American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-10-06
THE CLAY COVE MECHANIC.
BY d. C. CoLEsWoRTHR.
Let others sing Of lips and eyes,
AS more than half divine
The virtues of the heart | prize
And these. [ know. are thinr

And these, know, are thine
ado you think | would have any thing to
say to young Clinton? He must know do not
wish to see him and yet he persists in calling at
the house"
"But Charles is fine young man. lie has
an excellent disposition. You have noticed his
kind feelings and generous character. And
there no bad traits about him. Why, am
surprised to hear you talk So"
"Charles is we'll enough in his way, but
you know his father and mother-they still live
in that wretched old she'll in Clay Cove, and
haven't decent furniture. should be ashamed
to call there"
81 know his parents are very poor, and that
his father has been drinking man. But he
has joined the temperance society, and UNDER
stand he provides better for his family and is
striving to obtain good living"
"That may be true, but | can never for
get old Clinton, even though he has reform
ed. He has always belonged to the lower
classes"
"But Pm sure Charles behaves like a gen.
tleman. II his parents are poor and wretch
ed, he should not be treated unkindly, pro-
vded he behaves well and sustains IL good
character"
"True-but he has got nothing--is only
mechanic, and will always have to work for
living.
''Only a mechanic, you say? But what was
your father and my father?"
''But they worked only little themselves
and employed others. Now they are indepen-
dent. No matter what our fathers were. Time
has changed. shall have nothing further to
say to Clinton. If he calls at the house, shall
contrive to be busy up stairs. You may see
him and talk to him as much as you likc-but
| won't"
'You talk foolishly -especially as Charles is
as likely young man as we have in our neigh
borhood."
"Every one to her liking" said the girl, as
she left the ROOM,
Clara and Mary Edwards were COUSINS and
about the same age. The former had been
brought up with false notions. Her standard
of responsibility was fine exterior, graceful
manners and heavy purse. She bad often
declared in the presence Of her cousin, that she
would never associate with mechanic, more
especially if he sprang from poor family. But
Mary had different views. She respected all
men, whether dressed in broadc.oth or home
spun, and was as particular in her attentions
to the day laborer Of good character, as to the
individual who prided himself on his birth,
wealth and education.
Charles Clinton was the son of poor sail
maker. His father had been in low circum-
stances for many years, brought on by his in
temperate habits, and lie could barely earn sui
ficient to keep his family together. His mo-
Their was a ptudont and industrious woman, and
it was mainy owing to her exortons that they
had kept together for so long a time. At an
early are Charles left school, and went TO learn
the trade of printer He was industrious and
obligng, and gained the respect not only oFhs
master, but his fellow apprentices. Instead Of
spending his evenings OF his few leisure hours,
in the day, among the vicious and Pro!ano, or
in walking the streets in idleness, he would OBJ
tain some useful work and pursuse it, lie
would frequently carry home the newspapers OF
the day, when lie had nothing else to read, and
thus endeavor TO improve his mind. In tlhS
way he became intelligent-how could he 9th.
erwise?-and won the good will of all who
knew him. At times he would take sheet 0!
, paper. and sit in the little room with his mo-
ther endeavoring to place hia thought upon pa
per. Charles was never idle; he was either at
work with his hands or with his mind.
When Clinton became of are, he was en-
ploved by his master and received good wages
for services. Atthis time Charles was acquaint-
ed with but few females; among these, howev-
cr, was Clara Edwards, at whose residence he
visited, he being more particularly acquainted
with her father. He was cordially received by
the family, but Clara endeavored to manifest
her dislike to him in various ways, lie held
to no views which she did not oppose, and
would converse with him on no subject Once
he invited her to accompany him to pleasant
retreat, but she refused, by saying she was en-
gagged; but remained at home all day.
One evening he found most Of the family
had gone out and she was alone. lie endea-
vored to interest her by Introducing various to-
pics of conversation, but she manifested no in
terest in his remarks and he remained but a
short time This was before Ler cousin had ar
rived from the county. When she came he
found one who was willing to conyerso-who
behaved like lady to all who visited the house.
Mary Edwards had been at her consju5 about
I 4 week, when the conversation at the com
lnencement of our story took place. A day or
two after, Charles called at the house, but the
moment Clara saw him enter the door she left