The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-09-25

lllleu anu hlSStu HcI COiu CHCCh-Il WuS
very cold-and went back to my mothers knee
weeping and wishing that too had gone with |
my little sister 10 that better place. ;;
That was my first sad experience in life.
When l was ten years old, my father, who
from my earliest remembrance looked very pale
and thin, took sick. He had the consumption,
they said. There was no hope-he must die.
My mother, sad and heart broken. toiled with
her needle, day and night, to purchase the ne
cessaries of life. Night after night have | sat
upon little stool at her feet and sewed until
the distant clock chimed the hour of midnight,
and then, in obedience to her commands, have
sought my cot--not TO sleep, but to lie weeping
and watching her careworn face, as she still
bent over her ceaseless toll.
My father fingered year. Four years after
his death my mother also died. Those five
ycars!-I may not tell you what an age of suc-
Iering they brought TO US all. You, who have
always been nursed in the lap Of ease, could not
understand were to tell you Of the bitter priva-
tons, the stern want and cruel toll, which are
the bitter companions Of poverty. Until be-
came an inmate of my Aunts home, the sun had
never shone, the birds sung or the flowers BIOS
winter OF grief and suffering. But enough!
You already know how | was almost daily
thrown in compauonship with Henry. A great
lavorite with my aunt, when not otherwise en-
gagged, he used to bring some interesting book
and spend the long winter evenings IN reading
to her, and my heart soon learned to throb
quicker at his coming and grow sad when he
left us. And thus passed year; and yet l
dreamed not that it was love. ether than might
have felt for a brother. But at length my eyes
were opened. 1t matters not how. Then did
strive to school my heart to meet him calmly
and treat him coldly. But alas! how vain the
task MY heart rouH beat the quicker at his
approach: my hanl mouH tremble within his
grasp, and my tongue could utter nothing cold
or formal in his presence
"Then how my darling Flora could you, if
you loved him thus, reject him and cast him
from you!"
sBecause loved, | refused to marry him, but
| have no, cast him from me. Oh no; his home
is in my heart and shall be Away"
81 think you foolish, very foolish. Why not
marry Henry ?--truc, he is poor, but then he has
good profession and doubt not would be able
to support you comfortably through life. Be-
think YOU. Flora, riches are insufficient TO make
one happy"
81 believe i'll know i'll would not marry
a rich man unless | loved him, yet | cannot
marry one SO very poor, although love him
dearly
"You are strange girl, Flora. II always
erty, or suffering, cheeiiuly, for the loved ones
sake"
s'You do not understand me Ellen. Look at
the case as it is: am an orphan, poor, without
a cent in the world. l must live by my own
exertions; must struggle with the world and
earn substance. The prospect is not so
bright as it night be, yet do not shrink from
its contemplation; can go forth with firm and
cheerful heart 10 meet toll and care and suffer-
| ing NO matter what, can beur it, for it comes
to me alone. But | cannot bear to see those
love bowed with toll, burthcned with care and
struggling with want. Yet, hare seen my
hearts cherished ones die of toll and want;
hare borne it once, but Oh! Heaven grant that
| be not called upon to bear it again.
| cha nttorpd tho Ia Il n PhOk-
ing voice, she rested her head upon my lap and
again wept. smoothed the glossy curls back
from her childish brow and was fain to weer
myself while | thought-''she struggling with
the world! Ali it will be struggle sure
enough'-and so | went on thinking, until hel
sobs growing still said
"FloIa, dear, have you made up your mind as
to what you are to do in this great world
Will You be Lawyer; Preacher; Doctor; ar
Editor--or how are you going TO 'carn sub
sislance.'"
GAS aromen generally earn a livelihood, Ell
len. Pm not ambitious. So that | have enough
to eat, drink and wear, shall be content"
"Will you be content to toll with your needl,
twelve--aye, fifteen hours ofthe day for enough
to eat, drink and wear? Methinks | woult
rather die at once than drag out such lifc."
"Perhaps will be teacher.
"Ah! yes, women are permitted to teach
But that will be a tolsome life for one like you
my dear-and you will only be able to earn o
livng-noihing more; for they dom: pay women
very high wages for teaching.'
ssBut why don't they Ellen? was thinking
but yesterday, that if was only a man l coulc
get along easily; there are SO many more thing:
for men TO do, than for women. Do you know
why 1t is SOL"
"No, not exactly, but suppose because we
are the weaker vessels and the 'lords Of crea
tom so considera,e and kind. 1t is kind O
them to do all the work, is it not?"
s'But how do they expect us to live; we mus
do something's