Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-03-24

u
yesterday that Sarah Garter, who has just
ie.urned from Lowell, told me what high
wages some of the girls earn, who are not
older than |, and which Of them do you
think would have a dearer object to work
| for than l, with the old homestead and dear
| Philip before me 7"
A tear had been slowly gathering in
farmer Lees eye while his daughter spoke.
and 1t fell on her neck as he kissed her, ,and
replied to her fervent appeal-"you are
too young, Grace, to know how impossible
it is for you to do all that your love for me
dictates-but thank you for the will, and
! shall never forget it"
ssButyou surely will not refuse to let me
go, dear father. have been for some time
thinking about the factories, and now am
SO certain that / could help you, and Phil
ip too-it would be cruel to deny me-
Mother, viii you plead for me-" asked the
ardent girl, "you know not how my heart
is set upon this thing
Mrs. Lee had been apparently intent on
some household duty dHing the converse
ton between her husband and child, but
|
Grace, and only replied by inquiring in a
low voice, "And what do you think Lewis
Dayton will say to such a plan, Graccl'
The blood rushed over her checks, neck and
brow, at this question, and convulsive
movement Of the lip told that cord had
been touched to which every heart-string
vibrated-but twas only for "A moment, ,and
1 III eba III l
Dayton cares anything about me, he will
like me the better for doing my duty as a
daughter-and ifhis love cannot stand this
test, it Is better to know il now than hereaf-
ter"
'Gracc is night, wife said the farmer
more cheerfully-"no man deserves our
girl who thinks the less of her for any kind
ofhonest labor, and though have little con-
fidence in her plan of helping her old IA
ther, am willing that she should try her
fortune, since she wishes it,
"Now bless you for that word, dear IA
ther, I'm certain of success, if only have
approval, and that ofmy mother, what
ever others think or say"
1t was with great difficulty that Grace
|
six months before anything was said to
Philip about leaving college, but he yield
ed at last, and through her agency an ar
rangement was made with uncle Thomas,
by which the interests was paid up, and
the troublesome creditor silenced for the
present. Farmer Lee was certain it was
all nonsense, and that he was only getting
more deeply into trouble by this respite,
but it was hard to deny any thing to the
favorite child, who had never seemed so
dear to him as now, when she was so soon
to leave them.
The pleasant farm on Beech Hill had
been in the Lee family for two genera
tons, and they Were respected and below
ed by all the inhabitants of the little town
of Meredith, in which it was situated The
news few swiftly that Grace Lee was a.
bout to leave home, to 90 into a factory,
and in that quiet community it occasioned
quite anexcitement. 1t was not, a few
years since, as common for the daughters
ofrespectable farmers to enter the mills for
a season, as it now is, and Grace Lee
though a hardy mountain maiden, had
been so much the household pet, that few
imagined how much quiet energy lay con
cealed beneath her gentle and ady-like de-
meanor.
81 always knew that pride must have a
fall, SAID Miss Prccilla Jones, whose en-
Wy of our sweet Grace had been nourish-
ed until it became an absorbing passion
and who had hastened to the store OF
AJr To tall IL
''Grace Lee has held her head SO high that
people thought she was the only girl in
Meredith. | wonder what she viii say
now, don't you, Mr.. Dayton?'
1 The young merchant only smiled, and
said he presumed the whole affair waI a
mistake, but it was nothing to him certain
| ly, what any young lady thought proper to
do. But though he affected great indif-
ference on the subject, he was far from
feeling it, for he admired the wild flower
of Beech Hill more than he would have
chosen TO confess, and his attention had
been so marked, that neither Grace nor
parents could misunderstood them. But
to marry factory girl-this, his foolish
pride whispered, was not to be thought Of
so he fastened to the house Of farmer Lee
to hear the report contradicted by the lips
he loved best. 1t cannot be denied, that the
heart of the young girl futtered SO wildly
at his entrance, that she could hardly speak
to bid him welcome, nor that strange thrill
ofpain convulscd it, as he spoke OF his sur
prise at hearing the rumor of her intended
departure. But it was with calm brow
| nd hot pl,a I. L. i
heard only truth, and that she was indeed
to leave home for Lowell, perhaps to be
absent for some years. There was no mis-.
taking the expression Of her lovers face as
she said this-lt gave the death blow to
all hopes she had unconsciously cherished,
and taught her that henceforth, Lewis
Dayton must be to her a stranger After
an Intellectual attempt to induce her to re-
inquish the idea, and a few common place
remarks about other things, he took his de-
parture, leaving Grace in a tumult of con-
tending emotions, among which, gratitude
that she had so soon learned the hollow
ness of his professions, became predomi-
nant. Better now than later, said she
to herself while the tears of wounded feel
nSs busHeu from HeF eyes, might IN
time have loved him so well, that the dis
covery Of his character would have broken
my heart. Ihave now only to think of nv
duty tony parents, and dear, dear PHI !"
Philip Lee was two years older ,han
Grace, and though an invalid from child
hood, was young man of uncommon
strength of ml:ru, and loveliness of charac-
ter. From hisinability olabor on the farm,
1t was early decided, that, if possible, he
should have an education; and it was the
first wish of his heart to become qualified
for the gospel ministry. By great exertion
| and self-denial on bis Own parf he had