Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-02-03
THE DUNTON FAMILY.
BY MRS. NJ. F. AMES.

"Patia is so plain, that am really afraid we
shall have all old maid in the family" said Mrs.
Dunton, one evening, just after her three girls
had gone out to party.
"Oh. guess not" replied Mr.. Dunton," some
commonplace fellow will ask for her when the
other girls are gone. She would not look so
plain, elsewhere but by her beautiful sisters"
Well, they will soon be out Of her way
Or at least, should argue as much from the at
tention they receive"
But they may receive too much attention.
No mar of sense likes to marry girl who has
had all the gallants in the country dangling after
her. | have sometimes thought, that Anna
might have pleased young Merton but that he
called twice, when she was out riding with that
young horse jockey, Williams. Poor Patia
strove to entertain him, but it was evident to me
that he was disappointed in the object of his Wis.,
it, and soon after took his leave"
"I we'll recolect it too," replied the wife,
I" for after he went out, Patia took up book,
and pretended to read, although saw tear after
tear roll down her cheeks, and fall on the open
page before her"
"Poor girl" said Mr. Dunton, 't is pity that
she knows how exceedingly plain she is. But,
as said before, she will seem less so, when her
sisters are married, and gone. And, besides,
what if she should never marry? We want one
to remain with U.S. and there can be no better
than Patia."
"Oh dear; but not as an old maid | have
taken too much pains to raise my daughters, to
have them remain on my hands as old maids"
exclaimed the narrow minded wife.
Mr.. Dunton had nothing to offer to this
weighty remark, and soon managed to change
the subject for q less exciting one. Nearly a
year before, Mr. Dunton had, in q jocular man.
ner promised his girls, that the one who was
first married. with his appreciation, should re-
ceive deed Of a certain piece of property, sit
uated about mile from the village in which
they resided, and known as Beech Wood Cot
tage. And the next morning, Louisa, the
youngest daughter, began teazing Anna by as
suring her father that he might as well make
over the deed to her, at once; as Mr.. Merton
had kept his position by her side nearly the
whole evening.
eyes, and addressed me about as often as he
did Patia, F" replied the beauty, rather tartly.-
If there is one person, more than another that
despise,it is the one that is too basbful to speak
out, and make his wishes known. gave Mr.
Edward Merton, last evening, every opportuni-
ty to declare himself; but he was too rdcu-
lously stupid to understand me, in the least
But | will repay him, with interest, when he
does come to propose! | will lead him such a
round as he never dreamed of before"
"But you would not refuse him !" asked the
anxious mother, in alarm.
"Of course not for there is no one else in
the village, would have, | assure you" A
cloud gathered on Mr.. Dunton's brow, as he
said, 'Come, come Anna, let us have no more
of this. Mr.. Merton is gentleman, and pre-
sumo; ;conducts himself like one, upon all occa-
sions. And such remarks are unbecoming and
unladylike.
Miss Anna bit her red lips-turned and re-
turned, one of the showy rings on her taper
fingers-until her father finding that he had
thrown her into one Of her sullen fits-a not
uncommon circumstance-paid no further heed
to her, but addressed one of the other girls, up
OIL another subject, and soon after the spoiled
beauty took herself off to her room, to be fol-
lowed by her inconsiderate mother, who, by
flattery and caresses, finally succeeded in heal
ing the wound her vanity had sustained. In
deed, she had not time for so long a pout as
usual for she, with her sisters, were engaged
to another party for that evening; and it was
necessary, according to village etiquette, to
wear an entirely different dress from that worn
on the preceding evening. Every article must
be different, and as far as possible, differently