Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-06-29

that when the boys had done reading, the
youngest whispered to his sister, Now,
Alice, am good boy, will you give me
piece of bread?' And the girl whispered,
"Wat while, Charley" and she kissed
him. Mary said, to hide the tears that gush-
ed from her eyes. Now if they are so very
poor, you know, they might be tempted to
steal for it must be very hard to hear chill
dren cry for bread and have none TO give
them"
eyes," put in Mrs. Lacey, and my hus-
band has often said he wondered if they had
any thing to eat, and we would willingly
have given them something, only they seem
cd SO proud and stuck up like, we were a
fraid TO offer them anything for fear that they
would take it as an insult"
That's Just the way we have felt about
them" remarked Mrs. Gray, "and if they
! would have come among us, and told us
that they were in want, we should not have
let them suffer. But so tits. The pride
that will not let man work, or ask relief
of his neighbor, drives him to dishonest and
criminal practices"
WELL" resumed Mrs. Green. "i hope
this affair will drive such people from our
neighborhood, for Mr. Frost intends to find
out the truth of the business, and then tell
them to make themselves scarce, or abide
the decision of the law"
There was in the company of qulters, a
maiden lady of near fifty years of age, who,
during the colloquy, uttered not a word ;
but now she turned her head aside, took off
her spectacles, wiped first her eyes and some
what faded cheeks, and then her glasses /;
heaved deep sigh, and murmured, "I fear
that we have sinned against these strangers
We have permitted them to suffer in our
midst, and now impute crime to them mere
! ly because we suppose them to be destitute.
Let us at least be charitable in this last case:
they may be worthy people and there may
be some mistake about the bag of wheat ;
and, even if they have been driven to
take what was not theirs, fear the sin lies
at our own door. We should have visited
them, notwithstanding their gentry airs and
city usages"
AS Aunt Sarah was regarded an oracle,
the whole circle assented to her verdict, and
it was settled that Mr.. Frost should be per-
suaded to let this one offence rest for the
present, and Aunt Sarah and Mrs. Lacey
were deputed as kind of committee to call
on the strange family the next day, and re-
7,
means to drop in little while after noon,
lay off your bonnet and shawl, take out your
work, and sit like one of the family, work.
ing and chatting until evening or bed time,
partaking of such fare as the house affords
And who were these poor people concern
ing whom such suspicious were ahoat?
will give you sketch of their history.
Mr.. Howard was the son of an Independent
farmer, who was owner Of superior tract
of land, an elegant and comfortable house,
fine stock of cattle, and large family of
handsome and intelligent children. These
were all, from childhood, accustomed to
healthy labor, plentiful board, comfortable
lodging, and substantial raiment; besides
many little elegancies of dress and furni-
ture. AS they arrived at proper ages they
were well educated, and provided with stu
tions, in which it was reasonable to suppose
that they might in time make themselves
fortunes. One studied medicine, two read
law, one being pious, became minister
and this one, William Howard, served his
seven years as clerk in a dry goods store
About the time he attained his majority
his father died, and the property that hat
been riches IN one mans possession, was
but small portions when divided amongst
ten children. However, Williams share
enabled him to enter as junior partner into
respectable mercantile firm. He now
thought himself authorized to marry, as he
had long been sincere lover of Alice Car
roll, daughter to the merchant with whom
he served his clerkship, and of whom III
was now partner. The girl loved him
and as he was honest, industrious, hand
some, and real gentleman in his deport
ment, her parents cheerfully consented t.
their union.
Alice was lovely girl, sweet-tempered
and highly accomplished, and Howard per
fectly adored her. They commenced house
keeping in IA style of simple elegance, suit
ed to their standing and expectations, and
= during several years, enjoyed the sweets o
contented competence and reasonable pros
perty.
But reverses came. Loss followed loss
and the wealthy house of Carroll and How
ard became insolvent. Misfortune seemed
never weary of prosecuting them, and bloy
II followed blow, until Mr. Carroll found res
i in the grave-and Mr.. Howard found lodg
d ing in small cottage, in the out-skirt
of the city. He soon found employ
| ment as clerk, at a small salary and
t. Mrs. Howard had received domestic cdu
i cation, might have lived comfortably. Blu
s. her parents had fallen into the fashionabl
'r error of modern education, and while the
g spared no pains in accomplishing thei
, daughter, utterly neglected that which rem
re ders woman good and valuable on EARTH
ir The young ladies were taught to concea
L. under the veil of polteness, every defect c
temper; to please, to dazzle, and to see
n admiration; but the virtues and graces tina
Ill constitute the wife and mother and tn
domestic education which renders a woma
IN capable of managing her house, were passe
st by as of no consequence, or avoided as d,
m grading
to Mrs. Howard was therefore incapable {
performing the labors of her household, an
up so the servants were retained, consequent
IL, while there were more mouths to feed. an
e. less economy in the housekeeping, thel
ne was wages to be paid weekly.
as Their eldest daughter, Alice, had bee
o. for the last three years an inmate of II
en- most fashionable school in the vicinity, b
now she was forced to come home and e
tn har I,sb,, n