Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-02-27

Deacon Dotham $, and the horse and
carriage are. at your service. lsshali
be out of town for three weeks, and
wish you success in arranging your
affairs by the time Of my return. AZ
the end of three weeks, Alonzo Lewis
his father that his bargain
was closed, and he. was going to mar
~. Il do not know, my son, said Mr..
Lovecash, sabout your marrying Nancy
Dotham. | have been TO the city, and
have found out that Mr.. Philbrick has
come into possession Of one hundred
thousand dollars, willed by rich rela
tive lately deceased. Besides, you said
you loved Miss Alma PhilbIick, and
come 10 the conclusion that love, af-
ter all, is an important item in the bus
mess, and l cannot think you will live
happy without ii. Love is to happi-
ness, what the main spring isto watch:
without it in domestic life, allis irregu-
larity and disorder. And besides
Nancy Dotham will not have more
than fourteen thousand dollars, when
her father dies; and Miss Alzina is an
only child sNo-father, no. said
Alonzo Lewis, you preferred Nancy
Dotham with her money and m.peJec-
tons, to the accomplished Miss Phil
brick, with her good qualities, and
her poverty. have now gone too
far to recede with honor. Tomorrow
evening I contemplate being married
in private manner at the Minister'S
in A-,and it is arranged to meet the
wedding parry here Immediately after;
thinking it would be pleasure to you,
and you will be prepared to receive
Miss Dotham as the daughter of your
choice Mr.. Lovecash groaned aloud
when he thought Of the splendid for
tune he had lost by his selfshness.-
Miss Nancy Dotham he had always
dispised in his heart, and his wife and
daughter were extremely mortified at
the thought of receiveng her as rela-
tive, and were determined to treat her
50 coldly that her stay in the family
would be short. Just at this crisis, a
neighbor came in with the astounding
news that Deacon Dotham had failed,
and had not enough TO pay fifty cents
on the dollar. Mr. Lovecash gave his
son one long and despairing look, but
he could not expostulate. Alonzo
stepped into the carriage and drove off
to visit his bride elect. The next eve
ming but one, when all the invited
guests were assembled in the drawing
room at the house of Mr.. Lovecash,
Mr.. and Mrs. Philbrick among the num-
Der, but no Alma, who sent an excuse,
but it was evidentto all that she felt to
m UGH Interested to be a spectator of
that happiness in which she could new
er share, and all pitied her disappoint-
ment. The carriage ofAlonzo Lewis
drove up to the door, but none of the
friendly greetings of the family met
them there. They kept their seats in
silence. Alonzo entered the drawing
room with his bride hanging upon his
arm, who wore a thick lace veil over
her face, reaching to the floor. Ladies
and gentlemen said the bridegroom,
ALLOW we the happiness Of introducing
to your acquaintance, Mrs. Alonzo
Lewis Lovecash. After the formali-
ty Of shaking hands, the elder Mrs.
Lovecash whispered to her husband
and daughters, saying, 81 think her a
fine figure, after all, and she bows grace
fully, but oh! when she removes that
veil which you prais ed her for wearing,
from that hated face, | am faint from
the very thought, A look of anguish
passed over the farher's face, and he
heaved deep sigh. Soon refresh
ments were announced, and Alonzo led
his almost silent bride to the tables
The mother and daughters whispered
to each other that her wedding costume
becomeher much, and really improved
her appearance; and were she to keep
her veil down she might be tolerated; but
her pug nose, and pigs eyes, and ugly
look will give us hysteric fits. Just
then she threw back her long veil, and
the family and guess were paralized
with establishment, on beholding the
beautiful and intelligent face of Alzina
Philbrick, now Mrs. Alonzo Lewis
Loyecash. Acclamations of Joy and
surprise rang through the house, and
even Mr.. Loyecash, the father, confess
sed that he could loyeher as dughter;
even if her father was as poor as a
church mouse. ~
soLILooUY TO HIS OLD BREEcHEs.
You're old, they say; a rusty pair
Of antiquated 5reeches
And many rip, and many tear,
a woful warning breaches.
Alas that patch upon the knee,
Full sore my leg doth feel it;
a nd MANY a time in cOmpany