The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-06-29
"ONLY A CLERKD


By JOHN r. WALKER.
'ByEi Harry Graves is only clerk said
ClaraS SDRnyers to her friend Fannie MYRTLE.
as they sat one February evening" before
the glowing CRATE, framing fancy pictures
of the future.
'Ah !! we'll, that's true, Clara returned
the party addressed. But what, then :
Does that alter the character Of his man.
hool, dear, or afford any inst g,ounl for de-
traction! Why contirasas.the speaker, Il
have known clerks moresKonest than those
that employed them, and certainly as wor-
thy of esteem, that is, if virtue forms any
basis for esteem
That may all be- rejo'ued Clara with n
s'ornful curve of the lips; but to me there
is something 80 repulsive in STOPPING to
ones interiors. AMI then what will socie-
~ SAY at the announcement Of your mar
r'age with clerk9 Ugh !! and the dainty
lips curle'l more than before; n person
with sai"r.v, too oulv think Of it; and,
Fannie, do abandon the idea of such COM
mon people,
Common people, said Fannie, gaiI9 +;
why, bo" strange you talk, Clara. Ne.
thinks few of US are veiy uncommon, ex.
c.rpt it may be uncommon stupid or vicious.
Besides, l love Harry very dearly; and
whilst a'n not fooli h enough to suppose
that one can liOs on love. yet am convin-
ced that one cauuot live happily without
it,
Love! All. hal contemp,uously retort.
ed the naughty Clara; who, in modern
times, ever heard Of marrying for love
1t is not only unfashionabe, but absurd, at
least, among persons Of position; and that
is another of those false notions of propri-
ETY. which bcset your silly little head, and
which are only regarded among common
people in the lower walks of life. Whv.
TO live in the nineteenth century without
money in abundance is to walk through
the world hlindfolded and shackIed.'
OF course replied Fannie, with her
usual blandness st is no matter for re.
gret if fortune chance to drop her favors in
the pockets Of those we love: but it is es-
sentaIly wrong 10 seek for wealth alone in
the formation cf the most sacred relation
ship Of life; and it can lead only to the
worst results
well, we'll! whilst I can but admire
your earnestness. I cannot fall into your
train OF conrlusion. For, TO me, The only
real enjoyments of life are those. which,
glide off from the flying wheel of fortune,
as It rolls along in spIendor, fascinating ev.
cry gaze
My experience has been widely differ.
ent in this particular, dear Clara; AND I
have invariably found the purest and mos,
durable delights in those that had their
origin in the beautiful sanctities of home
and the tender communion of faithful and
loving hearts,
Loving hearts. Fannie! why you are a
strange mortal. I can conceive Of no earth.
Iy love beyond that existing between parent
and offspring; and, depend on it, this ie
and Gan be the only pure love known to ou,
species. Love, as the world goes, is moth.
ling more nor less than sensual andsepbe-
neral attachment that opens in selfish and
n'erce"ary motives, 81 silly sentiments. and
closes with petpetaa $d6agust, and often.
times with worse things. Do you ask 70,
evidence9 Wi,at answea do the annlisal'
Thousand instances of domsssJc ipfel,ci,y
qivel What reply to theslong catalogues
Of crifnes sinconaspey, brnken fssarts and
early graves thAfsr forba oht Faunie
if conclnsjonsa ], usually falsely. hassd,
think This, al sissss. iss,erribly jass,, II os
You know the old b. teuclinGssa open
ronfession, ETC., so I am. .fsS,s ssY. that
the strongest e,noiioa that hass ever s~spl
my !. soul has l,eens that kindlsd by al
[:bsstleef psssioo. II parent's love I basss
neysr ;knovn; a:brothsrs o. isiAsaes AEnils
lss moi stressed across sty pssksay s.1
s.orla 6as only Sen gsssoss 81. s.e
60 sfosity ms 1luestprsftsbtasoit. Thsrs
ors : win psy ,ribais ssso 6sssar inssiks
gp,ssa. ss.s;as sa REF ess esa rsslls and
tiS Asaa Siioh NO. ss;iisa
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