Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-11-02
oiefGiteratare.
A Wife for a HAN in Moderatc circum-
-s tA-{ "a s afornAe @sss ~ s@sts3tt ~

nave uOtulDS 10 40 Win ner-l won FlSlJ
her, nor call her sister, nor even speak to
her el~
whats the objectionr T asked Tom in his
cold dry way, fixing his large calm eyes
upon the pretty face of his sister, as she sat
uneasily swaying half way around and back
again on the piano stool.
'Objectionp The young lady's cherry
lip cnrled. 'Who is shel What is she 2 |
"A sweet tempered, right-thoughted, true
hearted young woman, who will make me |
good little wife. Are you not answered,
sister of mine?'
"A sewing girl 7 said Lizzie, contemptu-
ously.r.. -
sWhat our mother was, as / have been |
told, before her MARRIAGE answered 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 the sister,
| Mother was superior to her class, and has
risen above it.
+ Suppose answer your objection to Har-
riet, and say she is superior to her class and
risen above it.
4 what then 2
/ My father made good matrimonial
venture, and I may do the same
i But why, brother Tom, urged the sister,
| don't you choose wife from among those
on your leyol?'
What do you mean by those on my
/ level? Let US understand each other
: From among those who move in our
circles. From the educated, refined, and
accomplished
: Such asthe Misses Walton, for instance?'
: Yes; or the Misses Eden a @'H
4 sWhose father supports them in idleness,
# and expect the young men who marry
!. them to do the same. Now Lizzie, the
d fact of the business is, | like Mary Eden
: very well, and once came so near falling in
e love with her that was really frightened.
n did not 90 near her for six months after
g felt the tender passion
Dear Mary! Oh, Tom! Why not
y marry her! l could love her as my own
; sister, foa ssss
n, Cant afford it. Pretty, but I'm only a
d poor young man, and have only my talents
IN and industry to help me forward in the
L; world. Mary can't do anything herself
st and would expect me to put her in an es
n tablishment but little less costly than the
to one her father owns
er oh, but Tom, there'll be no necessity
j. going to housekeeping at first. And then
y you know her father is we'll off in the
a. world and he'll give her house and fur
H. uish it, no doubt, when she is married.
st But Tom shook his head.
or MARY Eden's father may or may not be
te rich. Ny own private opinion is, that be
e, is living up to, if not little beyond his in
10 come. And as to the house and furniture
tn which Mary's husband is going to get thai
er is something very fine to feed the fancy
ut upon. The real bricks and mortar are an
I'D other affair."
to 'Oh, but Mr. Eden is rich, Tom.'
e- The rich men of to-day are our poo
an men of tomorrow, Lizzie. wouldn't Civ,
is snap of my fingers for him as a depcn
dence. / mean to trust in myself an hon
est purpose and clear conscience. A
z, for my wife, want a woman with life, pur
=. pose, industry, and independence in her
: - not great bundle of silk. laces, bonnet
~ ~ and curling papers, with pretty, help-to
:. do-nothing doll hidden somewhere inside
= three or four feet from the crinoline cir
" cumvalation. And then again, Lizzie, Tn
something of an Independent young man
NJ wonderfully given to the work of taking
Ills care of myself. / happen to be at the bot
on tom of the ladder, and i'll ever get to tn
q top of it, my own strength will carry no
W; there. Now wife on my back, instea
nst of on the rounds of the ladder keeping ste
es- with me upwards, would be a dead weigh
iys and we should remain at or near the foe
r. forever. No, no, Lizzie, | cannot affor
at one of your finished boarding school mis-
ich es for wife-the luxury is too expensiv
ed for me. So am going to marry gi
ng that knows something of real lfe-a tru
ace good, patient, enduring, selfdenying, da
en- ing little body, who is not ashamed to car
N her living with her needle. And tell 20
Die, what, Dolly, / only wish you were lik
xt Harriet Parker theIe would be forty MOI
md chances of your marrying man of sen:
b than you have now.
but Don't you know that now society b;
- been formed among our young men, and th
ned some of the very best "catches" amor
lth, them have signed pledge not to mari
zee, any girl who is not willing to commen'
aid matrimonial life with two rooms and
iRe kitchen, and who doesn't know how
} of bake, cook and sew, and to wash and ire
re- into the bargain! | am the President
ifth : Preposterousr exclaimed Lizzie.
-ay- You'll cry some other words when u
uld get on the old maids list, and see yo
rust place filled in the house of some man, |
ace some woman who is not ashamed of us
owe ful employment when she was girl.
Isn- can tell you what my dainty little sists
there's reform at work, and men wor
No having are beginning to choose betwet
: .f marriage and no marriage, with plain
, If notions and more useful Accomplishment
-r;t- than those possessed by the butterflies wi
,im lounge on sofas all day, knitting zephy
low or reading novels. So make up your mir
,ors for comfort In old maidism. And now
his in all probability you understand that
cas- am in earnest about marrying Harriet Ia
] to ker, hope you will reconsider your has
cen resolution about not speaking to your s
YER ter law ; the loss, let me tell you, will
en- on your side
Brother Tom understood bis own pI