The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-01-29
The EEe:reSs.


A sprightly, rose checked little gil used to
sit, in the pleasant evenings Of Juue, on the
ma rble steps opposite my lodgings when !
lived in Philadelphia, and sing over hum
dred little sonnets, and tell over as many
tales, in a sweet voice. and with an air of SIM
plicity that charmed me many time. She
was then an orphan child, and commonly re-
ported TO be rich. Often and often | sat
after day Of vexation, and listened to her
innocent voice, breathing forth the notes of
peace and happiness. which flowed cheerfully
from light heart, and felt portion of that
tranquility steal over my own bosom. Such
was Eliza Hadlcy.
Several years had elapsed, during which
time | had been absent from the city, when
walking along one of the most fashionable
squares. saw an elegant female step into
carriage, followed by a gentleman and two
pretty children. did not immediately re-
csgnise her face, but my friend, who was by
my side, pulled my elbow. "Do you not re-
member little Eliza, who used TO sing for us,
when we lived together in this city:" did
remember-it was herself.
She used TO be fond, said he, officiating her
little circle of friends with romance--and at
last she acted out neat romance herself
She came out into the circle OF life under the
auspices of her guardians it was said by some
that she was rich-very rch-but the amount
of her wealth was no matter of publicity, how
ever, the current, and was generally be-
lieved, well founded report, was sufficient to
draw around her many admirers, and among
the number not few serious suitors.
She did not wait long before young gen.
tleman on whom she had looked with some
what partial eve, because he was the gayest
and handsomest of the lovers, emboldened by
the partially, made her an offer. Probably
she blushed and her heart futtered n little
but they were sitting in moonlit parlor and
as her embarrassment was more than half con-
cealed, she soon recovered, and a waggish
humor happened to have the ascendant, she
put on serious face, told him she was honor
ed by his preference but that there was one
matter which she wished well UNDERSTOOD be-
/ fore, by giving reply, she bound him to his
promise. Perhaps you may have thought me
wealthy; | would rot for the world have you
labor under mistake on that point-I am
worth eighteen hundred dollars!
She was proceeding but the gentleman
started as il electrified; eighteen hundred
dollars he repeated,in manner that betrayed
the utmost SURPRISE; yes, madam, says be
awkwardly, | did understand you was worth
gIeai deal more-but--
No, sir, she replied: no excuses or apologies
thiTk about what have told you--you are
embarrassed now; answer me another time;
and rising, she bid him good night
She just escaped trap; he went next day
to her guardians, to enquire more particularly
into her affairs, and receiving the same
answer, he dropped his sut at once.
The next serious proposal followed soon af-
ter, and this, too, came from one who had
succeeded to large porte n Of her esteem;
but applying the same crucible to the love
! he offered her, she found like result. He
too, left her, and she rejoiced in another for
tunate escape.
Some time after she became acquainted with
young gentleman of slender fortune in
whose approaches she discovered more of the
timorous d;fiilence of love than she had wit
messed before. She did not check him i'm his
hopes, and in process of time he, too, made
her an offer But when she spoke of, her
fortune, his begged her 20 he silent; it is to
virtue, worth and beauty, said he, that pay
my court--not Tor fortune. In you | shalt
obtain what is more worth than gold. She
was agreeably disappointed. They were
married; and after the union was solemnized,
she made him master of her fortune with her
self. / am, indeed, worth eighteen hundred
dollars, said she to him, but have never said
how much more, end never mean to enioy
more pleasure than feel this moment. when
i tell you my fortune is one hundred and
eighty thousand. So ~
| was actually so; but still her husband Of
ten tells her that in her he possesses for
more ample fortune.