Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1847-12-22
A SELECTED STORY.
From the Columbian Mag a@inc.
WHAT USTBE, MUS
CHATTER 1.

4
II am afraid you will educate Mary to
death, my DEAR said Mr. Austin to his
wife, in reply to long detail of plans for
the perfection of this her only daughter
F"Too much education is as bad as too lit
tie" -. -. +
"Too much education, Mr.. Austin who
ever heard ofsuch thing2 Every body
is complaining for the want of education
among US, and YOU yourself, l am sure, often
criticise young ladies, and say they are mis-,
erably educated But you are the strangest
man Have l not always kept Mary under
my own eye, had masters and governesses
for her, instead of sending her to a fashion
able school where she would have learned
end nonsense, and giyensuS soeie-
ty that | might never loose sight of her
for moment2 Haven't l watched even
her mantua maker, and forbidden her to
describe the. fnery of other customers,
and brought Mary's -bonnets myself,
without ever letting her try them on, lest
she should become vain / am sure I
don't know what more mother could do
for child" III
I@You forget, my DEAR" said Mr. Austin,
quietly, shat I warned you against doing
too much, not too little Ny fears point
rather towards Marys becoming mere
automaton, for want of the habit of think
ing and acting for herself, than to any de-
fciency in the list of her accomplishments
Mary is seventeen now, and might be
trusted, l think, to her own judgment
sometimes. But you know / never inter
fere, my DEAR" Mr.. Austin concluded, as
he saw look Of deep objection setting on
the face of his wife. al dare say YOU
know best, but thought I would make
the suggestion" And the good husband
took his hat and gloves and went off to his
Office, rather sorry that he should have
said word which might grieve or dis.
courage the most anxious and self devoted
mother, even for the benefit Of the most
precious of daughters 4
Mrs. Austin, on her part, was made i'm
mediately miserable for the whole day
If she had a hobby it was the education of
Mary She had been a theorist on the
subject of education before she possessed
a daughter on whom to practice; and when
she had one, she began on the most pro-
found principles laid down in her fayorite
books, before the child was a month old
Improved no easy matter to adhere closely
to rules, for to her surprise, she found ma
ny cases not provided for in any of the
books but she did what she could. When
she could not follow Mrs. Hamilton, she
tried to find precedent in Rousseau, and
when Mrs Child failed her, she sought
instruction in Chapone, or Locke, or Han
nah Moore, or DR.. Gregory, or some one
of the good ladies who have given tons of
advice to the wives, grandmothers and
cousins of England and America And
now to meet an implied censure and
from her husband, who had always approx
ed Of all she did, and contrasted Mary!
and her accomplishments with universal
grldom, so exultinglyl 1t was too much
for her philosophy
Mother said Mary, entering at.the
moment when all this and much more
had come full upon the unhappy parent;
I" Mother shall l wear a new, dress to-
day 81
w ear what you ike, Mary, said Mrs.
Austin, determined to begin atoncc to
give Mary to her own control, sort of
despair nerving her for the sacrifice of her
hcerished supervision.
Mary looked at her mother, scarcely
trusting her ears She Observed the
cloud, and added, perhaps, mamma, you
would rather | should wear something
else ~
No, my dear, vas the sad toned reply.
And Mary withdrew in complete puz-
zle, not knowing what to do in so trying
an emergency She stood balancing be-
tween the new dress she longed to wear,
and the old one she more than suspected
her mother wished her TO mt on, in .
most painful uncertainty The new one
was taken up and laid down ! half doss.