The Southern journal., 1846-07-18
Selected Miscellany.
From Ale1ander's MESSENGER.
THE LESSON.
A TALE OF DOMESTIC LIFE.

TiCi1 apartment. ney we're the MIS-
ses Amanda and Emma Ellis and their
cousin Delilah Carlton. The latter
was engaged in the womanly occupa-
tion of sewing; the two former in dis
cussing, critically, a ball at which all
three had been present the preceding
evening.
II don't like that Mr.. Barton at
all" said Miss Amanda, continuing
the conversation.
"Nor me either" responded Miss
Emma, who was the eldest.
''And why not, cousin,'' asked De-
lilah, ~ am sure he is handsome en-.
ough, is he not?''
eyes; but"
"But what, coz?" said she. to EN-
ma, who had spoken last. "Surcly
his manners are pleasing, and his Ian.
guage polished. without affectation."
ayes, yes, but for all that he is vul.
gar" said Emma, pettishly, 'vulgar
in his IDEAS"
Vulgar!" exclaimed Delilah, "you
must again allow me TO differ With
you, co.," she continued, looking into
her cousins face with a winning
smile. 81 think he is quite ret ed,
more so than Mr.. Rice or Mr.. Brown.
and many Of the other gentlemen"
"Only think of comparing Mr..
Barton with Mr.. Brown, the gentle-
man" exclaimed Miss Amanda Ellis.
sWhy, Mr.. Barton is a mechanicl'
"Well, suppose he is, DEAR" said
her cousin, "does that make him vul.
gar, or less respectable? For my part
| think mechanic can be as much OF
a gentleman Gin the true sense of the
word) as millionaire
"Well, declare, cousin Lille, you
do have some ofthe funniest notions" ="
said Miss Amanda, "Just for all the
world like pa; he thinks one man Just
as good as another, even though be
be a laborer."
eyes," said Emma, IL do wish he
would be little more circumspect.
and find better company for his daugh
tiers than mechanics 1t is his fault
that Mr.. Barton comes here; he gives
hun such pressing Invitations. sup
pose he wants me or you. Amanda.
Wouldn't it make fine paragraph
for the papers? Miss Amanda (or En-
MAJ daughter Of James Ellis, mer-
chant, to Mr.. Charles Barton. me-
chanic. Oh, DEAR" said the spoiled
beauty 1or both sisters possessed great
personal attractions throwing herself
back upon the sofa and laughing
heartily, as also did her sister.
"Well, well, girls," said Mr.. Ellis,
who, hidden behind the half-open
door of the apartment, had been an
unobserved listener to the converse.
ton, and who now entered the room,
"you may laugh now, but YOU may
live TO regret that you did not try 10
obtain Mr.. Barton for husband. =
Mark that"' and the old gentleman,
taking up bis hat, left the apartment.
81 declare, if there is not Mr.. Bar.
ton upon the stepsn' exclaimed EN-.
ma, who was looking through the
blinds. "Come, Gomez she contin,
ued, addressing her sister, s'let US 90
up stairs into the other parlor and
leave cousin Lille to entertain him; it
will be pleasure to her, she is partial
to mechanics" and the sisters left the
room.
The object of the foregoing CONVEX
satlon was young man, whom Mr..
Ellis had introduced to his daughters
and neice, some months before as a
master mechanic. But, unlike their
father, who valued a man for his char.
acter, and not for his money, the Mis-
ses Ellis were great sticklers for res
pectability. their standard for which
was riches, and the consequence was,