Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1853-04-28


had still son who would devote him.
self as you do to the pursuit of worthy
object?
You have only daughters | said, fol
| had seen several young ladies, young
er than the first
Il had once a son, he replied, 'but'-
he paused moment, and then added, 'he
is dead His voice faltered and his agi.
tation was SO evident, that | thought bis
loss must have been recent, but he did
not wear mourning. Such display oi
tenderness in man who had at first
seemed to me naturally stern, surprised
me; but / said nothing, and soon after
wards he left me abruptly. l read in
the library for some time, but he did not
come back. The next time [ found his
daughter there, and asked her if her faith
er was at home, but she said that he had
left London for few days.
Perhaps [ said, you can direct me
where to find an Euripides with the best
notes.; and then she smiled, and said, Il
think | can; our catalogue is very incom-
plete.' She went to a shelf and took down
a book There is the best edition, be-
lieve.'
She looked at me, and seeing me smil-
ing in my turn, she OWNED my thoughts
y ou think it very strange to find know
these books, she said But [ am not
such a blue stocking as | SEEM
a lady will never admit that she un-
derstands Creek [ said.
"But [ don't understand Creek" she
replied,
"a little" said, pressing the charge.
"Not word. know the books and
the authors names, like parrot. l have
read most of the books of history and
some Of the old divines; but have so of
ten searched for interesting reading that
| know where to find any book in the IL
brary.'
Il own thought you great blue stock
ing | said
'Oh no. l hope not; the world is SO
prejudiced against them. However, if
you will keep my secret, l will own that
I know little Latin
She looked, to me, so interesting as
she said this, slightly coloring, that fell
straightway in love with her. [ saw her
afterwards frequently and chatted with
her, till my attachment to her became
confirmed. This was a serious obstacle
to ny studies. found that I could read
whole pages, word by word, without at
tachinr anv meaning to them. | was
continually tempted tc rise from my seat
and watch the house opposite. ceased
to be an ea1ly riser: L delayed lighting
my lamp when it was getting dusk, t % sit
and watch the glowing cinders on the fire.
1t was winter time; and one day when
the rain was falling, making pools in the
smoky little garden opposite, and the
drops kept gathering in lodges and win
dowsills, and falling with a continued
plash, [ stood long time at the window
and felt as lonely as [ had felt in the old
times. But at last / made solemn res
olution to avoid the place, and apply my
self wholly to my studies; not thinking
thus, to come to love her less, but choos-
ing this as the best means of winning her
one day. For as yet 1 felt that I could
not even speak to her of my Affection
[ had nothing. Even if [ won this schol-
arship, which [ felt now [ must do, my
future was still uncertain. The growing
kindness of her father towards me was
another reason for my silence. 1 felt
that to have spoken to her in secret of
my feelings towards her would be a
wrong done to him, and once when l saw
her coming down the street turned aside
as if had not seen her. Her father in
vited me to his house several times, but l
excused myself each time, and he ceased
at last to invite me.
The examination-day arrived at last:
and [ presented myself, and was one of
the two chosen among four competitors.
[ was to start for the college in few
days. 1t seemed to me very hard to
leave her for three years, trusting to the
hope that she would form no attachment
in all that time; but my mind was made
up. 'She will love me the better perhaps
thought /. when she knows of this; and
] felt almost superstitious conviction
that all would turn out well one day.
But, meeting her father in the library,
the day before | started, the kindness of
his words touched me so deeply that [
was tempted to open my heart to him
l delayed long, searching many pretexts
for waiting moment longer, till [ saw
he was about to leave me; and then / told
him boldly of my affection, and how and
why had said nothing so long.
1T must not be yet,' he said. 4 am
not one to make money question of
such things. You are both young, Kate
is younger than you. You must make no
engagements yet. Let me see, in two
years time, what progress you have
made
Two anxious years! but strong hope
sustained me. My patron received me,