Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-08-20

one of these days
"Clara will do well, if she has lived on
to the age Of twenty-four after rejecting half
a scQUe Of young men, to get member OF.
Congress-"
'sShe always did seem like strange girl,
and [ should not wonder if she had some
such ambition when she rejected the wealthy
James Ford last spring.
Il am told too that this young NJ. G.. is
one of the most talented on the floor Of the
House of Representatives. young man of
fine promise too Who knows but that
Clara may be mistress of the White House
yet!'
This conversation was between couple
of young ladies, intimate associates of, tho
much younger than Clara Denis, only daugh-s
ter of Col. Denis, of -, and, it may Be
supposed, her rivals also-in the case Of this
young M. c., as ladies generally strive to
catch each others beaux if they be men of
much promise. But let this pass, we have
nothing of this sortof dealing with the ladies'
and hence we will be silent on the subject.
Clara Denis was young lady twenty-four
years of age-an amiable pleasant girl,
sweet as the full blown rose and gentle as
the summers breeze-beautiful in person,
talented and the only daughter of Col. Denis,
one of the wealthiest men in the neighbor-
hood. No wonder then she should have
many suitors But Clara put them all aside
not as an old garment, like the coquet,
but gently and lady-like as an angel-not
daring to wound the feelings of single
member of the human family. She was the
bright star of many a lowly howell in her ma
tive village and vicinity. Her charities of
word and deed were written in letters of
gold on many poor widows heart; and liv
ing monuments to speak her praise might
be found in the persons Of all the poor and
needy within her reach.
Col. Denis had made visit, accompanied
by his daughter, to Washington the previous
winter and there she met the gentleman who
was now on visit to her father and who
formed the subject Of the conversation with.
which this chapter opcned--in fact lie form
ed the subject of all conversation in the vii
lage-he was in the mouth of every one, and
though some spoke no praise Of him, yet
none spoke evil-for they knew not who he
was or whittier he came, other than as they
were told he was member Of Congress and
a talented and virtuous young man-far more
than can be said of all members Congress
s'The public school examination and ex-
hibition takes place tomorrow, Mary, and
we shall have the pleasure of hearing an ad-
dress from the stranger who is stopping at
Col. Denis, as [ learn he is to deliver the
annual address," spoke Sarah Parker, ad
dressing Mary Mortinore on the evening
previous to the public school anniversary.
eyes, my brother John has told me as
much. [ wonder who he can be? He seems
to be altogether incognito. Clara Denis
must have great attraction for him-he new
er goes out that [ hear Of"
Il cannot tell who he is, but perhaps we
shall learn something of him tomorrow
till then, good bye;'' and the two parted.
The morning sun rose bright and clear,
and at an early hour the village was alive
with young folks preparing for the days ex-
hibition. Drums were beating and sweet
music floating through the air banners were
flying in the air, and joy seemed stamped
upon every countenance.
After marching round the village the
whole procession, old and young, congrega-
ted at the church for the purpose of hearing
the address. The speaker took his stand in
front of the pulpit. surrounded by the school
commissioners, and with a low and tremu-
lous, yet rich and melodious voice, began by
saying that Of all things his heart bounded
with greater joy at a scene like the present
than at any other which it had ever been his
privilege to witness-the assemblage of so
many children to Join the parents and friends
in commemorating the anniversary Of pub
lie schools in their midst lie then proceed
ed to review the history of their school sys-
TEN and the statistics Of it's advantages and
benefits he spoke of the imminent advan-
tages derived by the poor from free educa-
ton; he drew a picture in imagination, ap-
plicable to the subject, in which he shcw to
the poor boy his opportunity for improve
ment by means of the free-school system,
the necessity of his working
for his daily bread; he opened the pathway
and pointed out the course-the high road
to honor and greatness, which this free in
stitution secured to him he spoke of the
American scheme of government, where
merit alone entitled one to preferment-t that
talent and application might triumph over
the designing aristocrat notwithstanding his
wealth and power-that the poor boy might
yet dash back in the face of the naughty and
scoffing rich man all his railery and sneers,
by perseverance in his mental improvement,
Notwithstanding all his efforts to crush out
bis natural and rising genius in order that
ptebtans be kept beneath the patriican; he
them that in this free country there
was no rank of blood, but that all, from the
lowest and poorest, were equal by law and