Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-07-06
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From the Philadelphia Saturday Even'ng Post
THE IRON WILL.
by II. G. LEE.

maided sat with her eyes bent upon the floor.
He's worthless, good-for-nothng fellow re-
sumed the father; 'and if you marry him, you
wed life of misery Don't come back to me,
for will disown you the day you take his name
I've said it, and my decision is unalterable.
Still Fanny made no answer, but sat like
statue
Lay to heart what have said, and make your
election. Girl And with these words Mr. Craw-
ford retired from the presence of his daughter.
On that evening, Fanny Crawford left her
fathers house, and was secretly married to a
young man named Logan, whom spite of all his
faults she tenderly loved.
When this fact became known to Mr. Craw-
ford, he angriy repeated his threat of utterly dis
owning his child; and he meant what he said
for he was man of stern purpose and unbend-
ing will. When, trusting to the love she beiev-
ed him to bear for her, Fanny ventured home,
she was rudely repulsed, and told that she no
longer had father These cruel words fell up
on her heart, and ever after rested there, an OPP
presive weight.
Logan was young mechanic, with good
trade, and the ability to earn a comfortable llv-
ING. But Mr. Crawford's objection to him was
we'll founded, and it would have been much bet
ter for Fanny if she had permitted it to influence
her; for the young man was idle in his habits and
Mr. Crawford too clearly saw that idleness would
lead to dissipation. The father had hoped that
his threat to dsown his child, would have deter
red her from taking the step he so strongly dis
approved. He had in fact made his threat at a
last effort to save her from union that would
inevitably lead to unhappiness. But having made
it, his stubborn and offended pride caused him
to adhere, with stern inhexibility, to his word.
When Fanny went from under her fathers
roof, the old man was left alone. The mother of
his only child had been many years dead. For
her fathers sake as well as for her own, did Fan
ny wish to return. She loved her parent with a
most earnest affection and thought of him as sit
ting gloomy and companionless in that home, 80
long made light and cheerful by her voice and
smile Hours and hours would she lie awake at
night thinking of her father and weeping for
the estrangement of his heart from her. Still
there was in her bosom an everything hope that
he would relent. And to this she chung though
he passed her in the street without looking at
her, and steadily denied her admission, when, in
the hope of some change in his stern purpose,
she would 90 to his house and seek to gain en-
trance
As the father had predicted, Logan added in
the,S course of year or two, dissipation to idle
habi@, and neglect Of his wife to both. They
had gone to housekeeping in small way, when
first married. and had lived comfortably enough
for some time. But Logan did not like to work,
q and made every excuse he could find to take a
holiday, or be absent from the shop. The effects
of this was an insufficient income. Debt came,
with its notifying and harassng accompan-
ments, and furniture had to be sold to pay those
l,o J;cDoeoI 10 14.1o
children, Fanny was removed by her husband
into cheap boarding house, after their
things were taken and sold The company into
which she was here thrown was far from be-
ing agreeable; but this would have been no source
of unhappmess in itself Cheerfully would she
have breathed the uncongenial atmosphere, if
there had been nothing in the conduct of her
husband to awaken her feelings of anxiety. But
alas! there was much to create unhappiness here
Idle days were more frequent; and the conse-
quences of idle days more and more serious
From his work he would come home sober and
cheerful; but after spending day iii idle COM
pany, or in the woods, gnnning-a sport of
which he was fond-he would meet his wife with
suen, dissatisfied aspect, and, too often, in a
state little above INVESTIGATION.
Pam afraid thy son-in-law is not doing very
well, friend Crawford, said apain spoken Quak-
err, to the father of Mrs Logan, after the young
mans habits began to show themselves plainly
in his appearance
Mr. Crawford knit his brow, and drew his lips
closely together.
Has thee seen young Logan, lately?'
Il don't know the young man, replied MI
Crawford, with an impatient motion Of his head
Don't know thy own son-in-law!;- the husband
of thy daughter?'
4 have no son-in-aw!-no daughter sale
Crawford, with stern emphasis.
Fanny was the daughter of thy welded wife
friend Crawford
But have dsowned her. forewarned hcl
of the consequences, if she married that young
man. I told her that / would cast her off for
ever, and have done it.
But, friend Crawford, thee has done wrong
I've said it and I'll stick to it,
But thee has done wrong, friend Crawford,
replied the Quaker
Right or wrong, it is done, and will not re
call the act. gave her fair warning; but sh
took her own course, and now she must abid
the consequences. When say thing meal
it. never eat my words
Friend Crawford said the Quaker, in
steady voice, and with his calm eyes fixed upo
the face of the man he addressed thee wa
wrong to say what thee did. Thee had no RICH
to cast off thy child. l saw her to-day, passn
slowly along the street. Her dress was thin an
faded; but not so thin and faded as her pale
Young face All! if thee could have seen tn
sadness of that countenance! Friend Crawford
she is thy child still. Thou cannot disown her
Il never change replied the resoute father.
'She is the child of thy beloved wife, now
heaven, friend Crawford
Good morningP and Crawford turned an
walked away.
Rash words are bad enough said the Dual
er, to himself but how much worse is it to able
by rash words, after there has been time for r
Election and repentancep
Crawford was troubled by what the Quak
sad but more troubled by what he saw a fe
moments afterwards, as he walked along Il
street, in the person of his daughters husban
He met the young man supported by two othe
so much intoxicated, that he could not star
alone And in this state he was going home
his wfe-to Fanny