Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-12-20

IS 5bort 5torq.
WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY!

WHAT Do PEOPLE SAY
ca INDEP END ENCE OF MIND.
':What do people say about 2" said Harri-
ct Ogden, as the door closed upon a young
bridegroom; chow anxiously he asked the
question; and yet of what consequence is it to
| him or his pretty bride 70
'sOf just as much as they please TO make
| it, replied her father.
s'And not one jot more-yet it is evidently
the canker-worm which is eating out the very
heart of his happiness
':But not Of hers, Harriet,'' observed Mrs.
! Ogden. eSShe is so simple and natural, so en-
! tirely without pretension, and has withal such
a light and loving heart, that what people say
will touch her happiness, only as it touches his
SsAnd after all, my dear, she is a good girl.
a pretty girl, and they are every way suited to
each other; there really is not one rational OBJ
lection to the match, and that so many have
| been coniured up is truly wonderfully said
Mr. Ogden.
''Oh! people do love to be meddIing," re-
! sponded Harriet laughing: g It's the way of
the world Ny only wonder is that he
should care about it,
ssMy dear nece,'' said DR.. Fraser putting
down the medical journal, and taking off his
! spectacles, cit is my vocation you know to
study the mental as well as the physical devel-
opments Of this strange being, man; and can
assure you Cl,arl,se only,
| one whose happiness is made or marred by
the lightest breath of popular opinion. L
| could make out long list Of similar cases
| from my own personal observation, but not
now, for living Illustration Of my doctrine
has just entered the gate"
.sIn the form of Mrs. Mercer. But l beg
your pardon, uncle; it is not to popular opin-
ion. but to that Of the aristocracy, the seifcon-
stituted aristocracy of our republican land that
she bows the knee. To obtain footing in
what she terms the best society, and to be visi-
ted and invited by those who stand little
higher in it than she can hope to stand, are
the marks at which she aims; all her arrange
ments. plans. manGuvres, tend to this; really
do not believe she has a thought beyond it.
! Her dress, furniture, manners, language, are
nodded as nearly as possible after those OF
Mrs. A. B. and C. (by the way SIG would not
go one letter lower upon any account; hei,
opinion is her standard of right; their conduct
her rule of action. To be genteel and fashion.
able OR rather to be thcgght SO, is the height o.
her ambition, the supreme OF her felicity; and
90 attain this, in her view, enviable dstinc
tion, she every day submits to greater inconve
niences, makes greater sacrifices and toll:
more diligently than many very good people
are willing to do in the way of their duty"
.sHarriet, my DEAR said Mrs. Ogden, il
a reproving tone.
ssTalle care Harriet, this satircal vein viii
not win friends,'' observed the doctor in hi
own quiet way. eff the lady had not stopped
to speak to friend she might have listened t,
the conclusion Of your fattcring eulogium.''
ssNo matter if she had,'' returned Harriet
laughing; .sas her perceptive organs are quit
moderate, she never would have discovere,
the likeness
The lady entered; a tall spare woman, some
l what coarse and uncouth in manners and appear
, ance but yet laboring most sedulously in ever
word and movement after grace and elegance
Her first remark after she sat down was char
acteristic. 81 have just been lamenting t
Mrs. Brown, that Charles Grant, fine youn
t man as he is, should have taken such stcI
and given so much occasion to the world t
censure him.
q 'FAnd we were just lamenting," returne
Harriet, quickly, "sthat he has so little indeper
dence of mind as to care for its censure."
''Surely you do not mean to say, Miss 0gdeI
: that the worlds censure is to be despised -
ssBy no means when we deserve it, Mr.:
t Mercer. But think | should be very likel
d to despise it in case like this, where l wa
| c,iO ,nf IaS, rirE4 hos do
it had no business to interfere
s'My dear,'' said Mrs. Ogden, ssyou spea
warmly and unadvisedly. You do not mea
that you would despise, but that you would NJ
4. fear, would not shrink from its censure, whe
sustained by consciousness of right"
81 ought to mean so, L suppose" replie
Harriet, coloring and smiling; sSbut fear
is such case, 1 could not help despising it too.
ssIf too great Difference TO public opinie