, 1864-06-03

! lage he alIghted at the door OF cottage and
requested drink of water The mistress
with an ease and politeness which told that
she had MT always been the humble Gotta
ger, invited him to enter. He complied,
and a scey IF poverty and neatness met his
gaze which he had never before witnessed.
The furnitAJe consisting Of nothing more
than was actually necessary was so clean and
neat, thatdt cast an air of comfort all around.
A venerable old man sat by the window with
his ST 81 = his hand. His clothes were
whole sDut So patched that they seemed a
counterpa&t of Josephs coat of many
colors. 1c Gol OFT
This is your father, presume, said he
addressing her. a
! 1T is sir
He seems quite aged ar.J
'He is in his eighty-third year; and has
survived all his children butmyself' 4,a
Have you always resided here {? oaf
No sir; my husband was once wealthy,
but indorsing ruined him, and we were re-
duced to this state. He soon after died and
two of my children followed him.
Have you any children living2
'One sir, who is my only support. My
own health is so feabe that l cannot do
much, and father being blind and deaf needs
great deal of attention. My son,will not
tell me how much his salary is, but l am
sure he sends me nearly all of it, 10
'Then he is not at home p
mo sir, he is clerk in New York
Indeed Pray what is his name ?
Weston May -......E
Weston May Is it possible. Why he
is my clerk. left him in charge of my
store only two weeks ago. ...,
Explanations followed, and Mr.. Dayton
soon left promising to call some other time.
Noble fellow, said he mentally, as Ae
was riding slowly along and ruminating up
on the call. Noble fellow, | believe be
loves my girl, and he may have her, and
part of my money, too. Let me see, here
he fell into a thinking mood, and by the
time he reached home, he formed a plan
which he determined to execute How it
terminated we shall see. Full Of his new
plan, he entered the breakfast room where
Laura was awaiting his appearance,
so, Weston is going to England, said he
carelessly.
Sir said Laura, dropping her coffee cup;
going to England 2
TO be sure what of it, child?
ng-ony-I-we shall be rather
lonesol.e, replied she, vainly endeavoring
to suppress her tears.
Come, come Laura, tell me, do you love
Weston? You never deceived me, don't do
it now
No, well II do love him most sincerely
Il thought SO thought SO, replied he,
as be left the room
Weston said he as he entered his store,
you expect to go into the country shortly,
do you 2
yes sir, in about four weeks
IF it would not be inconvenient wish
you would defer it few weeks longer said
MIR. Dayton.
4 will sir, with pleasure, if it will OBJ
lige YOU
1t will oblige me greatly for Laura is to
be married in about six weeks, and l wish
you to attend the wedding
Laura marriedp said Weston, starting as
if shot; Laura married? I?
TO be sure What ails the boy {?
Nothing, sir, only it was rather sudden !;
unexpected
1T is rather sudden but am an old man
and wish to see her have protector before
die am glad you can stay to the we'd
ding
Indeed, sir, 1 cannot stay, said Weston,
forgetting what he had just said
you cannot Why you just now said
you would
Yes sir; but my business requires my
presence, and must 60
But you said you would with pleasure
Command me in anything else, sir but
in this [ cannot oblige YOU
Weston, tell me frankly, do you love my
girl?
'SirP Weston seemed like one waking
from a dream.
do you love my girl ?
Il do, sir
'IE;n you give me your mother for her p
Mr. Dayton spoke earnestly.
my mother what do you know of her 2
Mr.. Dayton repeated the incident already
related, and in conclusion said
and now, boy, | have written to your
mother and offered myself, and she has ac-
cepted; what have you to say
IuaC dlH tne hdPPiest 1VIlO" Ou edI III
and proud to call you father, replied the
young man with joyful face.
"And you, Weston, shall love as a son ;
for young man who loves and cares for
his mother as you have done, will, I am
sure, make good and affectionate husband.
For this cause if for no other can freely
commit my Laura to your hands, with the
assurance that she will be beloved and
watched over by you with a care as tender
as my own.
A few weeks after double wedding took
place at Mr. Dayton's mansion, and soon af-
ter sign went up over certain store, bear
ing the inscription of Dayton & Company
Young man, you may learn from this that
it is not fine clothes that would win for you
the esteem Of those around you
IT is blessed thing for poor man to
have contented wife one who will not
wish to live in a style beyond her husbands
income, just because her next door neigh
Dor does one who can be happy in the love
of her husband, her home, and its beautiful
duties, without asking the world for its
smiles or its favor.