The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-10-23
NUMBER 80

purchase, and | believe you are too gene
rous to oppose me-
Oppose you! = exclaimed Mr.. Morgan,
as he stepped from his chair and seized his
son by the hand. No, no, Winfield, YOU
have made my heart glad in your choice,
Iand may God bless you for the noble and
independent spirit that actuated you.
When you first spoke I feared that YOU
had thrown yourself away among some of
the glittering trash that has so long iutter-
ed around you. But, Winny, my bow
continued he, in gay tone, since YOU
have founded your choice upon common
sense, | will tell you that Miss Ackerman
is not so poor as you uspect--Therc
don't ask any questions. She knows no.
thing of it yet; but this evening YOU shall
both know it all.
Laura said MIR. Morgan, as the fair
orphan entered drawing room where him
self and son awaited her, you must excuse
me if L come rather suddenly upon the
business for which 1 have called YOU.
There-don't blush, for Winfield has told
me all and if you will but confirm his re-
port, l shall be the happiest of fathers.
Tell me, Laura, are you willing to take
my son, and be to him a faithful and low
ing wife =
'Ah, kind sir, I know not what could
have recommended me in my station to
such consideration, but if he will take me
as | am will be ever true, ever faithful,
and ever-evcr loving
That is enough exclaimed the delight
ed old man. There, take her, Winfield,
and see that you abuse not the trust, for
earth can give you no treasure more valu-
able than TRUE and viRTUoUs WIFE,
And now raid Ny Morgan, as soon
as Laura had recovered her wontcd COM
posure, turning to his intended daughter
in-law, Lucy has told me that you have
in your possession Leaden Cross, which
was the last gift of your father
Yes, sir, Ihave, replied the happy girl.
win you bring it to me p
! Laura left the room, and in few mo-
ments she returned with the cross. Mr..
Morgan took the relic, and after examin-
ing it for minute, he said:
Laura, | remember this thing we'll. I
made it for your father on his return from
Bengal, shortly Before his decease, and had
death not closed his lips so soon, he would
certainly have left for you secret which L
alone can now reveal to you'
AS the old gentleman spoke, he took
from his pocket a small knife, and running
its point along the edge of the cross where
the upper part had been neatly soldered to
the sides, he made an incision, and remov-
ing the upper surface, revealed hollow
interior, from which The beams of the solar
lamp were reflected like so many stars.
There, Laura, said Mr.. Morgan, is
all the wealth your father left, with the
exception of what he bestowed upon Mrs.
Manfred. Why he left it in this manner
he never told me A; perhaps he thought it
safer than in the hands of an inexperienced
orphan, whose mind might be warped by
its influence. These arc all diamonds
which he brought from Bengal, intending
to have turned them into money. l have
weighed them once, and they are worth, at
the lowest estimate, an hundred thousand
dollars. Now, Laura, that you arc rich,
you may change your mind in regard to
my son.
The fair girl cast rcproachful look on
the old gentleman, but her heart beat too
wildly for utterance, and while food of
tears burst forth from her bliss-ladcn soul,
she pillowed her head upon the bosom of
him who possessed her hearts purest and
hoiest love-
The onraptured father arose from his
seat-hc knew his son and Laura were
bound i'll n love too strong for earth to
break, and while yet they were claspcd in
each others arms, he placedhis hands upon.
their heads and blessed them. a 2 =
Laura's mild and lovely disposition soon
won the hearts of Mrs. Morgan and her two
daughters, and Mr.. Thomas Morgan soon
saw that his sons lovely wife was fast dis
scminating i'll his household the pure spirit
of Christian excellence.