The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-04-21
Il II E n r w E II A
MARRYING A MECHANIC
A TALE OF oLpEN TIME

white ashes that SLOWLY gathered on the wood
and occasionally slipped ulf leaving some fantas
TIC figure traced on the red ground of the brph,
coal, had some important meaning treasured in
the strange hierogyphic that was thus uncon-
sclonsly traced Near him sat his only daughter.
iair glri OF eighteen, in her we'll laced stays
long bodice, and ample of every skirt. employed
on some line embroidery, designed to grace the
cushion of one of a fine fcherry framed chairs.
made after pattern similar to those now in
vogue, save that the needlework of our Ureat
grandmother supplied the place of The shininu
haircloh. Al her feet lay large gray cat.
when she occasI0nly stopped 10 caress, and as
she did So she never failed to steal glance al
The kind, but unusual serious visage of her father.
i ne room In which they seated was fur
nished plainly but substantially. and the uncar-
peted floor O0keh white as hands could make
II, where 1t had escaped the sprnklinq of sand
that Phillis, the colored servant, who presided
over every department of household labor, was
sure to besiow in generous proiusiun. A small
Iouhd table stood In the centre of the room ON
which was set of blue china tea cups. Urile
larger than those which now grace 1.-THE duIl's
Cupboard platter OF cold bniled beef and ye.,e
tables, plate of brown bread, aud a bowl of
smoking bean pOrridge. Phillis was busy in
making The necessary arrangements, and had
taken down the teapot from The shelf when MIR
=
Phillips would rot he at home, tea shenld not be
admitted. He seldom drank it. and ne iptended
that Fanny should now cure herself of the indul-
gence.
Fanny looked up at the emphatic now , and
d ueep crimson overshad0wed her whole face as
she encountered the penetrating gaze of her father
nlillss announcement that supper was ready.
renewed her embarrassment for 4 moment as she
DnSed herself IN pniting away her balls uf crew
hen ol,e / Il
poSi'e her father. and saw, OF rather felt. the
same earnest glance turned on her, she found her
sci, Iron some nnaccounlable cause so embarrass
ed ihaf she could not swallow mouihfnl Of the
substantial supper That he was discussing with
such evident relish
What! no supper to- night, Fanny. s,r want
OF tea :" quoth the old man, half seriumsIy and
hall PlayiuIly. Pun thinking, my child. that
you Will do we'll 10 take lesson in self denial.
WINE they are easier learned than W hen eniurced
by necessity
Fanny looked up with an expression Of child.
sh wonder, and innocently enquired why il should
be necessary to take such lesson. But She
aooed' with unfelgned sincerity, 'it was mol The
tea, father, indeed it was not thai. which link
away my Appetite
Perhaps not, my dear GIRL said The old zen.
tleman, tenderly but 1 had reason for inssiinn
mat You should learn TO practice self denial and
'nought this convenient opportunity To ex-
plain
Fanny locked up timidly, but did not speak,
Alter a long pause, her father kindly said:
suppose you gave Charles permission to
laIk with me upon a certain subiect-dd Won
not2' '"'
fanny colored still deeper than before, and.
as she was speechless, the old man considered the
silence tacit acknow Judgment
well, continued he, do you think that
coOld give my consent to such MARRIAGE. Fam
NY?
'And why not, dear father % family falfered
me young girl, turning suddenly as pale as she
had been red few minutes bef,re is not
Charles as steady, industrious and respectable
as any young man in the parish7 Indeed. dear
ialheT' thought you approved of him, Or
You would not have loved him. added Esq.
Philips, filling out the sentence that she lacked
words to complete.
hardly meant to say that, auiyered the
white lips of poor Fanny. forI don't think
could help loving him; but would not have
thought Of marrying him.
My dear child, ! do love and approve Of
Charles Lawton. for think he is one of the fines,
young men That ever knew but, my dear, do YOU
think would do such man as he is the inins
tice to sanction his marriage with such woman
as you are likely TO be?-He is worthy of bet
ter wife
The great drops stood in Fanny's blue ewes as
she turned her face away for moment. and then
brushing them away with her spotted banker,
chief, she ventured TO say
Father, If love, true and enchanting. can
make man happy, can certainly make Charles
so: Tor know that | can love him. even in the
deepest pnverty, and he knows it too lie knows
that might married rich merchant. or la,y.
yer either, if had chosen, instead of mechanic
who had nothing but his own honest industry f.
rely on '"
My child said the old man. with eviden,
emotion, do not doubt that you think thai Won
love Charles, and could love him under anv Cir
cumsiances; bot think moment Of vonr oGalif.
cations TO become the wife Of poor man. What
could you do to make his home comfortable and
70 assist him IN acquiring a competence see
we nave Penlled your happiness by bringing you
up as we have done but ! cannot consent that
young man Of Charles Lawton's prospects should
be ruined by marrying a wife who could not oven
make bread
But said the ignorant child, that would mo-,
be much Of course we would have a servant. and
she would know how TO do all such work n,
genllewOInan thinks il, necessary to do that
suppose mother knows how to do all kinds ~
work, bot ! never saw her make bread. Sn,elv
that cannot be serlOus objection
servant Uf course SIGHED the old mo- q