Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-09-25
MISCELLANEOUS.
WORTH AND WEALTH;
OR, THE CHOICE OF A WIFE,
BY ELLEN ASHTON

Warden-eh! Harry. What on cart
has put you in such notion ofthat girl
said Charles Lowry to his friend Henr
Browen, as they sat together, cracking
almonds after dinner. ...
And why not marry Lucy Warden2
said his friend. .
'Why' oh! because she 3 not wortl
a sous; and besides I've heard she's tn,
daughter of brickIayer. You know
any how, tina, her mother kept little
dry goods store until an uncle left Mrs
Warden that annuity on which they now
lust manage to subsist.'
"A formidable array of evils, indeed,
but still they do not dshearten me. AS
for money do not look for it in a wife,
because should never feel independent
If | was indebted to bride for my bread.
Besides an heiress is generally educated
in such expensive habits that it re.
quires a fortune to satisfy her luxurious
wishes. AS mere money muter of
business this marrying for money is nine
times ont of ten losing speculation. You
are forced to live according to your wlfe's
former style, and being thus led into ex-
penses which your income will not afford,
you too often end by becoming bankrupt.
Then, too late, you discover that your
wife is fit only for parlor; she becomes
peevlsh, or wrctched, or sick, and per.
haps all together, Domestic felicity is at
an end when this occurs
But the BIRTH
"A still more nonsenscal objection 1t
is one of the prejudices of the old colon-
al times, and was imported from England
by the servlle ardor Of rank, who instead
of being like themselves drones in the
public hive, earned their bread fairly
1t is this latter class to which our country
is indebted for its subsequent prosperity
"a prosperity which al! the aristocrats
OF Europe could not have bestowed upon
it. The revolution, while it made us po-
litlcrlly equal, did not destroy this social
aristocracy. The same excIusiveness
prevails now rs then, but with even more
injustice, for it is opposed to the whole
spirit Of our republican institutions Nor
IS this all; the prejudice itself is ridicu-
Gus. How can people, who scarcely
know their own ancestors beyond one or
wo genrations, and whose blood has been
derived from every nation and occupation
IN the globe, talk with any propriety Of
'irth?-Why, there is scarcely man or
of our acquaintance, who is not
IN example e this piebald ancestry. Take
or instance, Walter hastings, who you
NOW, boasts Of his family. | happen to
NOW all about him, for he is second
cousin TO myself. His father made a for
une, and married iato our family. But
Who was he! The son of a German re,
lemptloner Hastings mother, it is true
S the gIand-daug hler Of an English bar
IN, and the slster-a far higher glory
# signer ofour Declaration of ndepcn-
|ence. Such is fair sample Of our best
antilles. Why | would undertake to fur |
fish from the ancestry of any of them, !
ithcr peasant or peer, either labor
n or drone. Birth, forsoolh! The or
y persons who boast of il in this country 7
re generally those who have the least
lain even to an honest parentage; and :
he noisisst prelender to blood | ever met !
With was the grandson Of fellow who ,
vas hung fifty years ago for forgery $
well, you're getting quite lar in your J
lotions, Harry--where, in the world, did &
ou pick up such vulgar notions? You, f
gentleman and lawyer, to marry such |
girl! She's pretty enough, | grant-a- c
niabIe no doubt-can sing and draw I
'assably-and makes, | hear, batch of T
read, or does dirty house work as well as |
common kitchen girl. But perhaps y
hat is what you want her for'' ,
You sheer aside, yes! 1t is because t
lucy Warden is good house.keeper, I
hat intend to marry her. Not that t
would have bride only because she S
Gould, as you say, mike batch of bread I
Education, amiabilty, refined mind, and
ady-like manners are necessary. But a {
and practical one too, of
rouse keeping is no slight requisite in a ;
rood wife, | know such knowledge Is
scarce among our city ladies, but that is
he very reason why | prize it so highly. t
Believe me, refnemen, is not incompali-
,le with this knowledge?' t
'Pshaw, Harry; but granting your pc.
;ilion, what is the use Of such knowl