Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-10-13
THE FAITHFUL SON.

10 one oil MS clerks, as they were together |
IN the contingencies one mornng-'give
me leave to say that you do not dress sulli-
ciently genteel to appear as clerk in a
fashionable store
Henry's face was sulf'used with deep
blush, and tear trembled on his manly |
cheek
"Did not know that your salary was sul-
Hccnt to provide more genteel habiliments,
continued Mr.. Dana, Il would increase it,
My salary is sufficient amply sufficient
sir replied Henry, in voice choked with
That proud independence of feeling which
poverty had not been able to divest him of
His employer noticed the agitation, and i'm
mediately changed the subject.
Mr. Dana was man of immense wealth
and ample benevolence he was a widower
and had but one child, daughter, who was
the pride Of his declining years. She was
not as beautiful as an angel, or as perfect as
Venus but the goodness, the innocence,
the intelligence of her mind shone in her
countenance, and you had but to become
acquainted with her to admire and love her
Such was Caroline Dana, when Henry be-
came an inmate of her fathers abode.
No wonder, then, that he soon loved her
with deep and devoted affection and reader
had you known him, you would not have
wondered that that love was soon returned,
for their souls were congenial they were
cast in virtues purest mould-and although
their tongues never gave utterance to what
they felt, the language of their eyes told too
plainly to be mistaken. Henry was the
soul of honor, and although he perceived
that he was not indifferent to Caroline, the
passion in his bosom was stiAed. i must
not endeavor to win her young and artless
heart am penniless. and cannot expect
that her father will ever consent to our union
he has ever treated me with kindness,
and | will not be ungrateful Thus he rea-
soned, and thus he heroically endeavored to
subdue what he called an Inflated passion
Caroline had many suitors, and some who
were fully worthy Of her but she refused
all their overtures with gentle but decisive
frmness. Her father wondered at her con-
duct, yet he would not thwart her inclina-
tons
He was in the decline Of life, and wished
to see her happily settled before he left the
stage of existence 1t was long ere he sus-
pected that young Henry was the cause of
her Indifference to others. The evident
pleasure she took IN hearing him praised,
the blush on her cheek whenever their eyes
met, all served to convince the old gentle
man, who had not forgotten that he was
once young himself, that they took more
than common interest in each others well
fare.
Thus satisfied he forbore making any re-
marks upon the subject, but was not as dis
pleased at the supposition as the penniless
Henry would have imagined.
Henry had now been about year in his
employ Mr.. Dana knew nothing of his
family, but his strict integrity, his ire
proachable morals, his pleasing manners, all
conspired 10 make them esteem him highly.
He was proud of Henry, and wished him to
appear in dress, as well as manners, and re-
spectacle as any one. He had often won
dered at the scantness of his wardrobe, for
although he dressed with the most scrupu-
ious regard to neatness, his clothes were al
most threadbare. Mr.. Dana did not think
this proceeded from niggardy disposition,
and he determined to breach the subject,
and if possible ascertain the real cause
this he did in the manner we have related.
Soon after this conversation took place,
Mr.. Dana left home on business. As he
was returning, and riding through beauti-
full village, he alighted at the door of a cot
tage, and requested drink. The mistress
with an ease and politeness that convinced
him that she had not always been the hum
Bile cottager, invited him to walk in. He
accepted her invitation and here scene
ofpoverty and neatness presented itself, such
as he had never before Witnessed The fur
niture, which consisted of no more thar
was absolutely necessary was so eXqnistlye
ly clean that it gave charms to poverty ant
cast an air Of comfort all around A veneer
able looking old man, who had not seemed
to notice the entrance of Mr.. Dana, sa
leaning on his staff; his clothes were clear
and whole but so patched that you coult
have scarcely told which had been the orig
inal piece.
That is your father presume |! said Mr.
Dana, addressing the lady
at is, sir"
ale seems to be quite aged"
'He is in his eighty-thrd year-he ha
survived all his children except myself"
"You have once seen better days"
al have. MY husband was wealthy, bu
false friends have ruined him; he endorse
notes to great amount, which stripped u
of nearly all our property, and one msiol
tune came after another, until we were RI
duced to poverty My husband did not lon
survive his losses, and two of my chidre
soon followed him"
"Have you any remaining children =
al have one, and lie is my only supper
Nv health is so feeble cannot do muci
and nv father, being blind, needs great a
tent;on Nv son conceals from me III