Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-10-26
MoraI GaIe.
From Godeys Lady's Eook, for November, 1885,
A WOman's Wisdom.
ny VIRGINIA y. TOWNSEND.

NJ VIRGINIA r. TOWNSEND
Mary" said Mr.. Randolph, lifting
his youngest boy from off his foot,
which had been performing a series of
journeys to Boston and back again -
for the last half hour, "I discharged
Tom this afternoon !"
"You have p Dear me, Luther II
If these words seem ambiguous on my
paper, the tones gave them fullness of
meaning and emphasis, and expressed
surprise, regret, and some other feel
ing nearer disapproval than anything
else.
The tender playfulness which had
crept into the merchants face during
his frolic with his boy and girl was SUI
perceded by another expression, the
one that he carried into his Office
among his warehouses-in his rela-
tons with his clerks and employees,
and with his business dealings with
men in general hard, stern. shrewd
look, which he was very apt to leave
outside, when he turned the night-key
in his door, and passed into the warmth
and brightness of his home.
For, although this man was far from
faultless, although he had the name
among his brother merchants, and on
change, Of being shrewd and sharp at
a bargain, and pretty certain to cline
his own nest warmly, in all business
transactions, there was still another
side to Luther Randolph--he was thor
oughly home man.
That was the side of him which was
warmest and tenderest, and most geni-
al the side which was turned almost
invariably toward his sweet young
wife, and the girl and boy, who were
the pride and delight of the mans life.
And well it was to Luther Randolph
that he had taken to wife a woman
so peculiarly fitted to sympathize
with and develop all these home loves
and instincts of the mans nature, to
make of the house where he dwelt a
little earthly paradise of comfort, and
brightness and beauty. In some re-
spects, too, she was his superior-in
social position and early cultivation /;
and there had been q time when her
family regarded it as insufferable pre-
sumption, for mere salaried book
keeper to dream of wooing the young
est and petted daughter Of the house.
But notwithstanding fortune and
family We're in his disfavor, Luther
Randolph had many qualities of per-
son and manner which win the regard
Of women, and on this one he had set
his heart and soul, and she was not
unmindfnl of the tender, manly regard
which she had inspired.
Time, perseverance, above all, a
steady ascent up the ladder of fortune,
triumphed, after several years wait
ing, over all obstacles and Luther
Randolph led to the altar the daugh-
ter of the old banker, Mary Marshall.
He was far into his thirties at that
time, and so far, life had been literally
struggle with him. He had fought
his way by the strength of his arm and
the might Of his will, without friends
or fortune, and now, less than eight
years after his marriage, he was a
rich man, honored of all men, if some
what feared and dreaded by his inferi-
ors, and surrounded on every hand
with evidences of the wealth which he
had won for himself.
Yes, Mary" he continued, with
that new hardness, which had settled
into his face, sinking also into his voice.
+" l finished the matter up in short metre
this afternoon, and gave him his quit
papers. l am not the man to be tam.
pered with the second time, as Tom
found out to his cost, to-day"
"What was his offence this time ?'
inquired the lady /; and the evening
paper dropped unheeded from her lap
to the floor, and she leaned her face
down to the cheek, soft and dewy as
an apple blossom, of the little girl
who was hanging ON the side of her
chair, and mother and daughter made
a pretty picture at that moment
which Mr.. Randolph would have keen
ly appreciated had not his thoughts
just then been engrossed.
"Oh, it was the old thing he got
into bad company, again, and in short
came into the Office so drunk this morn
ing that he could hardly stand. l sem
him back at once to sleep off the
effects of his spree, and when he re
turned, pretty thoroughly scared and
sobered this afternoon, gave him his
dismissal, with some sharp words that
he won't be likely to forget at once.
"Such a smart, bright, pretty be
haved boy as he was |" said the soft
regretful tones of the lady. 1t il
such pity !"
81 agree with you but if boys o
men Will make fools of themselves ant
stand in their own light, who is t
blame? I'd taken a 0ncy to the boy
and meant to do well by him, else
should have turned him up for the frs
offence"
"And what will become Of him now
Luther 2" asked the lady.
at would be impossible for me t
prophesy, my dear. The chances
however, are against him. He's CONE
to the city, and it's proved too much TO
him. He's made a bad beginning, ant
will be very likely to end in polic'
court, and q term at the Tombs, an,
that's the end of boy, Of course"
I "Oh, dear |" said the lady, with
little start and shiver, and an uncon
scious glance at the mesh of brown
FURNISHED hair that had nestled dowl
on the hearth rug, what a terrible
picture, Luther 1" Mr.. Randolph fol
lowed his wife's gaze. Perhaps he d
vined the association which suggest
ed itself to her mind, for his tone wa
certainly modified as he answered
"That is true, and l need not hav
- :x.x.l Il exs,s4o 90 hlaalz porh Z,