Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-05-14
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Saturday Emporium.
DUTY VERSUS LOVE.



"There is no use in differing, Nell I've told YOU
couldn't afford it, and that ought IL satisfy a rea-
sonabe woman" said Mr.. Harcourt, as he slowly
butoned mis- overcoat preparatory to his usual visit
to MS counting-room.
"Just as though there was such on affair as a
reasonable wo man," muttered he to himself, as he
passed nown the steps to the side walk. His pace
that morning was graduated after new scale. He
had spoken almost harshly to his wife for the first
time, so no wonder it that he tried to outrun his
thoughts. They got the better of him, however,
and long ere he had reached his Office, they had
travelled over a broad space, and back again to the
breakfast table, where he had left his wife in tears
He had examined his ledger counted his column of
debt and credit and found that bitter as the refu-
sal vas, 1t was predlcated on the true ground he
could not afford it. What fortunate arrangement
for mortas, that bodies are not forced TO measure
distance. In keeping with such vaglbonds as
thoughts sometimes are especially when they pass
vote for liberty, and determine to manage matters
after their own liking Morse's telegraph is thrown
into the shade entirely, though its lightning like
velocity oulstrps every other invention. One thing
Is certain, Mr. llarCourt fund himself sadly out of
BREATH in the vain effort he had been making, des-
pite his usual motto 10 keep cool"
Arrived at his office, he tried (vainly though, as
every man who is cross to his wife finds it, to shake
off the remembrance of the mornings discussion
ellis wife eXacting. She was thoughtess.
She ought 10 know that in such times of genera
depression he could not afford all the changes fash
ion. that memorable god, is disposed to dictate lie
had proved his willingness to please her in thous
and instances, and now for her to fly into fit Just
because he refused to refurnish his already splen.
didy adorned mansion; it was too bad" VANITY
of vanities might the preacher exclaim, had he
the power Of reading truant speculations, of sucl
a man as the one whose Eighty visions we have
vanly endeavored to picture.
There is no use in qualifying the matter. Har
court was only man. and as such, parook some
swhat largely Of the feelings common TO his race
He had spoken harshly, and his better iudgmen
accused him of wrong, while selEcompacenc,
plead an ample provocation. 1t was the first time
Hence his uneasness. Had it been the fitch. O
fifth even,he might have escaped the mental strug
gle unscathed As 1t was, he experienced few
qualms Of conscience, which were, it must be con
fessed, rather uncomfortable. The duties of thu
day were lrksome. One moment he was ready L
close his office, fly home and wipe the tears from
'Ne's iace, as he granted the consolatory yes
The next and his better judgment assured him O
ruin, unless he rctrenched his already exlravapan
e expenses. The dispute between duty and love wa
so nicely balanced, however, that neither turne
the,scale. The day wore on and four o'clock foun
him ut his old work, that is, shutting his ledger
locking his desk and vending his way toward home
$40 do, or not to dol" was the question. Iii
outstanding notes were heavy, his profits light
Should he play the fool, and yield to his wfe's en-
treaties, or should he seek to prepare for Il rain
day, which the cloud, somewhat bigger than man
hand, prognostcated? TO please his wife had al
ways been his paramount consideration As fol
tune had heretofore favored him, it had cost him II
effort to do so, and he therefore unprepared
judge how brayely she was qualified TO bear re
verse. Should he explain his circumstances q
should he suffer her to regard his refusal as slnpl
wlfulness? If the former, he could not tell In
effect it would have upon her woman's nerves.
the latter, he was quite sure womans will was vas
ly superior to his own Mr.. Harcoun's reasonin
Was certainly not very logical, yet it combined tn
ingredients OF most mems arguments when the
at empt to analyze SO delicate an affair as woman
CAPABILITIES, They don't know themselves unit
they are tried: and surely another is but poorl
quallted to determine for them. Love puts W,
man III leading strings, while will makes her (somc
tmes) a hard driver. 1t is her nature to Weld, VI
if force be applied, she is as unbendinc, and N
graceful too as the gnarled oak. Strange, that
this day Of wonderful discoveries, a method ba
not been devised, suited, like Thomas's Almanac
to any given meridian, for the successful manage
ment of this feature in her nature Alack-a-da
the time may not be far distant but it certainly hi
not yet come. But our business is not 50 much
argue the point as TO follow Mr.. Harcourt to Ia
dwelling and play the spy upon cabinet councils