The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-03-24
individual by merit, aud You by family

or descent
You can do as you please, rejoined
Mrs. Gould, somewhat coldly. FcI
my part, | am particular about my asso.
ciates. will visit Mrs. Florence, and
Mrs. Harwood, and such as move in good
society, but As to yvur schoolteacher's
wives and daughters, I must beg to be
excused
Every one to their taste,' rejoined
Mrs bennington, with Smile, as she
moved towards the door, where she stood
for few moments to utter some parting
compliments, and then withdrew.
Five minutes afterwards she was
shown into Mrs. Clayton's parlors, where
in moment or two, she was met BY the
lady upon whom she had called, and re-
ceived with an easy gracefulness, that
at once charmed her. A brief conver-
sation convinced her that Mrs. Clayton
was, in intelligence and moral worth, as
far above Mrs. Gould, as that person
age imagined herself to be above her.
Her daughters, who came while she sat
oonversing with their mother, showed
themselves to possess all those graces of
mind and manner, that win upon our
admiration so irresistably. An hour
passed quickly and pleasantly, and then
Mrs bennington withdrew.
The difference between Mrs. Lem
mington and Mrs. Gould was simply
this The former had been familiar
with what is called the best society from
her earliest recollection, and being,
therefore, constantly in association with
those looked upon as the upper class,
knew nothing Of the upstart self-estima-
ton which is felt by certain weak, ignor-
ant persons, who, by some accidental
circumstance, are elevated far above
the condition IN which they moved
originally. She could estimate true
worth in humble garb as well as in velvet
and rich satins. She was one of those
individuals who never pass an old worthy
domestic in the street without recoeni-
ton, or stopping to make some kind iu-
quiry-one who never forgot familiar
face, or neglected to pass kind word
to even the humblest who possessed the
merit Of good principles. AS to Mrs.
Gould, Notwithstanding her boast in re-
gard to pedigree, there were not a few
who could remember when her grand
father carried a pedlar's pack on his
back-and an honest worthy pcdlar he
was, saving his pence until they became
pounds, and then h. relinquished his
peregrinating propensities, for the quieter
life Of small shop-keeper. His son,
the father of Mrs. Gould. while boy,
had rrvtty FAMILIAR acquaintance with
low life. But as soon as his father
gained the means to do so, he was put
to school and furnished with good
education. Long before he was of age,
the old man had become pretty large
shipper; and when his son arrived at |
mature years, he took him into business
as partner. In marrying, Mrs. Gould's
father chose young lady whose father,
like his own, had grown rich by individ-
ual exeltions. This young lady had not
a few false notions in regard to the true
genteel, and those fell legitimately to
the share of her eldest daughter, who,
when she in turn came upon the stage
of action, married into an old and what,
was called highly respectable family, a
that puffed her up to the
full extent of her capacity to bear in
Aation. There were few in the circle of
her acquaintanccs, who did not fully
her, and smile at her weak
ness and false pride. Mrs. Florence, to
whom she had alluded in her conversa-
ton with Mrs. bennington, and who
lived in Sycamore Row, who was not
only less in regard to family connections,
but was esteemed in the most intel
ligent circles for her rich mental endow-
ments and high moral principles. Mrs.
Harwood, also alluded to, was the daugh-
ter of an English barrister, and wife of
q highly distinguished and professional
man, and was besides richly endowed
herself, moEally and intellectually. All
though Mrs. Gould was very fond Of
visiting them for the mere eclat of the
thing, yet their company was scarcely
more agreeable to her, than hers was to
them, for there was little in common
between them. Still, they had 70 tclcr-
ate her, and did so with a good:grace II
1t was, perhaps, three months AFTER
Mrs. Clayton moved to the neighborhood
that cards Of invitation were sent to Mr. !
asd Mrs. Gould and daughter to pass
social evening at Mrs. Hsrvood's. Mrs.
u. was of course deliphted aed feltI