Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-12-23
PICTURES OF LIFE.
eeMaoS PEOPLE.
EY + ssaR THUR.

.
Are YOU going to~call upon Mrs CLAYTON
aud her daughters, Mrs Marygold p asked
a neighbor alluding to family that had
just moved inta Sycamore Row
No, indeed. Mrs bennington that am
net. ! don't visit everybody
/ thought the Claytons were a very 70
spectacle family remarked Mrs Lemming
ton.
Respectable EVERYBODY is getting re-
spectacle now.a days. If they are respccta.
bic, it is very lately that they have become
so. What is Mr. Clayton, wonder, but a
school.master 1t is too bad that such peo
pie will come crowding themselves into gen.
teel neighborhoods The time was when to
live in Sycamore Row was guarantee enough
for any one-but, now, all kinds Of people
have come into it,
have never met Mrs. CLAYTON remark
CD Mrs. bennington, butI have been told
that she is q most scstimabc woman. and
that her daughters have been educated witt,
great care: Indeed, they are renresented
Wen, I doH't care WHAT they arc repro
sentcd to be. I'm net going to keep com
pany With seheol-master's wife and daugh-
tiers, that's certain.
Is there anything disgraccful in keeping
school4
No, nor in making shoes, either But,
then, that's no reason why / should keep
company with my shoemaker's wife, is it p
Let common people associate together that's
my doctrine.
But what DO you mean BY common peo-
pie, Mrs Marygoldl 2
Why. / mean common people, Poor
people People who have not come of re-
spectacle family. That's what ! mean
ain not sure that | comprehend your
explanation much better than do your
classification Ifyou mean. as you say, poor
people, YOUR objection will net rpply with
full force to tie Claytons, for they are now
in telerable easy circnlns ances. As totIfe
family Of Mr.. Clayton, belieee his father
was maa Of integrity. though not rich
Aud Mrs Claytous family | know to be
without reproach Of any kind
And yet they are common people for al
that, persevercd Mrs Marygold. Wasni
old Clayton a mere petty dealer in small
wares And wasn't Mrs. Clayton's father !
mechanic n
Perhaps, if some of us were to 60 bacl
for generation or two, we might trace gu
an ancestor who held no higher place IN SO
ciety,' Mrs. Lenmington remarked quietly
/ have no doubt but that should
II have no fears Of that kind, replied
/ Mrs Marygold, il an exulting tone
shall never blush when my pedigree is trac
| cd
s199s Ner / neither, / hope Still, shoult
| not wonder if some one Of my a ces
tors had dissraced himself, for there are bu
| few families that are not cursed with a spot
ted sheep Bat / have nothing to do wit
that, aud. ask only to be judged by what
aln-net by what my progenitors have been
"A standard that few will respect, LEI M
| tell you
"a standard that far the largest porto,
of society will regard as the true one,
hope replied Mrs bennington. But
surely, YOU do not intend refusing to cal
upoa the Claytons for the reason you hay
assigned, Mrs. Marygold
Certainly I do. They are nothing bu
common people, and therefore beneath lns
i shall not stoop to associate with them
think that will call upon them. i
fact, my object in dropping in this mornin
was to sea If you would not accompany me
said Mrs bennington.
Indeed, will not. and for the reason
have given They are only common pc,
pie, You will Be STOPPING
T. No one stoops 10 doing kind act Mr.
Clayton is q stranger in the neighboFhoos
and is eRtitled to the courtesy of Q call, III
more and that / shall extend to her. If
fnd her uncongenal in her tastes, no int
mate acquaintance need be formed II sil
iS conua,Ssaf I will add annft,ar IN nv Il.