The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1858-02-10

stead of the roui d. OF the ladder. keep
ing step with me upwards, would be
dead weight, and keep me at or near the
loot forever No, no, petty, | cannot
afford one of your finished boarding.
school misses for wife-thc luxury is
too expensive for me. So, | am going
to marry girl who knows something of
real ife--a true, good, patient, enduring,
self-denying, sweet, darling little body,
who is not ashamed to earn her living
with the neadle. And 1 can tell you
what, Dolly, only wish you were more
like Harriet Parker; there would be forty
chances in favor of your marrying a man
of sense where you have one now. Don't
you know that new society has been
formed among the young men, and that
some of the very best catches among
them have signed pledge not to marry
any girl who is not willing to commence
| matrimonial life with two rooms and a
| Kitchen, and who doesn't know how to
| bake, cook and sew, and to wash and
iron into the bargain | am the presi-
dent"
"Preposterous!" exclaimed Lizzie.
"loull cry some other word when you
| get on the old maids list, and see your
| place filled in the home of some man that
is a man by woman who was not
ashamed of useful employment when she
was a girl. | can tell youi what, my
dainty little sister, there's a reform at
work, and men worth having are begin
nlng to choose between no marriage or
marriage with girls of palmer MOTTO:
and more useful accomplishments than
are possessed by the butterflies who
lounge on sofas all day, knitting zephyr
or reading novels. So make up your
mind to reform Or old-maidism. And
now, as in all probability you understand
that | am quite in earnest about marrying
Harriet Parker, l hope you will reconsd-
er your hasty resolution about not speak
ing to your sister-in-law. The loss, let
me tell you, will be all on your own
side."
Brother Tom understood his own po-
sition entirely. He was not man to
stoop below himself in marrying He
could not unite himself with one who
was ignorant and acknowledgements that
his generously cultivated soul would have
revolted. But he wanted real, not an
| artificial, woman-ono who could take
her place beside him, as he had said, Oh
! the lowest round of fortunes ladder. and
keep step with her upward. Such a ole
be had found in Harriet Parker, and he
was independent enough to make her his
wife.
Lizzie was not long in discovering af-
ter brother Tom actually got married
and commenced housekeeping in two
rooms, with his modest, cheerful, earnest
minded wife, that her new sister had
about her something that inscnsibly wen
the love, commanded the respect, and al
most extorted the admiration, of all who
were so fortunate as to make her acouain-
| tanee.
Marriage, they say, makes or mars a
man" the brother overheard Lizzie once
saying, In an under tone, to a lady friend.
But it will not mar the fortunes of broth
er Tom. He got just the wife to keep
him along i'll the world; and one that
will grace any position to which they
may rise
My own sentiments exactly, petty
spoke out brother Tom. ''She'sa Jewel,
and worth Il thousand Of your paste and
tinsel women. Didn't tel you o.,8ut
you couldn't believe me. Now if you'll
90 and apprentice yourself to dress ma
ker, or mlllner, or learn to do any use
full worl -usetill, not simply ornamen-
tai, meant will recommend you to
the new president Of the society [ told
you about. had to resign when | got
married. He's a splendid specimen, aud
and will make a husband worthy of
queen.