The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-10
SAINT PAUL, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10. 18t

cling to the sunny regions in which they had
hitherto revelled. Besides, ruin in fashionable
life is accompanied by so many calling
notifications to which in other ranks it is
a stranger. In short, 1 could not meet
Leslie the next morning witout anticipation.
He made the disclosure. II -tr
"And how did she bear it? ay
"Like an angel! 1t seems rather to be q
relief to her mind, for she threw her arms
around my neck and asked if this was all
that had lately made me unhappy. But,
poor girl" added he, "she cannot realize the
change we must undergo. She had 10 idea
Of poverty but in the abstract; she has only
read of it in poetry, where it is allied to
love. She feels as yet no privation she
suffers no loss of accustomed cOnveniences or
elegancies. When we come particularly to
experience its sordid cares, its paltry wants,
its petty humiliations-then will be the real
trial."
"But,"I said, "now that you have got
over the severest test, that OF breaking it to
her, the sooner you let the world into the
secret the better. The disclosure may be
Notifying; but then it is single misery,
and soon over whereas you otherwise suffer
it in anticipation, every hour in the day. 1t
is not poverty not so much as pretence, that
harasses ruined man-the struggle between
a proud mind and an empty purse, the
keeping up hollow show that it must soon
come to an end. Have the courage to appear
poor, and you disarm poverty of its sharpest
sting" On this point found Leslie quite
prepared. He had no false pride himself,
and as to his wife, she was only anxious to
conform to their altered circumstance.
Some days afterwards be. called upon me
in the evening. He had disposed of his
dwelling house and taken a small cottage in
the country, few miles. He had been
busted all day in sending out furniture. The
new establishment required few articles, and
those of the simplest kind. All the furni-
ture of his late resi- dence had been sold, ex-
cept his wifes harp. That, he said, was
too closely associated with the idea of her.
self; it belonged to the little story of their
loves for some of the sweetest moments of
their courtship were those when he had
leaned over that instrument, and listened to
the melting tones of her voice. could but
smile at this instance Of romantic galantry
in doting husband.
He was now going out to the cottage,
where his wife had been all day superintend-
ing it's arrangements. My feelings had be.
come strongly interested in the progress of
this family story, and as it was fine eve
ming, offered to accompany him.
He was wearied with the fatigues of the
day, and as he walked out, fell INTO fit of
gloomy musing.
"Poor Mary" at length broke, with a
heavy sigh, from his lips.
And what OF her ?" asked | L" has
anything happened to her?"
What" said he, darting an impatient
glance, 4" is it nothing to be reduced to this
paltry situation--to be Gagged in miserable
cottage-to be obliged to toll almost in the
menial concerns OF her wretched habita-
toni"
HAS she then repined at the change 2"
Repined she has been nothing but
sweetness and good humor. Indeed, she
seems in better spirits than l have ever
known her; she has been to me all love, and
tenderness and comfort " e.
Admirable girl" exclaimed l. "You
call yourself poor, my friend; you never
we're so rich-you never knew the boundless
treasures of excellence you possess in that
woman"
go! but, my friend, if this first meeting
at the cottage was over, l think / could
then be comfortable. But this is her first
day of real experience she has been intro
duced into humble dwelling--she has been
employed Il day in arranging its miserable
equipments has, for the first time,
known the fatigues of domestic employment
she has, for the first time, looked around
her on home destitute of everything elegant
almost of everything convenient and
may now be sitting down, exhausted and
spiritless, brooding over prospect of future
poverty"
There was degree of probability in this
picture that l could not gainsay, so we
walked on in silence.
After turning from the main road up a
narrow lane, so thickly shaded with forest
trees as to give it a complete air of seclusion,
we came in sight of the cottage 1t was
humble enough in its appearance for the
most pastoral poet and yet it had pleas
ing rural look. A wild vine had oyerrun
one end with profasion of foliage; q few
trees threw their branches gracefully over it;
and l also observed several pots of flowers
tastefully disposed about the door, and on
the grass plot in front. A small wicket gate
opened upon foot path that wound through
some sbrubbery to the door. Just as we
approached, we heard the sound of music
Leslie .grasped my arm; we paused and
listened. 1t was Mary's voice singing, in
style OF the most touching simplicity, a little
air Of which her husband was peculiarly
fond. - s.4 LAl
felt Leslie's hand tremble on my .rm.
He stepped forward to hear more distinctly.
His step made noise en- TIE gravel walk.
A bright, beautiful '"ce glanced out of the
window and van; o..'--- lignt footstep was