Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-03-28
Doctor Norton's story.

| sbut women may keep their youth as long
as they keep their hearts warm with the love
of truth and goodness; | believed in wo-
men when was young"
"Do YOU doubt them now?" said Maria,
smiling; she was very lovely girl:
81 will tell you when | have finished my
story" he replied gravely. "Ithappened
| that had letters to some of the most dis
tinguished families in Boston, and was in
troduced into what is called, by courtesy,
the first circle .-,
| II passed my time very pleasantly, in a
round of dinner parties, balls and the
usual fashionable amusements, and had
been nearly three weeks in the city, before
| found leisure to return the early call one
of my fathers friends had made me.
"Mr. Tuttle was very rich man, and
highly respected on Change, as rich men are;
but his strictly religious character which
he was very scrupulous to sustain, prevent
ed his associating much In fashionable
parties.
sHe had been literally educated, and de-
signed to become a clergyman; but when
lie had completed his theological studies,
the state of his health was such that he was
obliged to go on voyage at sea, and final
| ly he entered business as a merchant. lie
| had been very successful, was millionaire,
and his daughters great matches.
II sent up my name. Mr.. Tuttle was
| out, but his wife met and welcomed me
with all woman's cOrdiality and grace,
when she wishes to please; very different,
indeed, from the formal reception j had
anticipated. She assured me that they had
been expecting my visit; that she felt quite
acquainted with me, because she had en-
tertained so high an opinion of my father,
and so on. Compliments cost nothing
would that railroads were so easily made.
"Mrs. Tuttle led the way to her private
parlor, observing that she wished TO M
troduce me to her daughters as they we're.
| In this, she showed managing mothers
tact, for her daughters really needed no
foreign aid of ornament.
"They were lovely enough in their neat
morning dresses; indeed, so very beautiful
we're the two eldest, that it surprised me.
had not seen them at the parties had at
tended. | soon found it was not from want
of interest in such amusements, for they
overwhelmed me with inquiries respecting
how had enjoyed them, and then came
sigh. and those portentous words-'Papa
does not approve of balls?
IL endeavored to change the converse
tion, by alluding to the book which had so
claimed their attention when | entered, re-
marking that supposed they enjoyed theil
leisure more than the tritling did society.
AS ended, looked at the volume; it was
Eugene Aram,' then just published!
IL have serious objections to the Bulwer r
novels, though they have some high merits;
but / should never recommend Eugene
Aram' for young lady's reading.
"HOwever. found they had no scruples
on the subject. They began, and poured
out their eulOgiums on Bulwer and his
J charming novels Pelham was so in
teresting, so witty, and full of such delight
ful descriptions of high life and Paul
Clifford was such a fascinating hero-sC
brave and generous
d "What signified his robberies? Adj
q elaide, the second daughter, declared sh'
should have dotted on him.
"And then the .Disowned;' what lofty
d sentiments, what deep, powerful pathos,
ETC., etc. Thus they went on, while thel
delighted mother told me, though how sh,
edged in the words no one could tell, tha
Susan and Adelaide were so fond of Bul
wer's works, they had read through
Eugene Aram since the preceding after
nOon.'
81 tried hard to make them praise one o
my iavorite authors, Miss Austen, but
would not do. She was too natural, ant
only seemed to know the middle classes
( no lords or ladies of any note figured Il
her volumes.
"tWe want pictures of fashionable man
ners, or the beau monte in Europe said Mis-
Tuttle.
a"'There is not any spirit or originality /
the works of Miss Austen,' said Miss Adel
aide; 'one might as well read tract or
Sermon
an the midst of these discussions O
, novels and fashionable life, Mr.. Tuttle en-
tered unexpectedly, presume.
IITha onnyarSotiOn ppnSn1 Instantly.
observed that Susan deXteriously threV
, her handkerchief over the charming book
, and. gathering it up, placed it behind he
on the sofa, and then, hastily reaching ne
work from the table, seemed wholly absorb
: ed in the progress of her needle.
{ after the usual salutations, inquire
/, and welcomes to me, Mr.. Tuttle, who ap
peared very fond of his children, told AIDE
, iaide that her eyes looked heavy, and h
feared she confined herself to her work to
closely (she was knitting bead purse
and inquired if she had been out that morn
: ing?
, mo, papa; l have been so engaged"
''To finish that purse, presume. wisl
my DEAR turning to his wife, you woul,
: be more particular, and see that these gir
, walk or drive out every pleasant morning
. do not wish to have them so CONSTANT
3 engaged at their work."
> ,"You know, my love, their works. d.
4. signed for charity. How can they be bette
: employed ?" And Mrs. Tuttle looked S
3 innoce ntly in her husbands face.
} 81 thought of Eugene Aram,' and d'
8 termined toprobe the matter little. PEI
, haps l was wrong, but wished to lear
the fathers opinion of his daughter
| studies. E.E a' r
$50 asked him if there were any ne
1 books worth reading in the Literary En-
= porium.' ...5
: SHE replied that he really did not know
{ He found little time for reading, exceI
} the newspapers; but his daughters coul
r tell me.
2 "Oh,' said 1 with very grave face,
t was not alluding to the new novels
t "'Novels J he repeated with solemnit
Q of accent that was almost severe. M
: daughters never read novels; nevt
. permit them to be brought into my house
D Here the young ladies looked at each othe
: and their mother grew fidgety.
s "But you do not utterly discard no.
l elsp' said l, inquiringly.
D "Indeed do, sir. know exceptions al
4 often made by Christians, nor will sa
: that all novels are bad. But the habit
s novel reading is bad, most pernieious
D young ladies and my girls, as they ha'
: never been INDUCED in this exciting al
dangerous mode of killing time, find,
e you see, their amusements In useful en-
s ployments. They never read novels, MI
: Tutrle being entirely of my way of thin
t ing.reioi
' SWere not the ladies utterly confoun
ed ?" said Miss Barker.