Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-01-23
MARRYING A MECHANIC.
A TALE OF oLDEN TIME.

Old Esq. Phillips sat in his great arm
chair, looking into the fire as inlenlly as
though the white ashes that slowly gathered
on the wood. and occasionally slipped off,
leaving some fantastic figure traced on the
red ground Of the bright coal, had some i'm
porlant meaning treasured in the strange
hieroglyphic that was thus unconsciously
traced. Near him sat his only daughter, a
fair grl of eighteen, in her well laced stays,
long bodice, and ample hoped skirt, en-
ployed on some fine embroidery, designed to
grace the cushion of one of a fine set Of
cherry framed chairs, made after pattern
very similar to those now in vogue, save tina,
the needlcwork of our great grandmo,hers
supplied the place Of the shining har-colh.
At her feet lay large grey cat which she
occasionally stopped TO caress, and as she
did so, she never failed to steal a glance at
the kind, but unusually serious visage of her
ia Their.
The room in which they were seated was
furnished plainly, but substantially, and the
interpreted floor looked as white as hands
could mako il, where il had escaped the
sprinkling of sand that Phillis, the colored
servant that presided over every department
of household labor, was sure to bestow in
generous profusion. A small round table
stood in the centre Of The room, on which was
set of blue China tea-cups, little larger than
those which now grace the dolls cupboard,
platter of cold boiled beef and vegetables,
plate of brown bread. and bowl OF smok-
ring bean porridge. Phlis was busy in maxi
ing the necessary arrangements, and had
taken down the teapot from the shelf, when
Mr.. Phillips turned round and insisted that
Mrs. Phillips would not be home, tea should
not be admitted. He seldom drank it, and
he intended tia, Fanny should now cure her
self of the indulgence. Fanny looked up AT
the emphatic now and deep crimson
overshadowed her whole face as she encoun.
tered the penetrating gaze Of her father
Philips announcement tina, supper was ready
relieved her embarrassment for a moment, as
she busted herself in putting away her ball.
Of crowei; hut when she seated herself a
the table opposite her father, and still saw
or rather felt, the same earnest glance turned
on her, she found herself, from some unac
countable cause, so embarrassed that sh,
could not swallow a mouhful of the subslan
ial supper that he was discussing with sucI
; evident relish.
, 'Wha, no supper to night Fanny, 70
want of tea 2 quo,h the old man, half seri
ously and half playfully. I'm thinking, IN.
, child, that you will do well to take lessons il
self denial while they are easier learned thai
, when enforced by necessity
J Fanny looked up with an expression O
2 childish wonder. and innocenlly inquired VIII
. il should be necessary TO take such lesson:
: But she added with unfeigncd sincerity, q
was no, the tea, father, indeed, it was nc
u that that took away my Appetite
. . perhaps not, my dear girl said the oil
. gentleman tenderly, 'bul had reason for in
sis.ing that you should learn to practice Sc
y denial, and though, this convenient oppoI
d tuni,y to explain
= Fanny looked up timidly, but did not speal
n After long pause, her father kindly sad,
: suppose you gave Charles permission to tai
>, with me upon certain subject, did you not
q Fanny colored still deeper than before, an
n as she was speechless, the old man consider
q ed her silence tacit acknowledgment.
- sWell,' continued lie, do you think that
:, could give nv consent to such a marriae
e Fanny2
1. Anu why uOt, ucdI iai"c' i""''y J."
d tered the young girl, turning suddenly as pa
ms she had been red few minutes before
IL Is no, Charles as steady, industrious, an
"a respectable as any young man in the parish
4 Indeed, dear father, thought you approve
v Of him Or
y you would not have loved him. addt
ID Esq. Philips, filling out the sentence that 81
lacked words TO complete.
i. i hardly meant to say that quiyered Il
ID white lips Of poor Fanny, for don, think
m could help loving him but could not hay
q, thought of marrying him..
r. my dear child, do love and approve
n. Charles Lawion, for think he is one of Il
,e finest young men that l ever knew; but n
II dear, do you think would do such man
pb he is, the injustice to sanction his maria
IS. with such a woman as you are likely TO b.
m He is worthy ola better wife, -.
ed The gree, drops stood in Fsnnys 81