The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-01-28
BR0THTR TOMS WIFE.
RY 7. 5. ARLAuR.

"If you DO marry that girl, brother
Tom, il have nothing 10 co with her
Iwout visit her, nor call hcr sister, nor
speak to herl''
Aud Lizzie Lawton put on "a outraged
and indignant an air as it was possible Tor
her to assume.
"Whats the oljection: asked brother
Tom, ia his cool way, fixing bis large,
calm eyes upon the pretty face OF his siS-
ter, as she Sat aueasi!y swaJin2 halt "a
round and back again on the piano stoo..
"Objectiou!" Tue young lady cher
ry lin curicd "Who is she! What Is
shell"
~ swcct-te1pporsd, rigLt-tboughtod,
true-hcartel young woman, vho viii
make me good little wife Are you
answered, sister wiue.
"A sewing girl said Lizzie, contempt
uously.
"Wbat our mother was, as have been
told, before her marriage auswcTed Tom
and if my ey~s haze not dccei'ed ne
she has been sewing woman eser since,
or, at least, ever since ny recollection o.
her"
"That's nnotbcr thing -aid the sister.
"MOther was superior to hex class, ana
bas risen above 1t.
"Suppose | answer your objection to
Harriet, end say that he is superior to
her class, aud will rise above it, What
then? Ny falher made good matriHo.
NAL venture, and may 90 the same.
"Bat why, brother Tom,' urged the
sister, don't you chose a wife from
among those Of yodr o%u leVel,''
"What do you mean hy those on our
own Level? Let US understand each oth-
err
"From amonr those who in our owD
circle. From the educated, refined aud
accomplished.
such as the Misses 'Yaltous, fOT In
staDceI"
"Yes; or the Misses Edcus.'
"Whose fathers support them 10 idle
ness, aud expect the young nien who mar
ry them to do the same. Now, LlSgIe,
the fact of the business, Is, like Mary
Eden very well, and once cane 50 near
falling in love with her, that | vas really
frightened / did not 60 near her pretty
face for SIX months after felt the first
Eovcmcnt Of the tender passion
"Dcar Mary Q, Tom, Why not
marry her! l could love her as ny own
sister"
Cant afford it, Petty I'm bat poor
young man, aud have only my talents
and Industry to help ne forward in the
world. Mary cant do anything herself,
and would expect NE to Put her in an es-
tablishmeut but fttle less costly than the
Que her fathoF owls.
80, but, Tom, there II be no necessity
for going to housekeeping at Grst. And
tbes, you know, her fother is well of il
the world. and he IL give her house, and
furnish it, 20 doubt, when -he Is carried. ,
But Tom shook bis head
"Mary Eden's father be replied "uiay
or may not be rich. My own private o.
piuiou is, that he is living up to, ii not u
little beyond bis income. And as to the
house aud furniture which Mary's hus'
band is going to get, is something very
fine to feed a fancy upou. The real
GDO nOTbeI IL dbOAbNt
ooh, but Mr. Eden is rich, IoD."
"The rich men Of to day are poor men
of to-morrow, Lizzie. i wouldn't give TIE
snapof fuger for rich iatherln.la as
dependence. / mean to trust in myself,
an honest purpose and a clear conscience.
And as for a wife, want woman With
life, purpose, industry, and Independence
in her, not great bundle OF silks, laces,
bonnets and curl papers, with "a pretty
little helpless do-notbng and had al
most said know-nothing-doil hidden
somewhere inside, three or four feet from
the cripoliue circumvallat;ou. And then
again, Lizzie, su something Of an lode-
pendentyoung men wonderfully given to
the work oftskiug care Of myself hap
pen to be at the bottom OF the ladder,
aud if | ever get to the teP OF 1t my Own
strength will carry ne there. Now,
wife on my back, instead of on the rounds
OF the ladder, keeping step with me up