The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1865-04-27
BROTHER TOMS WIFE.
BY 7. S. ARTHUR.

u nave HOthluS " w NltIl uGI' L
ont visit her, nor call her sister, nor
peak to her p
And Lizzie Dawton put on as outra-
ed and indignant an air as it was pos
ible for her to assume.
"What's the objection p asked Tom
his cool way, fixing hi5 large calm
yes upon the pretty face of his sister,
she sat uneasily swaying half around
nd back again on the piaua stool.
"Objection !" Tho young lady's
'herry lip curled. "Who is she What
she ?"
"a sweot.tempcrcd, true hearted
young woman, who will make ne a good
title wife. Are you not answered, sis.
ter of mine p
"a sewing girl p' said Lizzie, con.
temptuously.
"What our mother was, as | have been
told, before her marriage" ansv cred
brother Tom. "And. ifmy eyes have
not deceived me, she has been sewing
woman since my recollection Of her" "
"That's another thing" said the sis
ter, "Mother was superior to her class
aud has risen above it,"
"Supposo answer your objections to
Harriet, and say that she is superior to
her class, and win rise above it {? What
then ? My father made a good matri-
monial venture, and may do the
same"
"Bpt why, brother Tom," urged the
sister, "don't you choose wife from
among those on your own level ?"
"What do you mean BY those on your
own level? Let US understand each
other"
From among those who move in our
own circle, From the educated, refined
and accomplished
"Such as the Misses Waltons, for in.
stance"
"Ycs, or the Misses Edens."
"Whose father supports them in idle.
ness, and expect the young men who
marry them to do the same. Now Liz
zic, the TACT Of the business is, I like
Mary Eden very we'll ond onco came 50
near fd,.ing in love with her. that ( was
really frightened. l did not go near
her pretty face again for six months af.
ter l felt the first movement Of the tea.
der passion"
"Dear Mary! 0, Tom! why not
marry her? l could love her as my OWL
sister"
Cant afford it, pretty. I'm but Z
poor young man, and have only my tai.
onts and industry 10 help nc forward in
the world. Mary cantt do anything
herself, and would expect me to put her
in an establishment but little less costly
than the one her father owns"
"Oh, but, Tom there Ii be no necessity
for going to housekeeping at first, Aud
then, you know, her father is well off in
the world. and he'll give her Il house,
and furnish it, no doubt, when she is
married"
But Tom shook his head.
"Mary Eden's father may or may not
be rich" he replied. "My own private
opinion is, that he is living up to, if not
a little beyond his income. And as to
the house and furniture which Mary 5
husband is going to get, that is some
thing very fine to feed a fancy upon.
The real bricks and mortar is another
affair"
"Oh, but Mr., Edcn's rich Tom"
"The rich men Of to day are our poor
men Of tomorrow, Lizzie. | wouldn't
give the snap of a finger for rich iatL
or in-law as a dependence. I mean to
trust in myself. an honest purpose and
a clear conscience. Aud as for wife,
I want woman with life, purpose, in,
dustry and independence in her, not a
great bundle of silk, laccs, bonnets and
curl papers, with pretty little helpless
donOthiGg doll, hidden somewhere in
side of the crinolne circumvolution.
| And then. again, Lizzie, am something
of an Independent young man, wonder.
fully given to the work of taking care
ofmyself l happen to be at the bottom
Of the ladder, and il ever get to the
top my own strength will carry me
there. Now, wife on my back, Instead
Of one Of the rounds Of a ladder. keen.
ing step with me upwards, would be a
dead weight, and keep me at or near
the foot forever. No. no, pretty, I can
not afford one ofyour finished boarding
school misses for a wic-the luxury is
too expensive for me. So l am going
to marry girl who knows something of
real life-a true, good patient enduring,
self.denying, sweet darling little body,
who is not ashamed to earn her living
with the needle. And | can tell you
what, Dolly, I only wish you were ike
Harriet Parker; there would be forty
chances in favor of your marrying a
mah of sense to those you have now.
Don't you know that a new society has
been formed among young men, and
,ha. new society has been formed
among yung men, and that some of the
very best "catches" among them have
signed pledge not to marry any girl
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