Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-01-10
VOL. 3.------NO. II.

" piUdsS iilo CyCS % y amy was HOb 81
culpable after all. / say, had Charles
knewn all this, he had not stayed sc
strangely and coolly all that live-long
evening, while Fanny's heart was sink.
ing. Moprnfully did tear gather in her
eie, as she beheld him depart, without a
parting glance or a farewell word.
Charles Scott was not quite satisfied
he really loved Fanny, but he was afraid
tbmarry her. 1t was not sickly senti.
mental love. II counted the costs and
calculated the chances; albeit, love, it is
aidunderstands no arithmetic, and knows
no reason. He had fixed principles OF
action, and settled rules to govern his
choice of wife; he did not mean that
love should laugh him out of them, or
blind him to their value. No; he deter
mined TO abide by them.
Some time passed away, and never
was man more devoted to business. -
Perhaps he dreamed Of Fanny, but did
not visit her.
/ Behold gathering of friends, pleas
ant little company; Charles is there, and
Fanny, too. He thought shenever look
ed so charmingly, with her simple braid
of hair, and her modest fawn. colored
dress. There was something sad and
reproaching in her eye, which smote him
to the heart. "Dear Fanny, how can
she. interpret my coolness," was the
question of returning fondness. 81 mean
to see her and explain to her all my
views-if she is girl OF sense she can
not but approve, if she is not, t,''-such a
contingency remained approximation
An excellent resolution; Charles abided
by it. Itso happened, or was contrived
| Qove changes are not always scrutable)
that the two found themselves threading
their way alone through the streets a,
an early hour. Now for Charley's res.
olu,ion--yes, he kept it. ~.
"Bat Fanny" he continued, with re-
marKable self-possession, after few pre-
liminaries not to be repeated, 81 wan,
you to understand exactly my situation,
how j intend for the present TO live, and
what plans we must pursue. Imust Hire
within my means--and just starting in
life, my means are necessarily smaIl.a-
| am liable 10 the fluctuations of the bus
mess world. and we must begin with
wha. we can independently afford mo
dashing out with borrowed capital foi
me.
"You must take all these considera.
tions into account before you answer
Perhaps you may feel that you cannot
conform to such humble circumstances.
will not disappoin. or deceive YOU"
AT the moment. Fanny thought she
could decide instantly, for she saw only
a rose-tinted future.
| Now Fanny listened.
"Do not decide now. Fanny think
this all over," was his parting injunction
at the end OF this long walk, during which
though he had said great deal, he had
agreat deal more to say-''and then de.
eide carefully and concieniiously."
Fanny did think 1t all over; much tha,
he had said was quite new TO her. To
be married 10 be married, it must be
confessed, had implied to her mind what
II does to the mind of too many young
ladies-gay visions Of wealth and inde-
pendence-doing everything one wished
"a lover in the husband-amusemen
in the parlor. Fanny belonged to tha,
class Of females, who, without fortune
or expectations had been brought up
amid the appliances of wealth. She
was an orphan, and lived in the family
of an uncle. With few parlor duties
and none in the kitchen, she had lived
an easy, independent life, floating on so.
ciety, with untried energies and undevel.
oped powers. Rich men did not seek
her, because rich men generally seek to
increase their wealth with matrimonial
cares; poor man might fear, and Justly
fear, as Charles Scott, did, because fe-
males thus educated often shrink from
the exertions and cares of household
employments; they are slow in finding
out that hands are made to work with,
and they are apt TO regard labor as me.
nial service. II all young men were to
do as Charles Scott did, frankly unfold
to women their real situation, and their
true interests; explain to them the use
and dignity Of labor, and encourage and
stimulate exertion, there would be fewer
ill-regulated households and thriftless
wives. Fanny digested the whole mat.
ter, weighed it all, and decided.
Behold. not many months afterwards,
Fanny in her new home. II was indeed
a snug home, full Of comforts and bless
ings. There was pleasant little sitting.
room, with sunbeams and smiles, with
Kidderminster and flag bottoms. unador.
ned by o.tomans, or divans, astral lamps
or marble tables. Her kitchen, too, was
near by, where Fanny was not ashamed
to spend her morning hours.
"Do not come in the morning." said
Fanny to a gay acquaintance, "you may
perhaps find me making bread, or iron
ing collars"
"Doing your girls work! Ugh" ex-
claimed the lady distastefully. N
"Oh, | am my own girl,' Flora,
with the exception of Nancy Drew, who
comes in when | want her. lean make
a soup, or roast turkey, and ! dare say
| can teach you a thousand interesting
things that you don't know anything