The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-04-23
Marrying A Mechanic.
ny MARY C. VAUGHAN.

"Well, Het,y, l hope you have counted
the cost, and will not complain Of the con-
sequences Of what you are about to do"
II beg your pardon, Mrs. Gardiner, but
really do not understand you," answered
Hetty May, to this exclamation, which
followed her affirmative reply to the question,
"If il really were true that she was about
to marry Richard Harvord 2"
"Not understand me, IIe,iy! But, OF
courso, that N oaly- ono -of the afioetations
girls delight in. Why, with your good
sense and knowledge of society, you cannot
fail to comprehend my meaning"
"Ifyou mean, Mrs. Gardiner, the sacrifices
must make in leaving my good home, aud
in conforming to the necessities imposed by
a narrow income, docomprehend you, and
having counted the cost, ain not afraid to
follow the dictates of my own heart" =.
"I meant that, and much more, Hetty,"
Mrs. Gardiner answered. ado you not
know that you are aboutto exclude yourself
from the society in which you have always
moved, that you are going down several
degrees in the social scale, by marrying a
mechanic!'
Hetty rose up, her cheek flushed with a
generous indignation, her flashing eyes, and
the trembling Of her small hand, telling how
deeply the wound was felt.
"Nlrs. Gardiner, ] do comprehend you
now. And you dare to tell me, Hetty May,
that am about to lower myself, socially,
by becoming the wife OF Richard Harvord
You who know so well what he has done,
and what he is, to speak as fit were a
degradation for any lady IN the land to be.
come his wife Had not my ears heard
your words, could not have believed that
such sentiments had ever been expressed by
YOU"
"Well, IIetty, ! see that my wcll-meant
suggestions are useless. But you Will re-
member them, by.and-by, when Is too
late"
Hetty dissented, by "a stately bow, and
the two ladies' parted.
Hetty May had been reared in comfort
able and even luxurious home. Her ex.
periences Of life had always been pleasant,
though she had known some cares Tor her
mother was an Invalid; and though never
suffering 80 much as to cause her friends
any apprehensions Of immediate danger
had for several years been too delicate to
be troubled with household details. No
Hetty had stepped into her place, at sixteen
had attended TO the wants OF the younger
children; looked well to the ways OF the
household; and had been at once companion,
friend, and daughter to her invalid mother
Chance alone had brought Richard Har-
word to her acquaintance. Mrs. May, who
had known Mrs. Haryord in the widows
better days, still retained warm interest III
her, and often employed her in such einer-
gencies as will occur in oil famllies-the
sudden illness Of ofchildren, press OF sewing,
or the preparation for guests, at which times,
though she came as a friend, and was treat
ed as such, she gratefully received the CON-
pensa,ion munitcently bestowed for her
labor.
Richard Harvord often came TO fetch his
mother home from these visits, aud some-
times he would be forced 10 wait for her.
AT first, a great, bashiul boy, he only at.
trac,ed Hetty Mays ridicule. There was
something ludcrous in the ill.flting gar.
ments, from which his big wrists and ankles
would protrude so awkwardly. And his
sharp features, meager and sailow-tor nc
worked hard, aud was ill-fed during his
tedious ,3pren,iccship-had an old, shrewd
expression, tha, was wont to excite the little
lady's mirth.
Still he spoke to her so deierentially, ant
was so afiec,ionate to his mother, that she
could not help respecting and liking him
especially as she was always hearing hl'
praises, favorite theme, from that mothers
lips.
Years passed on in this way. Richart
was out OF his upprentic eship,' was earning
excellent wages, and his mother proudly
told OF his successes; how he was made
foreman OF the shop ata very early age
and over the heads Of old men; and, a
last, with all 4 mothers triumph, how hi
had invented an important Improvement, an,
that his employer. having got 1t patented
and having advanced all the capital neces