Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-10-15
and 90 well. and heinp few and far hetween

| Stan0 so well, ana Delng lew ana Tar between,
prize so highly. We made no stranger Of Ma
ry, and she sat smiling at our nffcctiOnatc cx-
pressions to one another. But when he was
gone, and returned to the study af;cr seeing
the children in bed. found her burying her
face in her hands, and crying. Of course in.
sisted on knowing the cause, and among 9th
er things she said, distinctly remember this
"'lf any human influence would make me
great or good as a woman, it would be the
guardianship Of child Of my own-n woman :
nature is only half developed till she is u
mother
"What beautiful remark, and so true"
interrupted Mrs. Turner, with tears in her
eyes. (She was notorious for neglccting her
children.)
81 said it was true, resumed our minister y
wife, land ! told her thnt all my powers Of
mind, and body were doubled by it, my
husbands love-" said, land my childrens
dependence make me precious to myself"
"'And you nSk the why ! cry she answer
cd, when feel how could rcjoirc in these
domestic ties, and know shall never have
them! Life is very mon0ton0us and weari-
some when one has no interest IN the future
"She should have had more independence
and Selfrespcct, murmured our spnstcr
friend.
Without noticing her, the minister's wife
continued:
"Shc looked dreamily into the fire, and
with pretty trcmulouS motion shook the tears
from her dark cyelaShcs. Icould not tell her
! thought she would ever be marI led, because
men -Aarry to -b0 helped, OF " -Le atAuGedy or
to have some one to he proud Of; and shc was
a cripple with no money. -EvrI, my husband
said q wooden leg would bc serious obstacle
to any ono falling in love-
"The morning after this conversation. Mary
went with her mother 10 Manchester to pur.
chase goods for the spring fashions; it was
quite n painful ordeal to Mary, for she could
not endure travcrsing warehouse after ware
house, ascending and descending the innu-
nerable fights Of stairs, with the stump Other
wooden leg upon the bare boards everywhere
announcing her approach; it annoyed her to
see people look round to see who was coming,
and it really seemed as If she never could rec.
oncilc herself to the duties imposed upon her.
"Thc last day had passed, and she was
walking wcarily homewarls, congratulating
herself in having finished the business that
brought them from their quiet country town /;
she fingered for minute to look at an cngr0-
wing which had caught her artistic eye, when
gentleman standing behind her, placed let
ter in her hand, said hurriedly, Let me beg
Of you to grant my request; and before she
could recover her self possession, was lost in
the crowd, passing and requesting in the
thronged street.
Mary hastcncd on her way to the lodgings
where she expected to find her mother; and
briefly rccounting her adventure, opened the
letter with curiosity. 1t contained the follow
ing lines:
"'If the young lady who receives this note
will kindly send her address in the enclosed
envelope, that which may have appeared nm
obstacle to her settling in life, may eventually
prove to be an advantage
1.-THE astOnishmcnt Of both Mrs. Wiglcy
and Mary were indescribable; Mrs. Wiglcy
poured forth torrent Of ofqucstions which Ma
ry was unable 10 answer she had not seen
the stranger, and all she knew was, that he
had pleasant voice. OF course, with the be-
coming bashfulness and sense Of propriety Of
young lady, she wished the matter to be
passed over in silent contempt; hut to this her
mother, who was widow, would by no means
consent
"You do not know what it may lead to,
she snid; however hoax or no hoax, shall
follow it up; hate thing dropping through,
and hearing no more Of it,
accordingly, eOOH UttcT t1ey TctuTUcU
home Mrs. Wigley sent her address and her
daughters name in the directed envelope, and
tho next post brought letter written to the
mother. 1t was not long, and remember the
substance Of it.
"DEAR MADAM:-Lct me apologize for my
presumption in seeking to form your acquain-
lance and that Of your daughter, whose ap-
pcarAncc arrested my attention the first mo
lnent saw her. lf she would honor me by n
correspondence, under your sanction, We should
learn something Of each Others character
DO not imagine ME to be trifng; desire to
be sincere friend to her, and farther acqunin.
tance may greatly cOnduce TO our mutual hap
pincss.- Believe me to be, with the profound
respect, Dear Madam, -.
Yours, very truly.
FREDERICK WILLIAMS"
"Of course, Mrs. Wiglcy persisted in ma
king Mary write; aud though it was no easy
matter to compose a fitting answer to such n
letter, she wrote with charming measure Of
good sense and reserve. Mr.. Williams prose.
cuted the correspondence with great earnest
ness. and his letters manifested wcll-cducated
and intellectual mind.
80 long as Mary was acting against her
own inclination and judgment, she did not
choose to mention the matter to me: but as
her interest in her unknown correspondent in
creased, she could not conceal from me her
frequent pre-occupatiOn Of mind, and in the
course of a month she fully conlided in me.
my husband regarded it in very different
| light to what VIC did, and he urged Mary not
to be cntangled in any affair SO indefinite and
uncertain.
"Let me write to Mr.. Williams, he said,
and he will see you have friend able aud
willing to protect you. will tell him shall
advise you not to continue correspondence
SO calculated to unSettle you
"Do you think this stranger is trying to
impose upon Mary ?" asked. when she was
gone; and my husband was writing his letter
al think he may have been mislcd by her
appearance he answered. In these days
there is no judging persons position by her
dress; and Mary might be Countess. 1t is
an unacountable affair altogether; but this
letter will effect something, for have made il
very strong
"Mr. Williams promptly answered my hus.
bands letter, and requested some information
respecting Miss Wigely's family, position, and
character. My husband replied something tc
this effect
"'Miss Wigley is the daughter ofa surgeon,
who left her mother in very reduced circum'
stances they have maintained themselves by
q respectable millinery business Her educa.
ton was that Of lady, and her character is
such to make her the chosen and intimate
frienaUf my wife. So strong is the interest
I Enol in haSs vvolEarn that ohoA.lN CoraE,,ll~