The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-10-10

TTr QUAKER AND HIGHWAY
MAN.

Tony Symptom, a pattern to Quakcrs,
inhabited neat little house in London,
beauiicd by the presence OF his daugh-
fer Mary. She, scarcely seventeen,
beautiful blonde, with blue eyes, andpos-
sc.s;na as much wisdom as beauty, was
SOUGHT alter BY all the young men among
her iathcr's acquaintance. Those Of the
nciqnborhood tried in vain to win smile.
Mary was not coquctto, and so far
from turning to account the effect pro-
duccd by her charms, she felt SO much
ANNOYED by it that she could hardly treat
with ciyiity her many admircrs-one on
" cyccnted- Edward WcrcsGord "a young
artist who was ultimate with the family
4 simple occurrence was thc cause OF
this intimacy. Premature death had ta-
ken away the wife of the Quaker, still in
her youth and beauty, and he wishing to
.rrcluatc the memory Of one 50 dear to
um. had called q painter to her death
bed. It was there that Edward first met
the afflicted danghtcr-thcre, between
the tears Of the one, and the sacred en-
poymcnt of the other, grew up Il serious
attachment. The year passed since that
event had only served to strengthen the
bond formed under such circumstances
and the young man had already venturcc
TO declare his hopes and desires.
rTohy had no reasons for opposing tho
incnatons Of the young people. With
cut being rich, Edward earned, by mean:
ol his brush and pallet, enough to honor
ably maintain family. His father, Nj
WcresfJrd, an old city merchant, haC
retired with an immense fortune: a rar;
example Of repeated successes in specu
laiions, 50 rapid even, that very few per-
sons had been able to follow their pro
grcss. Mr. Wcrcslord being of a quick
Stern disposition, lived alone in the ives
end of London, without troubling himsel
about his son, and leaving him to shit
for himself. lie was one Of those oblig
inn cyclists who troubled no one, in or
der not to be themselves troubled-ont
ofthc most perfectly complaisant, proyi
dcd nothing is asked Edward then ha
nothing to hinder his couriship of the iai
Quakercss, knowing well that her fathe
would not oppose her marriage. Ih
situation OF the lovers was most prosper
Gus, and honest. Toby waited for moth
ing to fix the wedding day, save the bac
rents duo from his farms, intending to sc
apart that income to delray the expense
oil that occasion. With this view he le
his country seat, few miles from Lon
don, in order to arrange his affairs. II
was absent from home but single day
and returning at night on horseback, h
pcrceiycd Il little in advance n horsema
who blocked up the road. He stoppe
for Il moment, uncertain whether TO pre-
coed or turn back. While in this predic
ameut the stranger advanced toward hin
1t was too late to think of escaping, an
putting the best possible face on the ma
ter. he started his horse again. as h
approached the troublesome stranger h
perceived that he was marked, an M
pleasant augury Of what was soon col
firmed. The unknown drew pistol AN
pointing it at the traveller, demanded h
purse. The quaker was not coward
but calm in character, inoflensive in rel
gion, and unable, unarmed, to resist a
armed man, he drew from his pocko
with the greatest GOODNESS, his purse cor
tanning twelve guineas. The highway
man took it, counted out the money, an
let the Quaker pass. who, believing hin
self cleared, quickencd-his pace to tro
But tho highwayman, seeing how lttl
resistance had been offered and hopiD