Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-07-22
luce me to enter into it from mcrcenary mo-

'Mcrccnary, sir, mercenary, Whoever be-
fore dared to couple that word with my name !!
exclaimed the counsellor, raising himself to his
full height, aud fixing kindlng eye upon his
son.
Then pacing the apartments few turns he
stopped opposite to him, and added,
You speak of the affection tha, should pre-
cede marriage. Have the goodness to under
stand that the mieplacing of yours may matcri-
ally affect your patrimonial inheritance He
seemed to wait for reply, but in vain. 'NTay
| inquire if you have thus carly presumed to
decide seriously on the preference ofany young
lady as companion for life ,
q have sir
May be favored with knowledge of her
namc!'
Miss Martha Danbridgc.'
The high-spiritcd gentlemen parted in mu-
tual resentment but the reflections of night
restored them to better feelings. The father
began to excuse the son, by recalling the warmth
Of his own early attachment ; while the son
referred the tcstincss of the father to the har-
rowing disappointment of long cherished plan,
and the qucrulousncss of feeble health. Still, as
as it usually happens with proud men, neither
would open his heart to the other; and slight
though almost imperceptble coldness gathered
over their intercourse. But this interview
served as a stimulant TO matrimony. The
temporary reserve Of the father, throwing some
thing like gloom over the paterna mansion
heightened the frequency of the visits OF the
lover. The gentle object ofhs preference ina
gined no barrier to an alliance where there cx-
listed no inequality and he forbore to commu-
nicate what could only occasion perplexity, and
what he trusted would soon vanish like the
'baseless fabric ofa dream According to
happy prescience, the lofty counsellor gave his
consent to the nuptials, and the flower of the
court Of Williamsburg became bride in the
blush of her seventeenth summer.
Their residence was retired and romantic
mansion on the banks of the Pamunkey. It
reared its white walls amid profusion of vines
and Towering trees. Broad plantations and
the wealth of Virginia forests variegated the
grounds Rural occupations, and the delight Of
each others society, prepared for them what
they deemed a paradise. In visits to their ia
vored dwelling, the Chancellor learned to ap-
preciate the treasures of his new daughter.
Her excellence in the responsible sphere TO
which she was introduced won his regard and
with the ingenuousucss Of an honorable mind
when convinced of an error, he sought every
opportunity of distinguishing her merit, which
he had once been reluctant to admit. When
he saw the grace and courtlincss with which
she maintained general hospitality; the judg-
mcnt far beyond her years displayed in the
management of her servants the energy, the
early rising, the cheerful nlocrity with which
she regulated and bcautifcd the internal me-
chanism of her family; the disintcrcstcdness
with which she forgot herself, and sought the
good Of others; but, above all, her untiring de-
votion to her husbnnd, and the little ones sprung
up around her, he gloried in the sentiment of
his son, which, indeed, he had always believed,
though he was once in danger of swerving from
1t, that strong personal affection is essential to
! the basis of matrimonial affection.
But the scene of exquisite felicity was not
long to last. The death of her two oldest
children prepared her for deep loss in her be-
loved and es,inable husband. In the trying
situation of young, beautiful, and wealthy
widow and mother, she was still able to conduct
herself with unvarying discretion, and faith,
fully TO discharge every important duty.
| 1t was in the spring Of 1888 that TWO gen.
tlemen attended by servant, were seen riding
through the luxuriant scenery with which the
county of New Kent, in Virginia, abounds
The most striking figure OF the group was tall
graceful man, apparently about twenty-five OF
twenty six years of age. lie would have been
model for a statuary when Rome was in her
best days His companion was an elderly man.
in plain garb, who, by the familiarity by which
he pointed out surrounding objects, would seem
to be taking his daily rounds upon his own es
tate. AS they approach the avenue to an an
tque mansion, he placed his hand on the reir
of his companion.
Nay, Colonel Washington, let it never be
said that you passed the house of your father.
friend without dismounting l must insist OF
the honor of delaying you as my guest.
Thanks to you, my dear sir, but ride in haste
the bearer of dispatches to our Governor il
Williamsburg, which may not brook delay
'Is this the noble steed which was given L