The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-02-17


| heard bad account of his health"
"We will inquire after him." said Martha
"Thc next"
"The next poor relation, love, There
old Sarah Sisson--a kind of fftieth cousin
and Tom Sellers another cousin. l thin
. these are all can mention. Only, II yo
are Inclined to be berry charitable, there i
one poor friend of mine, whom my late wifi
never could bear. So, just for peace sake,
was obliged to break with HIM. have oftei
, repented it since. His address is Johr
M'Farlane, Swallow Street. He is a plair
sort of man, but very sensible, though odt
and abrupt in his manner. He was too can
DID for the first Mrs. Sellers"
"Oh, have no doubt he and shall suit
admirably" said Martha, smiling. "Now, fol
the addresses of Sarah Sisson and Tom Sci.
iers."
They were given her, and then she tUrhed
towards the three-ssters, who were all gaz-
ing at her with astonishmen:, though in Isa-
bella it was mingled with admiration.
"Here is nice Christmas party" said the
bride. "One, two, three, four-with oursel-
YES, nine. Nor will we conine our gay do
ings to the drawing room. Always with your
permission, my DEAR" laying her hand upon
that of her husband, who had drawn his chair
hear the writng,table. 'Have carte Janche!'
"Certainly," said Mr.. Sellers. And his
oye, as it dwelt lovingly upon his young
BRIDES calm, sweet face, expressed more
strongly than his words, how willingly he
gave way to all her kind impulses.
"Then we will invite all the poor people
in the immediate neighborhood, without ex-
ception, to dine in the large upper room
In the new warehouse"
GA sort of go out into the highways and
hedges, and compel them to come inc-hey,
Patty!" said Mr.. Sellers, laughing.
ain everything but the compulslon, Mr..
Sellers" ...
That night Mr.. Sellers, not being very
well, went to bed early; and when his wife
followed, after chat with the girls over the
fire. she found him fhst asleep. She had TAX
en- off her dress, and was arranging her hair
before the glass in the dressing-room, when
she heard the sound of some one speaking,
and, going into the next room, found her hus-
band sitting up in bed, and talking very fast
in his sleep.
"Poor Mary! poor child!" he was sayihg,
$50 your cruel father would not speak to you.
I-I-"
The tears were running down his face, and
he was SO evidently distressed by the vision
his fancy had conjured up, that Martha shook
him by the shoulder to awake him.
"She turned SO pale" he continued--"so
pale-I mean. What is it, Martha!-
What is the matter?"
"You have been dreaming, love. Feel,
your face is bathed with tears"
"Yes, remember" and he gave heavy
sigh, that much resembled sob. "Sit down,
Martha; have often wished to unburden my
mind 10 you. l am different man since I
knew you, my darling. But perhaps you
would rather undress first"
"No, love, tell me now; shall not be- so
sleepy. The fire is very good, and have on
my thick dressing-gown. Here, give me your
hand, and tell me all about it,
"Well, them" said Mr. Sellers, covering
his face with his other hand, as if ashamed,
81 suppose you are aware that have another
daughter, besides those whom you have scent"
81 have heard some rumors of the kind, but
did not know that she was still alive"
ayes, she is alive, and living in this town.
We met her this morning"
"Did we, indeed! Where, dearestl
"When we were coming out of Dawson's
shop. Don't you remember stumbling over
some weman!"
"Yes, was looking at those great Chinese
mandarins that sit there noddihg-a sort of
catch-penny, presume. Twas aware that
we knocked against somebody, but did not
see her face"
"That somebody, Martha, was my own poor
dear child. She turned as pale as lily; and
she was not dressed SO we'll as one of my
servants. Ever since knew you, and came
under your pure influence, have dohbted
whether acted the part Of Christian faith
er in forbidding her my house, and disinherit-
ing her merely because she had followed the
dictates of her heart, fulfilled an understood
engagement, and married a man whose only
defect, even in my eyes, was want of money
had encouraged their intimacy in better
days"
"You only did as most other fathers would
have done," said Martha soothingly. "The
fault lies in the generally received ideas abou,
the thing, not in the individual instances Of
carrying them out. An impartial arbitrator
has long been needed between parent and
child, Love and Mammon."
"Very true, my dear. wish had spoken
to her this morning; but had not yet made
up my mind to do SO, and the sight of her SC
altered, completely unnerved me. Now
have lost all trace of her."
awe shall perhaps be able to trace her a.
GAIN" said Mrs. Sellers. 81 daresay the
grocer will know where she lives"
"a bright idea. Thank you, my swee,
comforter. shall now 60 to sleep with o
comparatively easy conscience"
"Just one more question, dear. Arc yot
sure that Mary's sisters never see her!'
mo, love, forbade all intercourse from
the very first"
"What severe man thou hast beeni How
was it that happened to take fancy to
you"
"Because you are IN old young woman; SC