American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-02-28
WOE. 2::::NO. 9B. ..'..i:; ... u; Il:
I'D l'rnnslated from Paris Journal,
.7HE RAG picKER's DAUGHTER.

THE RAG. Plcl<ER'Ss DAUGHTER. J,
Inone of the narrowest and dirtiest
sreets of Paris, ON the ground floor of
serumblng soldohouse, is the shop of
Monsieur Thomas, rag merchant. ~
In the backsof this shop issa sort of
tasse office, i'm which anlexceedinglyi
PRETTY girl not long since transacted
the bnsinesseof the establishment. This
Young girl was Mademoiselle Julie, old
4 ihonlas' s daughter. in0mgni}aE 81
Not o great while ago, an elegant
looking young gentleman, CHANGING to
pass through this dirty street, observ-
ed the pretty girl in her glass cage, and
involuptarily halted to admire her
The next day he came again, but it was
not chance that brought hinthis time;
for, after pausing in the street, as be-
fore, he entered the shop, under pre-
text Of asking his way, but in reality
TO approach nearer to the object Of his
sudden admiration, A very few words
sutficed to confirm and fasten FIRST iim-
pressions, and he was about to 90 a.
way, III disconsolate frame of mind,
when, amongst the old junk whichothe
shop contained, he observed % pile of
secondhand books. Seizing upon this
excuse to prolong his stay, the young
man turned over the tattered refuse,
and purchased several of the books.
promising the fair saleswoman that he
would, from time to time, replenish his
''library" at her establishment, He
must have been very studious that day,
for early the next morning, he return
ed and obtained another supply, q SO,
too, the next, and the next-until, at
last, troubling himself no longer about
the old books, he came and passed much
of his time in soft conversation, at the
window of the glass cage, and finally
wound up by asking Monsieur Thomas
to give him his daughter in marriage.
A AS the old fellow, without being seen,
had witnessed all that had transpired,
and liked the youths appearance, he
at once granted his prayer, on condi-
Ition4that the demand should be made,
officially by the gallant's father. Here
was the difficulty. o4he father of the
lover, Monsieur Georges, was dry
goods merchant, having % handsome
store in one of the most brilliant quar-
tcrs of the city, and looked for some
thing better for his son than a lrao
merchants daughter. However, as
there was snothing else for it, the young
snan broached the subject to his pa
rents. At firsthe was laughed at; but
as he frequently returned to the charge
the father and mother in the hope of
dlgertfng him by other means from his
laad project, fnallyinvited old Thomas
and his daughter to family dinner, in
order to talk the matter over. 1T was
hoped that the ridiculous figure the old
man would cut, and his inability to give
ms daughter q respectable marriage
portion, would put an end to the affair.
Ipe invitation was accepted, and the
parties came. At the desert, the mer-
chant endeayorcd to jest with old Tho
mas and turn him into ridicule. That
dld mt secm,to work particularly well,
ana nothing remained but to try the fl
nsnuial question. This was Madame
seorge's part, and she commenced by
asking what amount he intended to
give, his daughter, on the day of her
ittias-tiass: r .o
%Oh, pray, MOTHER cried young
Georges, vbo saw the trap, ''dont talk
about that. Another time--"
Not at all, young man, interposed
NJ. Themas. HLeta US talk, OF it at
9see sipee your mother wishes it. A
little ready money does Il newly mar
ried pair no harm. IF Madame will
state how much it is proposed to give
her son, / will try to furnish a like
sum-" i,
"We intend" observed Madam Geor-
gss, with o superb air, "to give our son
$4,000 francs, SIR"
swell, well, said old Thomas with
IT sbrug, 81 must say, / expected bet
ter ihan that for my little girls hus-
band; but, as the young people like
each other, ] viii throw no obstacle in,
the way. Julie is my only child, and,
on tlie day fbsf marriage, / shall give
her four hundred thousand francs, mo !
ney. down. go.
1t may readily be imagined that the
Georges Changed their gait,' in a
hurry, y,ab@lt this time. Hntnow came
another diticulty, Expecting to frigh-
ten old Thomas of, Madame Georges
badYather stretched the truth, in nam
ing 10000 francs as her sons wedding
present, and both she and her husband
were now very anxious to see the son
so ricI,lv married. saopiGcos ,.opo ,,,odo