The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-03-07
PUBLISHED EVERY
Volume IS.


known him. you would not have wondered
that love was soon returned, for their souls
were congenial; they were cast in virtues
purest mould-and although their tongues
never gave utteranco to what their hearts
felt, yet the language Of their eyes was too
plain to DO mistaken. Henry was the very
soul Of honor, and although no perceived
that he was not Indifferent to Caroline, he
still felt he must conquer the passion that
rlowed in his bosom. al must not endeayor
to win her young and artless heart" thought
he'll am pennyless, and cannot expect
that her father would ever consent to our
union-he has ever treated me with kindness,
and will not be ungrateful." Thus he
reasoned, and thus he heroically endcavorcd
to subdue what he considered an ill-fated
passion. Caroline had many suitors, and
some who were fully worthy of her; but
she refused all their overtures with gentle,
decisive frmness. Her father wondered at
her conduct; yet would not thwart her in
clinations.
lie was in the decline Of life and wished
to see her happily settled ere he quilted the
stage Of existence. 1t was not long ere he
suspected that young Henry was the cause of
his daughters indifference to Others, the evil
dent pleasure she took in hearing him prais-
cd, the blush that overpresd their cheeks
whenever their eyes met, all served to con-
vince the old gentleman, who had not for
gotten that he was once young himself, that
they took more than common interest in
each Others welfare. lie forbore making
any remarks upon the subject, but he was
not as displeascd at the suppOsition as the
pennyless Henry would have imagined.
Henry had now been about year in his
employ. Mr.. Delaney knew nothing Of bis
family, but his strictl integrity, his ire
proachable morals, his pleasing manners, all
couspired to make him esteem him highly.
He was proud of Henry, and wished him
to appear, in dress as well as manners, as
respectable as any one. He had often wond-
cred at the scantiness of his wardrobe, for
although he dressed with the most scrupu-
lous regard to neatness, his clothes were al
most threadbare. Mr.. Delaney did not
think this proceeded from a niggardly
disposition, and he determined to broach
tho subject. and If possible, ascertain the
real cause-this he did in the manner we
have before related.
Soon after this conversation took place,
Mr.. d. left home on business. As he was
returning, and riding through beautiful
little village, he alighted at the door OF q
cottage and requested drink. The mistress,
with an ease and politcness that convinced
him she had not always been the humble
cottager, invited him to enter. He accept
cd her inyitation-and here q scene Of power
ty and ueatness presented itself, such as he
had never before witnessed. The furniture,
which consisted in nothing more than was
absolutely necessary, was so cxquisitely clean
that it gave charms to poverty, and cast an
air of comfort on all around. A venerable
looking old man, who had not seemed to
notice the entrance Of Mr.. D., sat leaning
his head on his staff, his clothes were clean
and whole, but so patched that you could
scarcely have told which had been the origi-
nal pieces.
"That is your father, I presume" said
Mr.. D., addressing the mistress of the house.
alt is, sir"
ale seems to be quite aged"
"He is in his eighty-third year; he has
survived all his children excepting myself"
"You have once seen better day3"
81 have. my husband was wealthy, but
false friends ruined him-he endorsed notes
to great amount, which stripped us OF
nearly all our property, and one misfortune
followed another until We were reduced to
poverty. My husband did not long survive
II, Io..cs and two of NV children soon fol-
lowed him -
"Haye you any remaining children?"
al have one, and he is my only support.
Nv health is 50 feeble that cannot do much,
and my father being blind, needs great at
tention. My son conceals from my knowl-
edge the amount of his salary; but am
convinced he sends me nearly all, If not the
whole amount of it,"