Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-10-24
The Fathers Lesson,
A TALE OF DOMESTIC LIFE,

Three young ladies' were seated in 8 richl
furnished apartment. They were the Misse
Amanda and Emma Ellis, and their cousin De
lilah Carleton. The latter was engaged in til
Womanly occupation of sewing, the two forme
in discussing critically a ball at which all tire,
had been present the preceding evening.
81 don't like that Mr.. Barton, at ALL" sal,
Miss Emma, continuing the conversation.
"Nor either" responded Miss Amanda, VIII,
was the eldest.
"And why not, cousin" inquired Delilah, {"
am sure he is handsome enough, is he not!"
ayes, but
"But what corr said she to Emma, who hat
spokenlast. "Surely his manners are pleasing
and language polished-without affectation.
Eyes, yes, but for all that he is vulgar sale
Emma, pettishly, "vulgar in hi. IDEAS"
vulgar" exclaimed Delilah you must agar
allow me to differ with you coz" she continued
looking into her cousins face with a smile, 9:
think heis quite rcfined-more so than Mr.. Price
Or Mr.. Brown, and many other gentlemen"
"Only think of comparing Mr.. Barton witt
Mr.. Price, or Mr.. Brown-two gentlemen" ex:
claimed Miss Amanda Ellis.
"Why Mr.. Barton is 4 mechanic"
"Well, suppose he is dear" said her cousin
'does that make him vulgar, or less respecta.
BILE For my part | think a mechanic can be
as much Of a gentleman (in the true sense of
the word) as a millionaire"
swell, | declare, cousin Lille, you do have
some of the funniest notions, just for all the
world like pa; he thinks one man just as good
as another even though he be alaborer."
"Yes, said Emma, | do wish he would be a
little more circumspect, and find better COM
pany for his daughters than mechanics. 1t is
his fault that Mr.. Barton comes here; he gives
him such pressing invitations. | suppose he
: wants me or you, Amanda. Wouldn't it make
a fine paragraph for the papers :? Miss Amanda
Cor Emma) daughter of James Ellis, merchant,
to MIR. Charles, Barton Mechanic. o, DEAR
said the spoiled beauty, (for both sisters pos
sessed great personal attractions,) and threw
as also did her sister.
"WeIl, we'll girls said Mr.. Ellis, who hidden
by the half open door of the apartment, had
been an unobserved listener to the conversation,
and now entered the room, you may laugh now
but you may live to regret that you did not
try to obtain Mr.. Barton for a husband, mark
that" And the old man taking his hat left the
room.
"Who would have thought that Pa was lis
t%ening!" said Amanda, "but | don't care
Il declare, if there is not Mr.. Barton on the
steps !" exclaimed Emma, who was looking
through the blinds. "Come, come" she con-
tinued addressing her sister, "let us 90 up stairs
to the parlor, and leave cousin Lille to enter
tain him; it will be a pleasure to her for she
is partial to mechanics" and the sisters left the
room.
The object ofthe foregoing conversation was
a Young man whom Mr.. Ellis had introduced
to his daughters and niece as Il master mechanic.
But unlike the father, who valued a man for his
character and not for his money, the Misses
Ellis were great sticklers for respectfully; their
standard for which was riches; and the conse-
uuence was, as we have seen that hIr. Barton
did not stand any too high in their good graces.
Mr.. Ellis knew that a false estimation of respec-
liability was a predominant fault in his daugh-
ters' characters, and he determined to give them
a practical lesson. How he succeeded the Sc
quel Of our story will show.
A few moments after the sisters had left the
room Mr.. Barton entered. He was about the
middle height, with fine figure, regular features,
and an intelligent countenance. He was
certainly a handsome young man, which fsct
even the Misses Ellis did not attempt to deny,
and the ease and politeness with which he greet
ed Miss Carleton, spoke his claim to that which
that lady had awarded him-the title of a gen.
tleman.
He was soon seated, and in conversation with
Delilah. Delilah Carleton was a charming girl.
1t is true that she did not exhibit that exquisite
proportion and regular features of her two
cousins; but there was a sunny smile upon her
face and a cheerful sparkle in her light blue
eye, and she had such light and bounding spirits,
that made her appear if not as beautiful as her
cousins, at least more betwitching; at least so
thought Mr.. Barton, as he gazed upon her
laughing countenance. How much better he
thought it would be to possess her as his wife,
dependent as she is upon her uncle, and dow
erless as she would be, than either Of the Mis-
ses Ellis with their spoiled tempers and their
fortunes. Thinking thus, is it to be wondered
at, that he left her with the half formed deter
mination to win her love, if it lay within his
power.
When Delilah appeared at the dinner table
day, many were the meaning and inquisi-
tive glances her cousins cast upon her. At last
unable to restrain their loved habit of stunning
their cousin" they spoke:
Il hope you spent a very pleasant morning
said Amanda with a mock arch look.
"a very interesting tete-a-tete, was it not"
whispered Emma across the table.
"Ispent the morning very pleasantly an
Delilah, blushing slightly.
80! l dare say" said Emma, sarcastically, 81
suppose he gave you a dissertation on mechanics
coz!!"
"Wel, and suppose he did?" said Mr.. Ellis
Who had been listening patiently, but in
honest face the color now rose. sIs it
lot bettert to listen to that than to the senseless
conversation of the foplings, Observation-Disclosures
ieys, who disgrace humanity" and the old man
a look upon his daughters that made them
luail beneath it.
"But never mind, Lille" he continued in q
nilder voice, and patting his niece's rosy cheek,
never mind, Mr.. Barton is worth three or four
UGH would be-gentlemen as Mr.. Price and Mr..