The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1858-02-10
Brother Toms Wife.
BY T. s. ARTHUR.

IF you do marry that girl, brother
Tom, III have nothing to do with her,
I won't visit her, nor call her sister. Nor
speak to her!
And Lizzie Lawton put on as outraged
and indignant an air as it was possible
for her to assume.
whats the objection? p asked brother
Tom, in his cool way, fixing his large,
calm eyes upon the pretty face of his
sister, as she sat uneasily swaying half
around and back again on the piano
stool.
Objection The young lady's cher
~ lip curled. 'Who is she? What is
she?'
"A sweet-tempercd, archaeological
true-hearted young woman, who will
make me good litto wife. Are you an
swered, sister mine?
"A sewing-girln said Lizzie, contcmp-
tuously.
What our mother was, as have been
told, before her MARRIAGE answered
brother Tom. and, if my eyes have not
deceived me, she has been sewing wo-
man ever since, or at least, ever since my
recollection of her.
That's another thing said the sister.
Mother was superior to her class, and
has risen above it,
Suppose l answer your objection to
Harriet, and say that she is superior to
her class and will rise above it? What
then? My father made good mat
rimonial venture, and l may do the
same
But why, brother Tom urged the
sister, don't you choose a wife from
among those on your own levcl?'
what do you mean by those on our
own level? Let us understand each
other.
From among those who move in our
own circles. From the education, rcnn-
ed and accomplished.
'Such rs the Misses Waltons, for in
stance p
yes or the Misses Edens.'
Whose fathers support them in idle
ness and expect the young men who mar
ny them to do the same. Now, Lizzie,
the fact of the business is, like Mary
Eden very well, and once came 50 near
falling in love with her, that | was real
ly frightened | did not 60 near her
pretty face for six months after felt
the first movement of the tender pas
sion.'
Dear Mary! 0, Tom! Why not
marry her | could love her as my own
sister,
Can't afford it, petty. I'm but poor
young man, and have only my talents
and industry to help me forward in the
world Mary can't do anything herself,
and would expect me to put her in an es-
Establishment but little less costly than the
one her father owns
'Oh, but, Tom, there'll be no necessity
for going to housekeeping at first. And
then, you know. her father is we'll off in
the world, and he'll give her house,
and furnish it, no doubt, when She is
married.
But Tom shook his head.
MARY Eden's father, he replied, may
or may not be rich. My own private
opinion is, that he is living up to, if not
little beyond, his income. Aud as to
the house and furniture which Mary's
husband is going to get, that is something
very fine to feed a fancy upon. The
roal bricks and morter is another affair."
ooh, but Mr.. Eden is rich, Tom
'The rich men of to-day are our Door
men of tomorrow, Lizzie. l wouldn't
give the snap ola finger for rich father
in-law as dependence. | mean to trust
in myself, an honest purpose and a clear
conscience And as for wife, want
woman with life, purpose, industry and
Independence in her, not a great bundle
of silks, laces, bonncts and curl papers,
with a pretty little helpless do-nothing
doll hi ltcn somewhere inside, three or
four feet from the crinoline circumvaua-
tisa. And then, again, Lizzie, | am
something of an independent young man,
wonderfully given to the work of taking
care of myself happen to he at the bot
tom of the ladder, and if / ever ct to
the top of it my own strength will carry
me there. Now, a wife on my bac&, IN