Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-04-27
Select Gales.
From the Ladies' National Magazine.
MY FORTUNES MADE.
BY MARY ALEXINA SMITH,

Cora was belle, of course, and had many adj
mirers. Among the number of these, was
young man by the name Of Edward Douglass,
who was the very pink Of neatness, in all mat
ters pertaining to dress, and exceeding particu-
lar in his observance of the little propretes of
life.
saw, from the first, that if Douglass pressed
his suit, Cora's heart would be an easy conquest
How admirably they are fitted for each other,
remarked to my husband, on the night of the
wedding, Their tastes are similar and their
habits are so much alike that no violence will be
done to the feelings of either, in the more init
mate associations that marriage brings Both
are neat in person and orderly by instinct, and
of good principles.
From all present appearances, the match will
be good one, replied my husband. There
was, thought, something like reservation in
his tone
DO you really think sol | said, a little IRON
lcally; for Mr.. Smiths approval of the marriage
was hardly warm enough to suit my fancy.
Oh certainly why notr
felt little fretted at my husbands mode of
speaking, but made no further remark OH the
subject He is never very enthusiastic or san
guine; and did not mean, in this instance to
doubt the fitness of the parties for happiness in
the marriage state, as | half imagined. For my
self, warmly approved my friends choice, and
Chilled her husband lucky man to secure for his
companion through life, woman so admirably
fitted to make one like him happy But visit
which paid to Cora one day, about six weeks
after the honeymoon had expired, lessened my
enthusiasm on the subject and awoke some I'M
pleasant doubts. 1t happened that | called soon
after breaklast-Cora met me in the parlor, look
ing like fright, She wore a solled and rum
pied morning wrapper, her hair was in papers,
and she had on dirty stockings, and a pair of old
slippers down at the heels.
Bless me, Cora said !, what is the matter
Have you been sickp
NO. Why do you ask Is my dshable
rather on the extreme
'Canddy, think it is Cora was my frank
answer.
oh, well, no matter, she carelessIy replied,
my fortunes made
i don't clearly understand you, said l.
I'm married, you know
Yes I'm aware of that fact
No need of being so particular in dress, now
Why notF
Didn't l just sayY replied Cora My for
tunes made, I've got a husband
Beneath an air of testing, was apparent the
real earnesness of my friend.
You dressed with a careful regard to taste
and neatness, in order to win Edwards love
said l.
Certainly, did
And should you not do the same in order tc
retain it 2
why, Mrs. Smith Do you think my hus
bands affections were no deeper than my dress
| should be very sorry, indeed, to think that
He loves me for myself
No doubt in the world of that, Cora. But
remember, that he cannot see what is in you
mind except by what you do or say. If he ad
mires your taste, for instance it is not from an
abstract appreciation of it, but because the tas
manifests itself in what you do And depent
upon it, he will find it very hard matter to ap
prove and admire your correct taste in dress
for instance, when you appear before him da
alter day IN your present unattractive attire
you do not dress we'll for your husbands eyes
for whose eyes, pray, do you dress You ar
as neat, when abroad, as you were before mar
rage
AS to that, Mrs Smith, common decencv re
qurers me to dress when | 60 upon the street
or into company, to say nothing of the pride on
naturally feels in looking WELL
And does not the same common decency an
dressing well at home and for the eye of you
husband, whose approval, and whose admratio
must be dearer to you than the approval and az
miraton Of the whole worldP
But he doesn't want to see me ripged out
silks and satins all the time pretty bill m
dress-maker would have against him in that even
Edward has more sense than than, hatter m
self
Street or ballroom attire is one thing, Cor
and becoming home apparel another We loo
for both in their place.
Thus argued with the thoughtes young wifi
but my words made no impression When
broad, she dressed with exquisite taste, and w
lovely to look upon; but at home she was car
less and slovenly, and made it almost impossib
for those who saw her, to realize that she was II
brilliant beauty they had met in company but
short time before. But even this did not la
long. | noticed, after few months that IL
habits of home were confirming themselves, ar
becoming apparent abroad Her fortune w
made, and why should she now waste time,
employ her thoughts about matters of person
appearance?
The habits Of Mr.. Douglass on the contrar
did not change He was orderly as before, al
dressed with the same regard to neatness T
never appeared at the breakfast table in the NOR
ing without being shaved;nor did he lounge abo
in the evening in his shirt sleeves The sIoven
habits into which Cora had fallen, annoyed hi
seriously, and still more SO, when her carelessne
about her appearance began to manifest list
abroad as well as at home. When he hintt
anything on the subject, she did not hesitate to
ply IN testing manner, that her fortune W
made, and she need not trouble herself anv 10
ger about her appearance
Douglass did not feel very much compliment
but as he had his share of good sense, he So
that to assume cold and offending name
would do no good
If your fortune is made, so is mine, he
plled, on one occasion, quite cooy and indi
erently.
Next morning he made his appearance at t
breakfast table with beard of twenty-four hor
growth.
You havn't shaved this morning, dear sa
Cora, to whose eyes the dirty-lookng face Of h
husband was very unpleasant
mo- he replied carelesslv sit's saro,, 49,.