American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-07-02

Sohuot Luhc ~, SIT.
"Obdurate unfeeling man.
"Will you not let me buy my piano
sirT" humbly asked Ellen; che will
give you the price at which twas sold"
cit is painful for me, young lady,
to refuse even this; ! will sell moth
ing-not even the woodsaw in the cell
lar"
"Thcn Mr.. Clifford" exclaimed Mr..
Sunderland, "soe have no further bus
mess; come my dear Ellen, get your
bonnet-that's your band'box; let us
quit this house, we're not even free
from insult. Where is Mary ?"
81 am here, sir; the key of my
trunk is lost, and 1 am fastening it
with rope"
"Stop, my girl, but methinks pur-
chased that trunk" coolly observed
the stranger.
'Mlr. Clifford, I am not so old, but
that can resent an insult nay will,
if you carry this arrogant, and to me
strange conduct any further. That
poor girl has been to me the best and
l may say the only friend; she has re-
manned with us in poverty, assisted us
IN our distresses, not only with her
hands, but with her purse, she is to me
not as servant, but one of my family.
For there is, thank heaven, no such
base di stinctions in poverty that ex-
lists in state of bloatcd wealth. Here,
here, with nothing but what we have
upon our backs, the master and servant
are equal. She is part of my family,
and | will protect her from insult
The trunk is hers, and who dare take
it from her? Not you sir !r'
Mr.. Clifford cast his eyes upon Ma
ry, who at that moment arose from the
floor; for moment they gazed upon
each other in silence.
"And she, you say, has boon to you
a friend2"
'Indeed she has; a bind, noble one.
"Mr. Sunderland stay; one moment
my good girl, put down that trunk;
take scat Madam; permit me Miss,
to hand you chair; DIr. Sunderland
will you be seated? I have something
more to say. When you requested me
to yield up the wish [ had to purchase
this sideboard, told you that it was
my determination to buy it, and I tell
you now that | will not sell it,"
"This Mr.. Clifford, needs no repc-
tition."
cab, but it does; and when that
young lady made the same request
for her piano, my answer was the same.
Stop, sir, no man would SO act without
motive; no one, particularly stran-
ger, would court the displeasure of a
crowded room, and bear up against the
frowns of the many without an object.
Now | had an object, and that vas
be seated, sir,-Madam your attention
that object was to buy this house and
furniture for the sole purpose Of re-
storing them to your and yours again!"
"Sir, is not this cruel jest p
els it possible?" exclaimed mother
and daughter.
Amaaement took possession of Mary
and her trunk fell to the floor with a
crash, causing her small stock Of cloth
ing toroll out, which she eagerly gath
cred up and thrust back, without any
regard to the manner in which it wns
done,
The auctioncer," continued Mr..
Clifford, "has my instructions to have
the matter arranged by tomorrow. -
In the meantime you are at home Mr..
Sunderland, you are in your own house
and the intruder"
"Intrudor, sir Oh, say not that
] cannot tell you what relief this know
ledge is to me; but ! am yet to learn
how | am to repay you all this, and
what could have induced you, a total
stranger, thus to step forward. All!
a thought strikes me Gracious heav-
ems! Can it be b! Look on me, Mr.
Clifford; nay, start not" The stran-
ger actually recoiled from the glance
of Sunderlands's eye. "Look on me
Sir; has that girl, that innocent girl,
who stands trembling there, any inter
est in this generous act Of yours p.
speak, sir, and le. me know at once,
that | may spurn your offer and resent
the insult"
II will not deny sir that she has"
"Me fatber--dcar father! / mover
before saw the gcntleman's face"
"Say not so, Miss"
"Sir---I-I~-indood father l.,
"Remcmbor ten years back--call to
mind q light-haired boy, shom you cal.
led"
"Brother I"
Il q