The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-10-16
NUMBER %

"I'm sure don't know" returned the
lady, looking into the face of her husband
with an inquisitive glance Her days
work is done, and suppose she has gone
to her ROOM"
"Miss Ackerman," said Louisa Fenning,
at the same time tapping Winfield upon
the shoulder with her bouquet, "who is
she 2"
-" She is daughter of -"
"She is our sewing girl" broke in Mrs.
Morgan" ere her son could conclude his
SENTENCE" poor orphan girl whom we
have taken in charge. Perhaps you have
some errand for her," the lady continued,
turning towards her husband
"No, no errand; only I thought it
strange that never see her with the rest
of the family, after tea. Most girls of her
age are apt to like social intercourse"
"And I doubt not that Miss Ackerman
will, ere long, pick up some associates"
returned Mrs. Morgan. There are a
number of her equals in our neighborhood,
who might be pleased with her society,""
"Equals," repeated the old jeweller, in
a tone of mingled disappointment and re-
proof. "And where shall Laura Acker-
man seek for her equals in social inter-
course, if she finds them not here 20
"Why, Mr.. Morgan what do you mean 20
exclaimed the lady, laying her hands en-
phatically upon her lap, and gazing with
sort of inexpressible wonder into her hus-
bands face.
"Our sewing-girl associate with us 20
cried Mary, turning further round upon the
top of her stool, and adding her look to
that of her mother's''
"What an idea !" came from the lips of
Ellen, the second daughter.
! "Ha, ha," laughed Miss Louisa Fenning
1 as she daintily gesticulated with her bou-
quet, "you misunderstood Mr.. Morgan's
meaning OF course he would not have
his children associate with the help he
only meant that the sewing-girl might be
5 allowed to invite some of her friends to see
her."
AS Miss Fenning spoke, she looked
around with a sort of triumphant air, and
having met the approving glance of Mrs.
Morgan and her two eldest daughters, she
turned towards Winfield and remarked:
"You know, doctor, we owe something
to our position in society, and it behoves
us to maintain that position unsullied by
baser connections. Is it not so 70
"Why, really, Miss Fenning," returned
Winfield, with an evident attempt to be as
courteous as possible, though be could not
entirely conceal the contempt he felt for
such philosophy, know not what others
may owe to the peculiar society of which
you speak, but all that our family enjoy
above the mere gift of life and health, we
owe to my fathers moneyp
Mr.. Thomas Morgan leaped from his
seat, and while ray of pride lit up his
features, he caught his sons hand, exclaim-
ing as he did so:
Winfield you have spoken the truth.
'Tis to my money, that we all owe that
station which society has opened to us.
We are surrounded by friends who now court
our acquaintance, but let the golden god
that sustains our house once fade from my
hands, and you will see them scatter as if
blown by the winds of heaven /"
MIR. Morgan had given utterance to this
sentiment in a haste that characterized the
generous impulse of his nature, rather than
from any desire to oppose his wife, Or to
wound the feelings of any one, and it was
not until his eye rested upon the deeply
reddened face of Miss Fenning, that he
became aware of the real effect he had
produced. In moment the thought came
home to him that she might have found an
unpleasant q" fit" however unintentional-
in the thrust he had given, and desiring to
change the subject, which might be as un-
profitable as it was unpleasant to his wife
and her guest, he turned to his youngest
child and with happy smile he said:
"Come, Lucy, let us hea: you sing. 1t
has been long time since have had the
pleasure of such treat from you"
The fair-haired girl smiled gratefully
upon her father, for she alone of his daugh-
4 tors ev,nn,tb;,oI u;tl, him in his ooncrous