Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-06-27

Hnu II III IleT HcdIt " eApEcSS SuCil q SCH
timent,' replied Mrs. Sumner. in a seri
Gus tone. Il would that some other chle
than mine had said that
Ellen was silent.
DO you love your father, Ellen!'
'Why should you ask! You know
love him dearly
He was once poor man, Ellen, a:
poor as George Dan,forth.'
Ellen Made no reply.
Again repeat it. Ellen Sumner. YOU
father was a poor man. When we were
married he had just five dollars in his
pocket, and did not own a single tile up
on the house we moved into. Your faith
err, Ellen Sumner, went out to days
works for livi 9: but he was industri'
Gus and economical. He prospered. as
the industrious ever will. | wish you
could have seen the furniture of our
rooms then, and compare it with what we
have now And the house we hired was
no, much like this your father has since
built Why! the wind could dance a
hornpi pc through the crevices any time!
And as for the doors. they closed with a
latch and string; and near the bottom
Of the outside one. there was hole cut for
the cat to go out and come in againn
why, mother!' exclaimed Ellen.
1T is true. child, and we went up stairs
by ladder!'
For heavens sake, mother. what if any
one should hear you 90 on SOP
Hear me 90 on so. child!' and Mrs.
Sumner drew up her goodly figure with a
pride and grace which nature had taught
her. She repeated it, Hear me child!
glory in it, Life is thing Of effort and
progress. Shame upon those who refuse
to struggle. Why should people have
hands. if they are never to be used; feet. if
they are never to walk; ears. if they are
not TO hear! Progression is the great law
and order. and end Of existence. With
out struggle, there is no progress; without
an incentive to struggle, there will be no
and poverty is the great incen-
tive to human effort. Let no person de-
spar because he is poor
There was momentary silence.
The first few months Of our married
life we ate from plain pine table that
your father made himself; and more, we
slept upon straw bedr
For PHYS sake, mother!' cried Ellen,
glancing about the room, what if some
one should
No matter, Ellen, but listen. Our
chairs! There. Ellen, you should have
seen our chairs!'
did father make those. tooH asked FL
Ieen. with an attempt to laugh.
Every one of them but the rocking
chair. and
We'll. we didn't have any. Your faith
err said we should have no time TO rock.
and at night after day Of toll. we could
sleep well without rocking. Ellen, you
will never know the pleasure of sweet
lseep until you have passed day ofunre
hitting toll. o, it is a blessing to sleep
well Of nights-a blessing known only to
those who work. Toll gives relish to
everything. But those chairs-I have
laid away some Of them to give you on
your wedding day. to remind you what
your father was, once on time. The
NAV be salutarv.'
But if you should give me all the chairs
YOU ever had. would not marry poor
like Dantforth. mother!'
'Whar if Dantforth should become rich,
Ellen!'
Why, that might possibly make some
difference about marrying him; but never
were as rich as a Jew. Not |. mother
This was said with proud toss of the
head
You lave much to learn vet. Ellen, and
it is my prayer that you may not pay for
it too dearly. The future has tears for
you. fear
We'll. mother. let it pass. ] will never
marry George Dantforth, for as have told
you really believe could never learn to
love poor man! My ideas rise higher
than plough. logger. If the future has
tears for me, my eyes must use them
Here Mrs. Summer sighed deeply.
Young Dantforth stopped to hear no more
He hurried away with bosom swelling
with Indignation and wounded pride.
The next day George Dantforth was not
10 be found in Lagrange. Days followed
days. and weeks followed weeks. and
month followed month. and finally years
rolled on. and he came not. They only
knew he went forth to his work with his
axe on his shoulder. and that he had never
and had not been heard Of since.
No one could solve the mystery. The
lwellers in Lagrange might be seen in
groups, talking about the matter for weeks
tileI " dTl. dIO tlleS even SedtCucA tiiC
neighboring streams and woodlands for
MS body. the belief having prevailed at
length that he had made way with him.
self for sumo reason or reasons unknown
10 them. At length the affair died away.
and ceased to be talked of. or was refer
red to only at long intervals as a very sim
gular occurrence.
Mr.. Sumner and his good lady looked
grave, sighed and shook their heads. but
could never be induced to express an
opinion on the subject.
Even Ellen seemed to regret the fate
{ for she doubted not he was dead) Of
George Dantforth. And thus years went
on, as we have said. and time made many
changes in Lagrange.
Mr.. Sumner and his family moved away
to Philadelphia. This change of resi-
dence was very agreeable to Ellen. as it
gave her many opportunities Of mixing in
society, and acquiring accomplishments