M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-09-29
Thc Rrorher,s Choice.

"What's the objection Z" asked
Tom, in his cool, dry way, fixing his
large calm eyes upon the pretty face Of
his sister, as she sat uneasily swaying
half around and back again upon the
piano stool.
collection !" Theyonng lady's lip
curled. "Who is she What is she!"
"a sweet,tempered, iight.thought.
ed, true.hearted young woman, who
will make me good little wife. Are
Iy0u not answered, sister q
"a sewing grill" answered Lizzie
Icontemptuously.
"What our mother was, as have
been told, before her marriage" an.
swered brother Tom. "And if my
eyes have not deceived me, she has
been a sewing woman ever since my
recollection Of her."
"That's another thing" said tie
sister, smother was superior to her
class, and has risen above it,"
Suppose | answer your objection
to Harriet, and say she is superior to
her class and rises above itl'
"What then 2"
My father made Il good matrimo.
NAL venture, and | may do the same"
But why, brother Tom, ,"Urgcd the
sister, don't you choose a wife from
among those oil your level 2'
"What do you mean by those on
my own level! Let us understand
each other"
"From among those who move in
our own circles. From the educated,
refined and accomplished"
"Such as the Misses Walton, for
instance"
"Yes, or the Misses Eden
"Whose fathers support them in
idleness, and expect the young men
who marry them to do the same
Now, Lizzie, the fact oftho business is,
| like Mary Eden very well, and once
came SO near falling in love with her
that was really frightened. Ibid not
go near her for six months after felt
the tender passion"
. "Dear Mary! Oh, Tom! Why
not marry hors could love her as
my own sister,
"Can't afford it.. Pretty, but I'm
only poor young man, and have on.
ly my talents and industry to help me
forward in the world. Mary can't do
anything herself, aud would expect
me to put her in an establishment but
little less costly than the one her father
owns"
"Oh, but Tom, thero'll be no ncccs
sity Of going to housekeeping at first
And then you know her father is well
of in the world, and he'll give her Il
house, and furnish it, no doubt, when
she is married"
But Tom shook his head.
"Mary Eden's father may, or may
not be rich, My own private opinion
is, that he is living up to, if not a lit
tie beyond his income. And as to the
house and furniture which Mary's hus-
band is going to get, that's something
very fine to feed the fancy upon. The
real bricks and mortar are another af-
tair.
"Oh, but Mr.. Eden is rich, Tom"
"The rich men of to-day are our
poor men Of tomorrow, Lizzie. |
wouldn's give snap of my finger for
him as dependence. | mean to trust
in myself, an honest purpose and a
clear conscience. AS for my wife, |
want woman with life, purpose, in,
dustry, and independence in her, not
a great bundle of silk, laces, bonnets,
and curling papers, with a pretty help.
to do.nothing doll hidden somewhere
inside, three or four feet from the erin
oline circumvalation. And then again,
Lizzie, Pm something Of an independ-
ent young man, wonderfully given to
the work of taking care ofmySoif. !
happen to be at the bottom Of the lad
der, and if | ever get to the top oft,
my own strength will carry me there.
Now, a awife on my back, instead of on
the rounds OF the ladder, keeping step
with me, upwards, would be a dead
weight. and we should remain at OF
near the foot, forever. No, no, Liz.
zie, cannot afford one of your finish
ed boarding g-school Misses for a wife
the luxury IS too expensive for me-
Sol am going to marry girl who
knows something of real life-a true,
good, patient, enduring, self.denying,
daring little body, who is not ashamed
to earn her living with herneedle. -
And | tell you what, Dolly, only
wish you were more like Harriet Par
ker, there would be forty more chances
Eof your marrying a man ofsense than
you have now. Don'tyou know that a
new society has been formed among
young men, and that some of the very
best catches" among them have sign
ed a pledge not to mary any girl who
is not willing to commence matrimo-
nial life with two rooms and a kitchen