Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-12-02

o y q &c Jfssn. thst On. meets 50 f&ine
> specimen of wemanhood as Kate
Boyd. Not sylph, nor yet an anna
con, nor q blonde, nor yet . brunette.
Her yes did not sparkle With jetty
nor melt away in liquid
blue. Her hair was neither raven nor
taken, nor yet blue. black, Gas Mrs.
Sodthworth talks of, nor golden hued,
or rich auburn /; nor falling ringlets, or
done up in massive madonna braids )
it was, . kind Of, broom Her nose
was not Roman, nor aquiline, nor snub,
it was just such q nose Is you would
see on friends face and not know
particularly that she had nose SO in
harmony with her half blue, half gray
and half hazel eyes, that you thought
about it, only that Kate Boyd
was lovely, some said beautiful 9th
ers splendid, and yet no one could ex-
actly tell Why"
a Kate received her lover as Just such
q girl'would, led him to the parlor and
seated herself gracefully by his side
for Kate had sunk the kitchen girl long
ago, IN the eyes of the Willoughbys,
and though they paid her, per contract,
two dollars week, they never dream
ed that she was not one of them, and
she never dreamed of neglecting duty
or getting out Of her place, and being
stuck up because they made compan-
ion and equal of her. Kate was 'one
of u.s. except when the Peabodys, the
Holsters und the Prestons, and such
as they, were to dine or take tea, and
then Kate did all her duty with an air
of Inconsistencies of their presence,
only emitting to put herself in the way
of any insult or cold neglect that their
weakness and pride might prompt them
to offer her. She did not take the &C.
cistomed seat at the table nor in the
lparlor after tea, not that she cared one
straw for their attention or neglect,
but she could see plainly that dear Mrs.
Willoughby was panied by their want
Of good breeding, and SO the calm
self-sacri6eing, self-respecting young
Igirf always found something plausible
to keep her away
But by no look, or word or toker
did she ever for a moment give sane.
ton to the idea that playing upon the
piano was more reputable or agreeable
than playing upon the cooking stove
Would that all young ladies thought
even IS Kate. Long talked the lovers
and the blissful future was hung by
VOWS of promise, gorgeous and bright
Young Harrison had just returned
from college and entered into business
with his father. Both we're too young
to marry but they could talk matters
over, renew the loves Of childhood and
strengthen the interest that was to binl
them through life ; and Harrison die
not leave till such an hour as woulc
have called out another rcbuke from his
good mother, had she not supposed thai
he was spending the noon Of the nigh
at fashionable party.
While the lovers were thus engaged
Mr.. Gray, who had got home from tA,
Railroad meeting, and his lady, were
sitting up later than usual, discussing
the same subject that mother and sol
had began early in the evening. "I
was no use," the old gentleman said
''toargue the question; Harrison would
have the girl, let them do and say what
they might after all. He should have
done just so when he was young; bu,
it was unfortunate, and all they could
do was to make the best Of it,"
Charles Preston sat long with the fas-
cinating beauty, his head reeled with
wine, for he could not bear much, and
after they left the saloon, he Joined q
party of young jewellers who met him
on the street. Wine had crazed him,
and before morning he bore the brand
of drunkard and gambler.
A day or two after the occurrences
related, Harrison Grey called upon the
lover of his sister, and with earnestness
besought him to avoid the wine cup.
Preston talked fair and made promises
perhaps he meant to keep them, and
would have done so, doubtless, had not
temptation met him at every turn.
Again and again Harrison Grey found
him in company with, and partaking
with wine bibbers. Mary was warned.
But Mr.. and Mrs. Groy thought he was
too talented and noble ever to become
drunkard !; the influence o. wife was
all he wanted to save him.
Oh, specious reasoning, that has led
thousands Of the beautiful, the loving
and true, to ruin and despair. If the
maiden cannot hold the lover firm, be
sure the wife never will. If the man
hath not the strength within himself to
walk, upright, no power of woman can
hold him long in the path of virtue
When will society cease to make woman
the keeper of mans morals :?
Charles Preston married the beauti-
full and amiable Mary, with full con-
sent and approval of her parents. Two
years after, Harrison Grey married
Kate Boyd, the kitchen girl, without
their approval, and with reluctant con-
SENT
Let US skip FIVE years.
Mary Preston is at home again i'll
her fathers hall, the pale, wretched,
dropping mother of two sick children.