Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-06-09
: "'What are you by nature, Grace?'
"'A child Of wrath, ma'am.'
Deserving punishment
Wa p,a3au


"'A child of wrath, ma'am.'
Observing punishment
e" Yes, ma am
"'What did L promise when stood your
sponsor at the baptismal font ?"
That should renounce the devil and all
his works, responded Grace, demurely.
es, that was my promise. Now, the cir
Gus Is the devils presence-chamber; decked
on to make it alluring; it is a very wicked a
Grace?'
"'Georgc Morris asked me to 20, ma'am,'
replied Grace. He never told me il was a
sin -
"'George Morris good heavens y ejacu-
lated both ladies. Who is George Morris
Speak out, girl--no hesitatIng'
"'He's the butchers boy, ma'am.'
Hhe butchers boy, said Miss Lucinda,
ironically: Truly aristocratic, 1 do think
Really. girl, have no patience with YOU
Where on earth did you make so Low an &C.
quantance p
&C. He brings the meat to the door, ma'am, ,
said poor Grace, turning scarlet
And what if he does bring the meat to the
door, that is the very reason you should not
have spoken to him. Better never eat meat
than have such a dreadful affair under our
very roof
~ have promised to marry him, ma am.
murmured Grace, gaining courage
Marry him. exclaimed both ladies my
dear Lucinda, said Miss PROXY, clutching her
sisters arm, how awful,
80 Miserable depravity" moaned out Miss
Lucinda, clutching Grace's arm. and shaking
her violently. You awful bad girl, what do
you mean by saying such thing2-you wicked
child-only seventeen, too
'''Speak gently to her, Lucinda said Miss
PROXY, in an altered tone. We must win back
the erring; gently Come here, Grace she
said, mildly. Miss Providence was evidently
oent on trying moral suasion' on the youthful
love of the butcher boy.
:" Do you not know that il ia yery wicked to
wish to get married. Are you not aware. too,
I've have told you so repeatedly, } that men are
very bad people? This young butcher inberits
bad nature from his father, who inherited il
from ms father, and so en-
am really ashamed of you, Grace,
screamed out Lucinda.
Now, said PROXY, again resorting to
moral suaslon, see how happy Lucinda and
are We never got married-we abhor the very
thought See how much respected we are -
see how independent we aref
Free, free rs air, circulated Miss Lucinda.
fourishing about her arms
go Yes, continued Miss PROXY, we do as we
Please-we go where we please-we are in
debted 10 po man for any Of our pleasures or
privileges. Why, girl, you are a silly Young
to yourself; when you marry you are the slave
OF man. Come this will not do Don't let
me hear another word about this wicked
butcher boy
Grace o"' pun
a. But he as wicked" said Miss Lucinda: sbe
can't help himself. 1t is his very nature,
and you are very sinful girl to try and screen
MIN In MS wickedness. Let me hear no more
about him. Go to the kitchen Immediately
and read, on your knees, the psalter through
Tell Martha to lock carefully the door and the
gate. -N '"0
Grace dried her tears, and walked out with
look OF stern defiance. Outside the door. in
the entry, stood the offending butcher bow
Grace quietly walked into the street with the
youthful swain, went and got married to him
then made her appearance, as a bride, at the
circus WIZ
The next morning, when the ladies were at
breakfast, she opened the door and walked in
nave called ma'am, she smilingly said for
my things am bride. got married last
night
Married screamed the ladies. Lucinda
always prompt to act, arose and clutched her
severely by the arm. Walk she said, n tones
OF awful majesty, closing the door upon the de-
hnquent. The butchers bride vanished as
speedily as she had appeared and Miss Lucinda,
sitting down, pale with horror, gasped out:
w nat an awful thing to happen in our house ;
oh! men, men, groaned Provy
"One mornings fatal morning. gentle.
man called at the house of the Misses Sharpe
and was ushered in. Lucinda positively re-
fused to go down to any man: so Providence
smoothed her braid, looked at herself in the
glass, and tripped obligingly down to receive
the gentleman. He was the son of their father s
old friend, Jacob Clarke. He was just then in
the city, and bad ventured to call on the ladies
tor the sake OF auld lang syne. He remembered
them well as little girls, he would not say how
long ago-the least said about that the better;
but he would say Providence was very pretty.
lie remembered well her rosy cheeks, and soft
brown hair. All. was he not addressing Proyi-
denoe now He knew her by that same soft
brown hair
Providence blushed. She never was pretty.
He was fatterer'
But he thought her pretty. Her image had
gone with him through life-a divine memory,
An! these early loves, what hold they take on
the mind. He had married. and Hannah had
proved very good wife; but he had had the
misfortune to bury her. Now be was lonely
very lonely, indeed. Man was not born to be
alone: his spirit pines for the sweet compan-
ionship Of woman.
worked upon the tender feelings of Providence
tnat she cordially invited him to stay to tea
LUCINDA was disgusted when her sister ran up
stairs and told her what she had done.
"'fou are as thoughtless as a child. Proyy.,
she replied, angrily. AS to his loneliness and
his grief, L don't believe a word of it,; men al
ways talk that way when they wish to marry
again. Even If they have their house as full
as II will hold Of mothers, grsndmothers. aunts
and sisters, they walk amidst multiplicity of
females, all highly interesting and agreeable
people, and cry ''lonely" o, thew are A de-
ceitful race, and if this man has come here to
hunt for wife, he is greatly mistaken: and
Miss Lucinda dashed out of the room.
.'The imperial votress passed on.
In maiden meditation fancy free
''But even In that home of the yestals. thsre
was wife for Mr.. Jacob Clarke; and he came
and came again, until the fair Providence con-
sented to endow him with her hand, and. what
was OF INFINITELY more consequence TO him, her
goods. But she dared not breathe the rash
promise to Lucinda; in her exasperated state
IL would throw her into fits Accordingly. enc
sunny morning, when the skies were blue and
the sun was golden, in walks Providence
Clarke, born Sharpe, and says in triumphant
tones Lucindy, this is my husband
"'Whatn screamed Lucinda; 'Proyy, You
are certainly mad
Dear sister Lucinda said Jacob Clarke,
smiiingly, Providence never exhibited more
AE -. T.