Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-02-17

OF labor.
She al last arrived at the house of
Mrs. D., the lady designated BY
Hannah, and easily obtained board in
the family. She also learned that Mr..
P. the cverseer, whose name she taken,
was in want oil help.
Ii is unnecessary for US TO follow the
fortunes of Maria through their various
channels She entered the factory, learn.
ed TO work. and found many friends,
among whom, and the only one it would
be of interest to the reader to name. was
Caroline Perkins. a girl about her aye.
These two soon became intimate friends.
In the factory their looms were next 10
each other. and they occupied The same
room at the boarding house. They were
much attached to Mrs. D., with
whom they boarded. and she in turn
evinced deep interest in their welfare
About six months after Maria entered
the factory. an incident occurred which
united the friends closer to each other
One evening as they were in their cham
Der, and Caroline was engaged in repack-
ing large trunk. Maria, who was look
ing on. was rather surprised at the
mount Of jewelry possessed by Caroline
and enquired if her beau was jewel
er.
Caroline blushed, and after some hest,
tation informed Maria that her father
had been wealthy, but il was ascertain.
ed that his property, though amply suf-
ficient to pay his own debts, would be
swept away By the failure of some frien Is
for whom he had endorsed. The cred
ilors mad allowed her to keep everything
given her by her father except the piano
She also told her, that although she
might have supported herself by music
teaching. she preferred working in fac
tory to remaining among those who tho
they were once intimate friends, would
consider her, after the loss of her wealth,
as far below them.
Maria repaid Caroline by telling her
own story. and her reasons for lea:ing
home, and corroborated her story by the
display Of jewelry and other trinkets her
father had allowed her TO take.
Probably there never were two per-
sons who enjoyed life better than these
two girls. None, save themselves knew
! their history, and as their natural dispo-
sitions were not arrogant, they never ap.
peared above their fellow laborers.
For two years they remained together.
at the end of which Caroline was mar
ried and at the urgent request of herself
and husband. Maria was induced to leave
the factory, for awhile at least, and lake
up her abode with them.
One day while Maria was engaged in
psrusing a newspaper which had been
left at the house. her eyes fell on par
graph, stating that Mr.. Henry Stevens,
who had always been considered veal
thy merchant. was arrested and commit
ted to prison for committing heavy for
geries. Sac handed il to Caroline, with
shudder. exciaimin9, "as expected. -
The next brought intelligence that no
doubt was entertained of his guilt; and
that Mr.. Graften. if not entirely ruined
would be heavy loser on account OF
his yillainies, as he hired of him large
sum of money. For moment, Maria
indulged in the idea of Immediately Wis
iting her father, but after consulting with
Caroline, concluded TO write to him,
which she did; begged his pardon for
not obeying him. and requested him to
receive her again TO his arms, adding as
postscript. "sha had hundred dol
idtsI nuiSH onC hOulu Scnu HiLi III lie
was i. want of money to pay his losses
by Mr.. Stevens Her father read the
latter with more feelings of sorrow than
anger, but at the end of it broke out into
hearty laugh, exclaiming::
"Well, women are the best judges ef
rascals."
In a few days he visited Maria, ex-
pressing his regret for the sorrow he had
caused her. and requested her 10 return
with him. Maria complied with his re-
quest, and became once more an inmate
of her early home. Her father endeav-
ored by every means to make her happy,
as an atonement for her past wrongs;
and when about year after, she asked
his consent TO her marriage with a me-
chanic without wealth, he answered:
"Do as you please, Maria; 1 have
learned to let every girl choose her own
husband"