Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-09-29
that you could so lilly spare that you
have expended on my education"


mot for that, Lucy, never!"
"But wish to 60, mother. l feel as
if my hands were tied here. So many
poor girls are educated here to teach that
there are five for every place. l feel as
it could make my way to independence
it it depended alone upon my own exer'
tiOns; but this pushing another out Of
place to secure it is not to my taste."
IL is not pleasant, certainly and your
uncle assures me that good teachers a-e
scarce, and eastern ones always preferred.
But here is the letter, read for yourself
and will prepare myself to 60 out and
give an answer to our would-be.purchas-
or"
And she gave Lucy the letter and went
leaving her to ponder on her st,present
and future.
Her father had been dead several years
and she had always resided in the village
where she was born, with her mother, and
was an only child. When the fathel
died, he left them the little dwelling with
its five acres Of ground, and few hun.
dreds in bank. Mrs. Mcrryman wisely
thought that part of this surplus could
not be better invested than in giving her
daughter superior education. SO that, if
left alone, she might be able to support
herself. The village boosted an excellent
school-as what New England village
does not ?-and at this she was kept un-
til she had acquired all usually taught to
young ladies' in the institution. She had
been educated to teach, and her sort of
regal manners, and easy carriage particu.
larly fitted her for the office.
Among the boys at school was the son
Of Judge Whitcomb, fine, noble fellow,
about her own age, or year older per-
haps. When they were fourteen, they
were pointed out by the older scholars as
the young lovers 1t was amusing to
observe the attention he paid her. He
carried her books and parcels-puIled of
her muddy overshoes to spare her dainty
fingers-and seemed by his actions gener.
ally to regard her as his peculiar charge.
When teased by the older boys, as he Of.
ten was, he would reply: "She has no
father or brother, and am sure some.
body ought to care for and be kind to
her !"
And as they grew older, by sort of
tacit consent, they were assigned to each
other in all the little merry.makings in.
cidental to New England village. When
making up party for a sleigh ride or
picnic, the names Of Morton Whitcomb
and Lucy Mcrryman came as assuredly
in the same sentence, as if one could not
be present without the other. And thus
their lives passed on until Lucy was
eighteen.
Judge Whitcomb. the father Of Nor.
ton, was grave, taciturn man, loving his
children dearly-they were all girls but
Mortoa-but in his own peculiar manner,
he never interested himself the least in
their pleasures, but studied, planned and
worked constantly for their future ag.
grandizement. lie was the first in wealth
md position in the village, and had at
one time, by the voice OF the people, been
elevated to the second Office in the State.
And so his children must do as Judge
Whtcomb's ought to do. They must be
we'll dressed and well educated, as his
children; and when they we're old enough
to be settlci in life, he should expect to
settle them as Judge Whitcomb's children
should be settled. \ dissenting word
from one of them he had mover allowed /;
aud the future held no such monstrosity
to his mental vision.
But one day, as he sat reading, his at
tention was arrested by conversation
between Morton and one of his sisters,
and in which the latter was teasing him
about mis- fondness for Lucy Merryman.
Some words thrown back by the brother
startled HIM, and he raised his eyes, and
through the open door-ior he was il an
adjoiniong room-looked upon his son,
boy no longer.
He is "a fine. manipulating youth,
certainly" he thought. as he gazed,more
earnestly. "What if that poor widows
daughter should try to captivate him? |
have heard of such things! | must
watch! Why it would ruin him."
And he did watch, and became con.
vinced there was danger.
MY son." said he, few weeks later,
"whcn does this term of school close ?"
In three weeks, SIR"
How Tar have you progressed in your
Latin ?"
II shall commence my second book in
Virgil. next term, sir.
"Very well | propose sending you
from home to school, tor term or two,
before you enter college,"
The son looked up in surprise, MAY !
ask why. sir 2"
Certainly. l think it will be an ad.
vantage to you. Your studies will pro.
coed the same, and contact with strangers
will give you more confidence in your
own powers. and better ft you for your
collegiate course. l will speak to your
mother to have your clothing prepared,
and will 60 with you, at the proper time,
10 the principal Of school in Boston,
who is personal friend, and in whom l
have much confidence"
The son had nothing to offer against
this reasonable proposition, and at the
time named by his father said good.
bye to his village classmates, fingered
long ct a parting with Lucy Merryman,
and then left his fathers house for his
first sojourn from it. Judge Whitcomb
was tho nominal postmaster of the vii.
lage, but the business was usually attend.
ed To hv an efficient daputy.