Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-07-16
For the REPUBLIcAS
PATRICIAN AND PLEBIAN.
By DR.. j. d. HoAG.


Gentle reader. with your permission we
will conduct you to an elegant mansion
situated in Fifth Avenue. New York City.
You see by its appearance that it belongs to
the upper ten. Externally its appearances
is one Of grandure, and its surroundings
betoken wealth. Internally it is furnish
ed with the utmost splendor. and it is sv-
idcnt that oil the luxuries which wealth
can procure are here.
! On an elegan. sofa sits beautiful lady.
over whose head some twenty summer,
have probably passed. Although SUR
rounded with all that wealth can procure
to make life desirable, she is evidently un-
happy. We wonder what can have trans
pirsd tn one in her circumstances to mar
her happiness.
We will give you something of her his
tory. Her name is Selma Morgan. Her
father. after having amsssed fortune in
mercantile pursuits. died one year before
our introduction to her. leaving his vast
richers to her and her brother Albert, who
is some three years her senior, his wife
having died some years previously. Thi,
lady's mother had been arristocratic, and
had sought to instil her cherished senti.
mcnts into the minds OF her children. In
this respect she found but little sympathy
from either her husband or son, but her
daughter was as exclusive in her notions
as vain mother could desire.
Nearly year before the death of his
father Albert took tour to the West, from
which he was called home to attend the
death bed Of his father He and his sister
have since that sad event dwelt together in
this palatial home. The difference in the
sentiments of this brother and sister, often
caused him to receive lecture on what
she was pleased to term his indiscretion,
in STOPPING to notice those of lower re-
lation in life. We find her evidently af-
flicted with some grief. which casts shade
of sorrow over her lovely features. AS
she Sat nursing her grief her brother enter
ed the parlor. and observing traces Of tears
OF her cheeks. kindly inquired the cause.
lyon arc the cause" she answered Il
saw you walking with a woman who am
informed is 4 scamstress. and | think this
is enough to afflict me. You not only
disgrace yourself. bnt me. by nssociating
with the vulgar"
Well. sis. i am glad ny offence is Of no
mere serious nature. That lady is seam
stress, but one who, when | was sick AMI
far from home showed me all the kindness
Of q sister. Now she is lone orphan.
and am glad to be able to make her some
return for her past favors."
Albert said no more but resolved to
com pei his sister to acknowledge her mer-
it.
We must now acqnaint the reader with
something Of tho past history of our new
character. Gertrude Letner was a native
OF the east. but at the age Of fifi cen her
father took her to the state Of Indiana
His mind was highly cultivated, for, tho
in limited circumstances, its was her faith
er's Il rst care to give his son. who was her
senior by two years. and his daughter, a
good education. Three years after their
rem oval to the west, her father was borne
to the tomb. Two years after bis death,
his son ELgar went to California. hoping
to gain wealth for the benefit Of the loved
ones he hal left behind. He wrote to them
on his arrival at the land Of gold, and soon
after the receipt Of his letter the death an
gel bore the spiiit Of his mother to the land
OF the blessed. a
Gertrude was now left alone. 1t was q
few months previous to the departure ol
Edgar, tha. Albert while travelling in the
West became an inmate of their humble
home, AMI by being confirmed for weeks to
bed Of sickness. was the recipient of ma
nv favors from them. When it was ascer.
tanned that disease had claimed him for q
victim. medical aid was promptly sum-
monsd, and all that kindness could sugges,
was done for the sufferer. After several
weeks of suffering he was pronounced con.
valescent, but so prostrated vas his sys'
tenn. that his recovery was tardy. Ger
trude read to him, sang for him. and did al
in her power to render his stay agreeable
On leaving them he compensated then
well for their kindness. and asked permis
sion to correspond with them. and assured
them OF his lasting friendship. During biz
stay he ascenained that Gertrude was i,
the habit Of committing her thoughts Il
paper. and he was allowed to peruss he
productions. and soon found that her mint
was highly cultivated and of no common
order. Soon after his his arrival at home
he received intelligence of the departure o
Edgar, and but short time elapsed be.or
he was informed of the death of Mrs. Let
ner. Knowing that Gertrude was left il
H.