The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-09-01

,na' She mad nose SO in harmony with
her hall blue, half gray, and half hazle
eyes, that you thought nothing about it,
only that Kate Boyd Was lovely; some
SAID beautiful" others " splondid,' and
yet no one could exactly tell why.
Kate received her lover as lust such
girl would, led him to the parlor and
seated herself gracefully b. lis side
1of Nate had sunk the kitchen girl long
ago, III ia3 oy1. 81 the Niiloughbys, and
thCush they pad her, per contract, two
dollars week, ;hcg never dreamed that
she was not one Of them, and she never
dreamed Of neglccting duty or getting
out Of her place, and being stuck up
because they made companion and an
equal OF her. Kate was cone of us, -
except when the Peabodys, the sister
and the Prcstons, and such as they were
to dine, or take tea, and then Kate did
all her duty with an air of unconscious
ness OF th,ir presence, only emitting to
put herself in the way Of any insult or
cold neglect that their weakness and
pride might prompt them to offer her.
She did not take the accustomed scat at
the table, nor in the parlor after tea,
not that she cared one straw for their
attention or neglect, but she could see
plainly that dear Mrs. Wiloughby was
made uneasy, and was panied by their
want of good breeding, and so the calm
self-sacrifcing, sclf-respecting young
girl always found something plausible to
keep her away. But by no look, or
word or token did she ever for moment
give sanction to the idea that playing
upon the piano was more reputable or
agreeable than playing upon the cooking
stove. Would that all young ladies
thought even as Kate. Long talked the
lovers, and the blissful future was hung
by bows of promise, gorgeous and bright
Young Harrison had just returned from
college and entered business with his
father. Both were too young to marry :;
but they could talk matters over, renew
the loves of childhood and strengthen
the interest that was to bind them
through life; and Harrison did not leave
till such an hour as would have called
out another rebuke from his good mother
had she not supposed that he was spend
ing the noon of night at a fashionable
party.
While the lovers were thus engaged,
Mr.. Grey, who had got home from his
Railroad Meeting, and his lady we're
sitting up later than usual, discussing
the same subject that mother and son
had begun early in the evening. "It
was no use," the old gentleman said,
to argue the question, Harrison would
have the girl, let them do ard say what
they might, after all. He should have
done just so when he was young; but it
was unfortunate and all they could do
was to make the best of it."
Charles Preston sat long with the fas-
cinating beauty; his head reeled with
wine, for he could not bear much, and
after they left the saloon, he Joined a
party of young revelers who met him
on the street. Wine had crazed him,
and before morning he bore the brand
OF a drunkard and gambler.
A day or two after the occurrences re-
lated, Harrison Gray called upon the
lover OF his sister, and with earnestness
besought him to avoid the winecup.
Preston talked fair and made liberal
promises-perhaps he meant to keep
them, and would have done so, doubtless
had not temptation met him at every
turn. Again, and again, Harrison Gray
found him in company with, and partak
ing with, wine bibbers. Mary wa.
warned. But Mr.. and Mrs Grey thought
he was too talented and noble to ever
become a drunkard the influence Of 4;
wife was all he wanted to save him. OIL
specious reasoning, that has led thou
sands of the beautiful, the loving ant
true, to ruin and despair. If the maidel
cannot hold the lover firm, ,besure the wifi
never will. If the man has not tn
strength within himself to walk upright
no power of woman can hold him lon
in the paths eff virtue. When Wi
society cease to make woman the keepe
of mans morals ?
Charles Preston married the beautifu
and amiable Mary with the full conscr
and approval of her parents. Two year
after, Harrison Grey married Kate BoyC
the kitchen girl, without their approva
and with reluctant consent.
Let US skip FIVE years.
Mary Preston is at home again in he
fathers hall, the pale, wretched, drooI
ing mother of two sickly children. Ho
could they be otherwise the drunkard
children are rum-stung. Charles Pre-
ton fills the convict's cell, and from h
lodge of sin goes forth day by day to h