The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-06-30

tory remarks, he said;
You have doubtless observed, sir, my
intimacy in your family more than year
past From the fact that you did not OBJ
jcot to my attentions to your daughter, 1
have been led to hope that it might not be
altogether against your wishes. May 1
ask sir, with due respect, your opinion in
this matter9'
al have often seen you here" replied
Mr.. H, "and have no reason to OBJ
ject to your visits, sir"
' Indeed, sif, you are so very kind |
have neither fortune nor rank to offer to
your daughter, but still cmboldened by
love, l ask you now for her hand"
The old man laid by his book, and re-
moving his spectaces, asked
docs the lady sanction this request p
She does"
Ny daughters hand is yours I"
Ferris spraug 10 astonshment to his
feet, saying
"I hardly know how to receive your
kindness, my dear kind sir; l looked for
different treatment
Listen, young man." said the father,
do you think / should have allowed you
to become intimate in my family, without
first knowing your character Do you
think l should have given this precious
child land here placing her hand in Ferris
to you before I had proved you 2-No, sir
out of Anne's many suitors from the veal
thiest and highest in society, l long since
selected you as one in whom | cou d feel
confidence The world calls me cold
and calculating man-perhaps | am so
but | had duty to perform to Him who
had intrusted me with the happiness of this
blessed child: | have endeavored to per-
form that trust faithfully--the dictates Of
pride may have been counterbalanced by
a desire for my daughters happiness, |
chose you frst-sho has since voluntarily
done so. | know your life and habits
your means and prospects-you need tell
me nothing. With your wife you receive
an ample fortune; tho dutiful son and af-
fectionate brother, cannot but make good
husband. But stop, will be with you
in moment and he left the lovers to.
gether
The story of your marriage with R.
was only to try your heart, then, and thick
Ell the plot" said Ferris to the bushing
girl.
At this moment the door opened, and the
beggar, whom Ferris bad twice relieved
entered, and stepped up to Ferris and So
licited charity Ammo receiled at first at
the detected and poverty-strioken looks Of
the intruder, while Ferris asked in aston
ishment how he had gained entrance into
the house. In moment, the figure rose
to a stately hight, and casting off the dis
guise it had worn, disclosed the person Of
Anne's faAer
The astonishment OF the lovers can hard
ly be conceived.
81 determined" said the father, address
ing Ferris, after l had otherwise proved
your character, to test one virtue, which,
Of all others, is the greatest-Charity-
And had you failed in that you would also
have failed with me in this purpose OF
marriage. You were weighed in the bal
ance, and not found wanting Here, sir
is your purse it contained six dollars
when you gave it to the beggar in the
street-it now contains a check for six
thousand and here is your second, that
contained Ave dollars, which il also multi,
piled by thousands Nay" said the old
man, as Ferris was about to object to it
"there is no need Of explanation-it wa:
fair business transaction"
This was of course all mystery tc
Anne, but when explained, added to hsl
love for her future husband.
RUSSIAN SERTDoM.--A report lately
presented to the Emperor Alexander con
tains the following statistical returns rea
tive to landed property and serfs in Rus
sia. The number of families who are Lane