Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-05-29
Brother Toms Wife.
By T. 8. ARTHUR.

BIZ T. 3. ARTHUR.
If You do marry that girl, brother
Tom, Til have nothing to do with her.
/ won't visit her, nor call her sister,
nor speak to her.
And Lizzie Lawton put on as out
ragged and indignant an air as it was
possible for her to assume.
What's the objection?" asked
brother Tom, in his cool way, fixing
his large, calm eyes upon the pretty
faSe Of his sister, as she sat uneasily
,awaying half around and back again
on the piano stool. !,
aObjection ~ The young lady's
derry lip curled. "Who is she?-
What is she!''
"a sweet tempered, RICH: thoughted,
true hearted young woman, who will
make re good little wife. Are you
answered, sister mine p
...ssA,sewing girlr' said Lizzie, con-
'temptuously.
J. .:..What our mother was, as | have
been told, before her marriage an
svered brother Tom. 6 And, if my
eyes have not deceived me, she has
been sewing woman ever since, or, at
least, ever since my recollection Of
her." o -3
g That's another thing" said the
sister. 6 Mother was superior to her
class, and has risen above it. @
6 Suppose 1 answer your objection
10 Harriet, and say that she is superior
,to.her class, and will rise above it ,
What then? My father made good
matrimonial venture, and l may do the
same
SO But why, brother Tom,'' urged the
sister, "don't you choose wife from
among those on your own level? 2"
Whit do you mean by those on
your own level? Let us understand
each other"
I 80 From among those who move in
our own circles. From the educated,
srefned and accomplished
- g Such as the Misses Walton, for
.iasnsces:'l .&SA
.sss Yes, or the Misses Eden"
..s'.. Whose fathers support them in
illepess, and expect the young men who
marry them to do the same. Now,
Lizzie, the fact Of the business IS, [
ike Mary Eden very well and once
came so near falling in love with her,
that / Vas really frightened. I did not
20 near her pretty face for six months
ssfter I felt the first movement Of the
tender passion
ssDear Mary! o Tom, why not
marry her? / could love her as my
own sister
I" Can't ;.Aord it, petty. Pm but a
poor young man. and hare only my
talents and industry to help me forward
i'm world. Mary can't do anything
herself, and wouldn't expect me to put
her in an establishment but little less
costly than the one her father owns"
.sss.. Oh, but Tom, there'll be no ncces-
sity for going to housekeeping at first.
ABdItAsn, you know, her. father is well
OF in the world, and he'll give her a
house, and furnish it, no doubt, when
she is married"
but Tom shook his head.
s Mary Eden's father lie replied,
smay or may not be rich. My own
private opinion is, that he is living up
Q,5f not a little beyond his income
q saknd as to the house and furniture
witch Mary's husband is goirg to get,
that is something very fine to feed 4
tepcy. upon. The real brick and NOR
tar are another AFFAIR."
4 Il. SO s. Oh, but Mr.. Eden is rich, Tom. %
j IS The rich men Of to-day are our
\ 46e1 men Of tomorrow, Lizzie. |
,xanldn,t give the snap Of my finger for
erich father-in-law as q dependence,
flnean to trust in myself, an honest
IMPOSE and q clear conscience. And
as for a wife, / want woman with
life, purpose, industry and indepen-
ON her, not . great bundle OF
18ces, bonnets and curl papers,
y pretty little helpless, do nothing
e had almost said know-nothine
:. doll hidden somewhere inside, three
IN feet from the crinolinc circaum-
~ Itfion. And then, again, Lizzie,
meshat Of an independent young
5ob5erfully given to the work d
sze okmyself. / happen to b.
5ttom of the ladder, and il
81 e to- the TOP Of it. nv owr