possesses master
key which enables her to unlock many a
heart. l know enough of the temptations
and trials which assail your sex, Charles,
), to believe that the man who preserves his
integrity and purity of feeling, in the midst
of so many foes to both, is truly and en-
phatically only little lower than the an
gels He who passes through the fiery
ordeal unscathed should not be condemned
because the flames may have singed his
garments
yet, with the words of benovoence on
your lips, you condemn one whose only
error is what you call weakness of charac-
ter
And is not that the most comprehensive
of all errors! If Hartley were addicted
to some one vice and possessed decision
and resoluteness he could subdue and con-
quer the besetting sin; but when he is de-
fcient in moral energy he must necessarily
fall prey to vice.
We'll, there is no use in talking about it
now. l think Susan has acted very un-
wisely, for, after all, even if Hartley is dis
sipated, he is good hearted generous fell
low. He is nodody's enemy but his o,on.'
How detest thatexpression,' exclaimed
Mrs. Wharton, earnestly, it awakens a
host of painful reflections in my mind, and
comprises volume of shame and sorrow.
You look surprised Charles; perhaps can
better explain my severity and illustrate
your idea of a 'good-hearted man. by relat-
ing some incidents in the life of an early
friend. 1t is tale which | never meant
to relate, but your liberation for the errors
of the fascinating Hartley, has taught me
the propriety of warning you by example
rather than precept.
My friend whose name shall conceal
under that of Sophia -, was one of
those cheerful, merry beings. who in their
childhood seem created only for happiness.
She possessed buoyancy of spirit, and a
hopefulness Of temper, which certainly
promised much for the future, and | pre-
sumo her early years were spent in the en-
joyment of as much happiness as ever
falls to the lot of mortas. Left an orphan
at an early age, and being the heiress of
considerable patrimony, she had resided
with her guardian from childhood. He
loved her as daughter, and as she grew
TO womanhood, he hoped that her union
with his son would give her still stronger
claim to his affection. But this connection
never took place. Charles Haywood was
grave, studious YOUTH whose pale coun-
tenance and rather diminutive person, offer
ed no great attraction to a gay and thought
less girl; while his total want of those gra-
ces of manner which are only acquired in
polished society, prevented the full appre-
citation of his really fine intellectual gifts.
He loved her very fervently, but shy and
reserved he never essayed to win her
heart until it was no longer in her own
keeping.
Sophia was in the habit of passing part
of every winter in New York, for much
as she loved her guardian, her cheerful
spirits led her to find great delight in the
gay circles of the metropolis, and it was
during one of her visits to the city, that
she became acquainted with the young
and gifted individual who afterwards be-
came her husband. Possessed of very
versatile talents, Edward Liston had the
art of displaying himself to the best adj
vantage in society, and few while under
the influence of his destinations, ever
thought of sounding the depths of his in
tellect, orof questioning the actual worth