The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-07-23
well, MARA. have you concluded to

H''h'J navy nOI!
you heard my determination last
night said he, 81 now repeat it. You
must marry Henry Stevens or quit my
home"
81 cannot marry him, father" said she
--'sooner would | quit not only this house,
but the world"
"Then gO!" said he, angrily rising from
the chair.
"Shall take my clothingl"-inquircd
Maria.
Eyes, go, and never let me sec nor
hear from you again." said he, slamming
the door violently, and leaving her alone.
Maria sank back into her chair and
wept bitterly. For a moment she seem.
ed almost inclined TO comply with his
wish-but the idea that she must be for
ever linked to a villain, and suffer re-
proach should his villainies be discover.
ed, was more than she could bear, and
she preferred the anguish of separating
from her friends free and with honor, TO
that of marrying Stevens. She hastily
packed up her things, and in a few hours
left her fathers house.
AS she passed through the city of Bos.
ton where her sisters resided, a desire
sprung up to see them-but from their
recent treatment she dared not visit them
and she also feared again meeting with
her father. Maria was well furnished
with clothing and had about twenty-five
dollars in money. Although she had
been surrounded with wealth she ever
till now knew the value of money. A
thousand reflections, doubts and fears
crossed her mind as she was pursuing
her journey to the place described by the
girl of whom she had inquired in her
fathers kitchen, and though she felt sad
at the thoughts of being driven from
home, she could hardly suppress a smile
at the awkwardness with which she could
engage in any kind of labor.
She at last arrived at the house of Mrs.
Dana, the lady designated by Hannah,
and easily obtained board in her family
She learned also that Nj. Potter, was
in want of help.
1t is unnecessary for US to follow the
fortunes of Maria through their various
channels. She entered the factory; learn
ed to work and found many friends. a.
mong whom. and the only one il would
be of interest to the reader to name, was
Caroline Perkins a girl about her W
age. These two soon became intimate
friends. Inthe factory their looms were
next to each other, and they occupied the
same room at their boarding house
They were attached to Mrs. Dana, with
whom they boarded, and she evinced a
deep interest in their welfare.
About six months after Maria entered
the factory, an incident occurred which
bounds if possible, the two friends closer
to each other. One evening, as they
were in the chamber, and Caroline was
engaged in packing a large trunk, Maria,
who was looking on, rather surprised at
the amount of clothing and jewelry pos
sessed by Caroline jokingly inquired
"if her beau was a Jeweler."
Caroline blushed, and after some hest
tation informed Maria that her father
had once been wealthy, but at his death
it was ascertained that his property,
though amply sufficiently to pay his own
debts, would be swept away by the fail
ure of some friends for whom he had ell.
dorsed notes. The creditors had allow.
ed her to keep everything given her by
her father except her piano. She also
told her that although she might have
supported herself by music teaching, she
preferred working in a factory to remain
ing among those who though they were
once intimate friends, would considerhel
after the loss ofwealth, as far belowthem
Maria repaid Caroline by telling hel
own history, and her reasons for leaving
home and corroborated her story by the
display Of trinkets her father had allow.
ed her to take.
Probably there never were two per
sons who enjoyed themselves better than
these two girls. None save themselves
knew their history, and as their natural
dispositions were not arrogant they new
err appeared to be above their fellow la
borers. For two years they remained to
: gether, at the end of which Caroline wa:
married, and at the urgent request other
self and husband, Maria was induced tt
} leave the factory for a while at least, ant
take up her abode with them.
One day while Maria was engaged il
perusing a paper which had been left a
their house hereyes fellupon a paragraph
stating that Mr.. Stevens, who had alway'
been considered a very wealthy merchan
was arrested and committed to prison
for committing heavy forgeries. Sh'
handed it to Caroline with a shudder, ex
claiming-"As | expected" The mex
paper brought intelligence that no-doub
was entertained of his guilt, and that Mr.
, Grafton, if not entirely, ruined, would
I be a heavy loser on account of his vii
, %lainies, as he had hired him a large sum o
money. For a m Maria INDUCED
, in the idea of Immediately visiting he
father-but after consulting with Caro-
line, concluded to write to him, whicI
( she did, begging his pardon for not obey
ing him and requesting him to receive
t her back again to his arms, adding as
postscript that she had one hundred dol
lars which she would send him if he wa
in need of money to pay losses by Ste
: vens. Her father read her letter witt
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