The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-02-07
=, December 3. 1854,

DEAR -", ! received your letter lust
ten Minutes since, and my judgment tells me
to answer at once, without any consultation,
because none isineeded. When you asked me
to give you my heart and ito affections,
consented, because admired, and respected,
and loved you; but did not at the same time
agree to surrender to you nv soul and its
eternal hopes. Had you asked me to make
such sacrifice AZ thai, would have refused
not only you but an archangel, could any
.such bright spirit propose like question to
ms. Remember, dear -, that religion
with Us Catholics 10 not an opinion at ALI,
is far lcore. even, than a logical conviction
it 10 FAITH, which is grand and powerful in
proportion 70 the divinity in Which, it trusts
Such 10 my iJea OF faith, bot do not pretend
TO be q theolcgian. Now, dearest -,
could not, without horrible contemp: for
myself. surrender God to win husband even
as accomplished as you. and the only one to
whom have plighted VOWS of love. would
be guilty Of an enormous crime, il I were
even to pretend to COW ersion in which NV
understanding and heart had no part
Every idea Of honor which have learned,
forbid such q prostration Of my character.
You could not even respect me yourself,
could | be 90 easily induced to desert my
hopes Of heaven. Could l be faithless to
God and faithful to man! knew, dear -,
that you did not agree with me in my relgi.
quiring from you such q heavy obligation as
you would impose on me.
But must argue the question with you;
for Though you are lawyer, am not afraid
Of enteriag into q little CONTROVERSY with
you: 90 nox look grave, for am going to
lecture you. You say. dear -. that Tin
our happy cosntry all religions are alike"
Well, granted: wby then can't you relnquish
yoars and join mine! Wouldn't that be as
reasonable as for ne to relinquish mine and
profess yoursa But you place it on the
geound Of eKPediency- on the unpopularity
OF our Church. Well, you need not change
yours; you wonld do wrong to abandon your
creed and unite with ni0e. unless you firmly
believe in it. Az for the smiles of worldly
prospesisy-thonghI wosId not useIessly
disregard them. yet a true.born American,
with a proper estimate of her honor, would
prefer the rags of poverty. sooner than clothe
with silks 4 dishonored aad violated con.
scieace. Your own good sense and enlight-
ened mind will convince you, my dear -,
that AIN right: and / am eon6d dent that your
reply, which will expect with anxiety. as
you do this. will remove this thin mist from
the bright eyes Of love. whose light l hope
will ever beam grsciousIy on our lives.
Truly you're.
-, December 8, 1854.
DEAR MISS --,I must caDdidly &C.
knowledge that your letter greatly disap-
pointed me. thought that yolr intelligence
bad risen above all those antique and musty
oPiaioos. whose proper period was the mid
die sg-s aud ther proper locality in Spain.
| have now and theo observed among Catho.
lies, educated like yourself. q strange faehion
Of ascending above the REALIZES of life on the
airy pinions of what you call faith. But
ssoA theories do not advance q professional
msn-do not roof q house. or supply the ne
cessties. much less the elegsncies Of home.
] thought On this account you wonld readily
enter into ny views, but you refuse to do 90.
Well. 4 will abandon my request. I am too
much devoted to you to allow even differ.
ence like this, serious and most important 40
it's. 10 weaken the love which uniter our
hearts. You ladies, aud you are the very
first amongst them all. dear -, con.
asive occasionally to introduce such exalted
notions into your beautiful heads, that to re.
move them would be ~ easy a. to attempt TO
chain the zephyrs or rob the violet of its per.
fume. Well, then, in conclusion I must
inform you that have read your letter to
the family. 1t would be improper to deceive
you on the subject OF my parents. opinions.
Their attachment to the Presbyterian faith
lie very great; and the idea of my union with