Litchfield enquirer., 1844-06-27

II
had been surrounded with wealth, she never till
now knew the value of money. Athousand Fefec-
lions, doubts and fears crossed her mind, az she
was pursuing her journey to the place desig-
mated by the girl of whom she had enquired in her
fathers kitchen and though she felt sad at the
thought of being driven from home, she could
scarce suppress smile at the awkwardness with
which she should engage in any kind of labor.
She at last arrived at the house of Mrs. D,
the lady designated by Hannah, and easily obtain
ed board in the family. She also learned Mr.. p,
the overseer whose name she had taken, was in
want of help.
1t is unnecessary for us to follow the fortunes of
Maria through their various channels. She enter
ed the factory, learned to work, and found many
friends among whom, the only one it would be of
interest to the reader to name, was Caroline Per-
kins, girl about her own age. These two soon
became intimate friends. In the factory their looms
were next to each other, and they occupied the
same room at their boarding house. They were
much attached to Mrs. D, with whom they
boarded, and she in turn evinced deep interest in
their welfare.
About six months after Maria entered the factory,
an incident occurred which bound if possible the
two friends closer to each other. One evening as
they were in the chamber, and Caroline was enga-
ged in re-packing large trunk, Maria was looking
on, was rather surprised at the amount of clothing
and jewelry possessed by Caroline, and jokingly
enquired if her beau was jeweller
Caroline blushed, and after some hesitation in
formed Maria that her father had once been veal
thy, but at his death it was ascertained that his
property, though ample sufficient to pay his debts,
would be swept away by the failure Of some friends
for whom he had endorsed notes. The creditors
had allowed her to keep every thing given her by
her father except her piano. She also told her that
although she might have supported herself by mu-
sic teaching she preferred working in factory to
remaining among those, who, though they were
intimate friends would consider her, after the
loss of wealth, as far as below them.
Maria repaid Caroline by telling her own history,
and her reasons for leaving home, and corroboraed
her story by the display of ewelry and other trnk
cts her father had allowed her to take.
Probably there never were two persons who enc
joyed themselves better than these two girls. None
| save themselves knew their history, and as their
natural dispositions were not arrogant, they never
appeared to be above their fellow laborers. For
two years they remained together, at the end of
which Caroline was married, and at the urgent re-
quest of herself and husband Maria was induced to
leave the Factory, for while at least, and take up
her abode with them.
One day, while Maria was engaged in perusing
paper which had been left at the house, her eyes
fell on paragraph stating that Mr.. Henry Stevens,
who had always been considered a wealthy mer-
chant, was arrested and committed to prison for
committing heavy forgeries. She handed it to Car
oline, with shudder. exclaiming, sAs expected
The next brought intelligence that no doubt was
entertained of his guilt; and that MIR. Grafton, if
not entirely ruined, would be heavy loser on ac-
ccount of his villainies, he hired of him large
sum of money. For moment Maria INDUCED in
the idea of Immediately visiting her father; but af
ter consulting with Caroline, concluded to wrtet to
him, which she did-begged his pardon for not
obeyng him, and request him TO receive her again
to his arms, adding, postscript, that she had
one hundred dollars which she would send him if
he was in want of money topaz his losses by Ste
yenss' Her father read her letter with feelings
more Of sorrow than anger, but at the end Of it
| broke out in hearty laugh, exclaiming-- .s
well, women ethe best judges Of rascals.'
In few days he visited Maria, expressing his
regret for the hehad caused her, and request
ed her to return with him. Maria complied with
his request, and became once more inmate of her
early home. Her father endeavored by every means
to make her happy, as an atonement for past
wrongs and when about year after she asked
his consent te her marriage with mechanic, with
out wealth, he answered, Do as you please, Maria,
have learnt to let every girl choose her own hus
band.