Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1861-03-21
SELECTED STORY.
TILE TRADEsMAN's CRISIS.
Then l,t a. i,evIn ., ooc, .

81 insh Nt " Do xin % oscc.' ~
IL will be sufficient for the readers purpose
IL passing over the hcroines early history. we
observe that, at the period our narrative CON.
Eiepccs. Nary Norton, the soul and sunsaine of
her parental home, was entertaining the very
serious inientlon OF leaving H." II&k her
father and mother viii ever bring their minds
to part with her, j cant think" was the some
what concerned remark of neighbor, snd here
our story must proceed in the cords of nara
tor:
"Poor. Mary. herself, iel, il would be vrry
hard thing 10 lcay. the dear little cottage in
which she had passed so many happy days and
above all To live no longer under the sa,ne roof
with her parents Dut then she loved Edward
Norris very mnch. aud she WAS sure he would
b. good kind husband. fpr be had always been
80 steady, and sucn dutiful son and Affection
Ate brother And 20 hops chased the tear
from Naryls eye, aud the passing pang from
ber heart. t
IL was the eve Of hsr wedding day, and sls
was sitting in the arbor, talkiag with Edward
about their future plans and prospects,. Tiey
were alone Mrs. Norton was In the hou.e bu-
ally making preparations for the nsxt day. aud
Mr.. Norton wAs out.
MARY. dearg said Edwani. -I'm 90 afraid,
you won't be able to reconcile yourself 20 living
in town. sfter being pse,i all your Iiis, To this
pretty, quiet cottage. c. is such n busting
place. tooi n great deal more 30 than L..
il will makr such q chaege." .sf's
"Neyer fear. Edward, replied Mary ~ think
! coaid make myself happy anywhere. With
some one 10 love, and be-i,Ies shaii ksd 10
much To do, that shall have no time 90 waste
upon diseosien,ed- mssinas"
And Maryseyes looked 20 bright and hopeful.
that Edwards paisgivings passed away, and he
thought IL love eoald make her happy, IL should
no, bc wanting. lie was rather disposed 10 be
despopdiag and cas-, down BY difBeul,iss bat,
since bis engagement with Mary he hal been
often reassured by her ealra hopeful spiris. and
cbecrsd by hev encouraging words
The neat day they were married. and In a
week were settled in tb-ir new home at g..
Tberv Mary found. lee she saidD pssasy 20 en-
pIoy her time aud thoughts Eziwsrd lwho had
served he apprenticeship 10 bookseller aad
ssatoaer) was now a skopmau in the establish
meat and vas mBch cstecv'ed By ~ priseipal
of the eoucrrn ioy his upiform sieadineas His
kouss Ssz near tt~ .kop - that hs slwsysesms
hone 20 his sOeals snd very cosafoviAbie IAeals
they gers. ssr Mar was an escelIeas ksu.-uisv.
and though they had only slender incoas shs
wa dctrrpised fi,af ~hst thy had shosk -
lad oat 10 ;hs best adysns.ge s~far -sh@vss
eosestBeti. Edward loved hi-. wIfs deasiy aad
incrsaain,zss. and b. had rsa~os TO Do soJ Gor a
Agood vns u from ihc IosO.7 ard = aniosz
Z he uiost precious and yaluabls 81 Hu earthly
gifts. AID Mary uas Fool Wis ~ ti,s best
s~nss Of ths worsi for sh.s vas = GbfistisH. sod
Rad learned 30 make che wosd q Con bee guide
nd csuncsllof, believing tiat shs lahD aloae
soaId suahle her faitbfnlly and dlisrntiy % per.
/ fsni l,of asu daties. RsEsla,ssl ssd eesfsoiied
b. DRfsE Gnsoz. bey hasurally siuerfal ssmpcr
! wa constant seurso 81 ssioymsBi botk a
hsrself na,l ber husband. and 70 AL sho easss
ui,his tlsc spheru of ~ inasenes
Five years passed asAy, ssd Mary vss tiis
aiothsr q thr.e ehildrsn. shiis dessh had a.
Z Priyssi hsf q her kisi. gooa paruas. Edvard
hsd takes q ssnall slap n eoaaiFy tsua. :
/ feu miles froa c.. Aaahad osssnseaos.i bas
/ incss - hisus.lf Bat he sosa foaea itss Z
youar trade.snas kas @asy aiGeslsie. asd
< stsaeeiss ~ sarsnoslnt befsru ~ saa b. hirly
essshl.ahsd. Iasrcsd ~ ~ unsail b,st esrtsis
saiAsy ~sssh Ne ha.i lstierts pasesasily rsoeir
csisea. ~ fousa Aesthsss vspe soasiasrsbl.
sspeae. - ssort b s,eeksnr 80 slsssiax q.
lsA-y. ~bas q 10 ssn,s sss esssasras .~s,'