Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-11-20
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Life'S Ladder
BY ELLEN ASHTON.

BY ELLEN ASIION,
"Mary," said Mrs. Stewart to her daughter,
II think you go too far in allowing such p%articu-
lar attentions on the part of James Newton. lie
is Of excellent family, and quite agreeable, and
for a partner in the dance, now and then, might
do, but then he is but a poor doctor, and now,
when his attention become marked, it is time it
was checked"
90 Mary blushed and dared not look her mother
inthe face, for she felt guilty of having received
Newton's attentions without disfavor, and she
was too much under the control of her stepmoth-
er to ask whether the objection against her new
lover was valid. Mrs. Stewart saw her demeanor,
and reading her heart, proceeded =
There is George Sanford, now, who is indie
pendently rich, and could maintain a wife in the
first style. He admires you, and with a little en-
enlargement could be brought to propose"
"But ma" said Mary, looking up hesitating-
ly, after a pause, during which she piled her
needle with increased velocity, els it rights
it m~aidenly to make advances, even if one liked
the gentleman
Mrs. Stewart laid her work down on the Ia
wv olU oCuIIhS HClSCll Ill lHC ClldlI, Sdlu-
"Really, Mary, are you so full of such roman
tic notions!-Proper! to be sure.-MaidenIy!
Why, how else would such a bashfuI man as
Mr.. Sanford get a wife? No girl ought to over
step certain limits. But when she sees a man
dying for her, who yet is so modest that he lacks
the courage to address her, she is Ounce not
to encourage him. Men have to be managed,
child,-men have to be managed. | would not
for the world tell you any thing indecorous, nei-
Their would have you throw away a fortune from
false notions of propriety."
Mary piled her needle again with increased
r%apidity, and finally said, timidly-
"But suppose one cannot love the rich suitor."
She did not daie to raise her eyes as she spoke;
and when she had finished, her heightened CO.
lor and nervous agitation seemed to imply that
she feared the effect her words would produce.
Her mother suffered a minute to elapse before
replying, during which delay Mary felt as though
she would sink through the floor, for she knew
her mothers eyes were bent on her disapproy-
ingly, though she saw them not.
81 am astonished, at last began Mrs. Stew
art, 81 am astonished that you will persist in
these foolish notions. Love, what is it! The
love you dream of is a childish, ridiculous sent.
ment, which is d~issipated the moment you enter
on the realities of life. No sensible woman en-
tertains it for a moment; and the silly girls who
feed on romances, and marry with such feelings,
lose them with the honey moon, and repent
their conduct during the rest of their life. The
right kind of love is based on knowledge of the
means a sutton has to make you happy; and the
chief of these is wealth. 1t is an old proverb,
that "when poverty comes in at the door love
flies out of the window" and if you look round
among our acquaintances, you will see the truth
of the saying. There is Mrs. Beach, now a poor
slckly creature, worn down with care, who, when
married. was the bell of the circle. She married
for love, and don't now, | believe, spend one hap
Ply day in the year. Contrast her with Mrs.
Jones, whom you remember-a thin, embarrass-
ed girl, but who, since her marriage with the
rich Mr.. Jones, has been transformed into one
of the most lady-like of our acquaintance. and
has a carriage and servants at her control. She
always dresses in the first style, gives elegant
parties, and is the envy of all who know her."
Mary listened in silence, not daring to reply.
A silence of several minutes ensued, when Mrs.
Stewart resumed in a milder tone.
~ should be sorry to think, Mary, that you
entertained any sentiments, but those of a mere
acquaintance, for this Young physician. With
SandEord it is Il different matter. He is rich
and would ensure your happiness; but with Mr..
Newton fora husband, your life would be a con-
tlnual struggle against modification, want and
misfortune. But have the confidence in you
Which Persuades me that you agree with me-, and
that on SO important a matter as this, we shall
not differ. You have always been a dutifnl child,
Mary, and 1 hope in this matter you will not
pain my heart.'