Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1857-03-14

yeS'
"Tell NE first what am to promise.
Ii is 100 much like taking a leap in the
dark, to say yes TO an underlined PROPOSE
ton. My sister knows | would not will
lngly refuse her any request to-day"
"Well, then, ii is simply this, that you
pay Susan Howard no further attentions"
"How so, Luc"? what has Susan Ho.
ward done to offend you, or what can you
bring against her to justify you i'll ma.
king such a request p
Il should not have supposed you would
ask that, is not her parentage enough -
IL cannot say, why She is the daugh-
ter of an honest, respectable blacksmith,
who has always supported his family
honorably, and given his daughters an ed
ucation that will render them ornaments
to the best society in our land !"
"How absurdly you talk, Fred where
can you have picked up such sentiments (!
| think society would be vastly obliged 10
you, were you to Introduce blacksmlth's S
daughter TO grace its circles"
"Well, il might be, Lucy; for not
wishstanding your prejudices, let me as
sure you there is not a girl among the cir
Gle of your acquaintance who, for the
sterling qualities OF mind and heart, will
compare with Susan Howard.
IL know nothing Of her sterling quail
ties. She doubtless does well enough
for the station in which she moves, and
which she is assigned to fill, as the wife
of some sturdy mechanic but you, as
well as she, would find she is quite out
Of her sphere in more refined society,""
81 am sorry to hear you express such
sentiments. What have We, the children
of republican government, 10 do with
such nice distinctions Worth is the cri
tCrion by which we are TO Judge, no! the
acciden, Of fortune or family. This is
ore of the chief beauties OF our republican
institutions, that it grants to every man
and woman the power TO become the ar
chitect Of their own lo!tune--lo some
thing or nothing"
"All that sounds very well for your
politicians, and will doubtless have very
good effect in electioneering purposes
but have no ambition, because | live un-
der republican government, TO become
so very republican i'll my feelings and as
sociaiions. The distinctions of society
should be observed, else what would it be-
come %
$50 they should, Lucv. and so they
ever will. The distinctions between vice
and virtue, ignorance and intelligence, can.
not be too nicely drawn, though | fear it
would be to the exclusion of many who
now swell the list of our would be aristoc-
racy, while the admission Of our worthy
blacksmith and his intelligen. family
would more than compensate for score
of them"
"How can you, Fred, persist in that
which you know is so annoying TO your
family? The very idea of having girl
like Susan Howard associated with IT, is
TOO humbling TO be endured"
81 regret exceedingly that your preju
dlces are so strong, Lucy, as have dec-
ded upon asking Miss Howard to become
your sister, so you see cannot, with con-
sistency, give you the required PROMISE
"If that is your decision, further argu-
ment is useless but you know my feel.
ings towards her, and the welcome she
will be likely to receive from me-"
II
"Have you seen The member from
c., Fred, asked Lucy Preston of her
brother, the day after his arrival in Wash
ington, where she had been spending
few weeks with her father, distinguish.
ed member Of Congress, from one of the
New England States.''
"No; who is he, and what is he like -
His name is Howard and | heard fa-
ther say this morning tina, he is one of
the most talented members of the House.
He is certainly one of the most perfect
gentlemen ever met"
"Howard, Oh wonder if he has any
sisters 2"
"Yes, several One of them was here
with him during the early par. of the ses-
sion, and, Judging from the quantity and
quality of praise lavisbed upon her, she
mus, be paragon. She will be here
again soon, as she is expected grace Mrs.
Us party tomorrow night"
81 must manage TO get an introduction
10 her.
81 think | can effect this, as her brother
has promised 10 favor HE with one.
49,. -z.Il, ,priouc IN soc one who eXclteS