The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-20

the least OF NJ, rather tndelicatep ~
"Well Arthur, am of opinion that this In
delicacy, as you call Ii, but as ] think common
sense, when wanting in parents is Just what
leads many girls to be restless unhappy and
frequently to ioTsake their homes.
I'VE have a duty which cannot be ignored
to put before them, as lar as able, the oppoTtu-
nifty to choose between single or married life.
And It Is this opportunity which we must make.
Hitherto we have created our happiness
away from the world. Months and years have
rolled on, and our smiling infants, our prattling
children, our rose bud girls, have expanded
into beauty, which in our arrant seldshuess we
would keep alone to gladden. our eyes and com
fort our hearts DO to others as we would be
done BY Arthur DEAR and we shall not err.
Daughters are a perpetual source of anxiety
to a mother to obtain a suitable marriage, not
that her own care or expense may be lessened,
but that she may see no discomfort on her
daughters brow, hear no disappointment in her
tone nor feel that there is bitterness lurking in
her heart. This is truth as old as the hills,
my husband, and witnessed by the son of
sirach, ere the last of the prophets departed to
paused suddenly, though scarcely aware of
II, and had fallen into reverie, from which l
was startled by my husband asking;-
"What does the son of Sirach say, Polly? ?n
" The fatherlwaketh for the daughter when no
man knoweth, and the care for her taketh away
sleep, when she is young lest she pass away the
flower of her age, and being married, lest she
''But it may be said nowadays of the mother
not of the father for all fathers in middle-class
lle are very needless of their daughters future"
"Well, don't say so any more Polly. I'll
send the town-crler notice TO tell all eligible
young men candidates for matrimony that they
may call upon YOU"
Hooked up IN astonishment and disappoint-
ment 10 find that all my arguments had ended
in ridicule, and fairly burst into tears, which
seemed not little to surprise him, for he came
over to where l was sittlng and, kissing me-
said:-
Don't be little fool Mary. dare say you
are right; only man doesn't see these things,
and don't know how to help you in the mat
ter. shall make mess oft if 60 inviting
don't ask me about it,"
Upon this understanding the matter was
dropped.
Christmas was approaching, when Richard
would be home. wrote to Mrs. Forbes, asking
for the two girls Lucy Damer and Lillian Foster
to visit us. Both were orphans without for.
tune, only barely sufficient TO keep them from
want. They had been many years with their
valued governess, and were receiving the finish
of their education under masters, preparatory
TO their taking situations.
My husband, being now the manager of the
bank in the town, was greatly looked up to; but
so absorbed had l been in my children and
house that | had never extended the circle of
my acquaintance as to embrace any families
where there were young people, and / was not
aware how isolated from them we had become,
till one day, expecting some friends, Jane, or
Janet, as we called her, and now fifteen, said,
Glow tiresome, mamma, to have to make these
preparations for such old fogles Why don't you
ask some young ones ~
"Janet!n l exclaimed, in surprise, ''you have
| associated with your brothers so long, that you
have acquired all their random sayings
'Say slang mammie dear, and that's just it,
looked up very gIavely: not that meant to
| do so, but her remark struck me forcibly. She
was right, but as was silent. poor Janet
| thought she had offended, and, with deprecat-
| ing look and gesture, turned my face towards
| her, and, kissing me. said:-
"You know, mamma, it is so tiresome. There
| is OLD Mr.. Edwards and his wife, and Mr.. Pater-
son and his sister. who, I'm sure, is ninety, and
| lois more. ] could not sit and amuse them as
| Alice does, and Mary actually seems as if she
| delighted to listen to detail of rheumatics and
coughs, and the doings of the maid-servants,
| and low their sweethearts have gone away, and
| all this trumpery. And then, what do girls
want to know about who's likely to be In the
| town council, and who's TO be mayor, and who's
| Dead and who's to have the vacant almshouse?
| l hope, mamma, you'll know some young people
| when come OUT"
| could not find it in my heart to censure her
1ippancy, OF even to make remark, and |
| walked away; for suddenly my child had turned
| page IN the book of life, and its readings were
new to me, and this 1t was which led to the con-
veTsation with my husband relative to inviting
suitable companions for the two elder girls.
Very recently old Wilson, the chemist, had
died, and his place was taken by a gentlemanly
man of fve-and-twenty. His sister, many years
older, kept house for him. So one fine morning,
without mentioning my intention at home, l
called and sent up my card to the sister. Miss
May-she should have been December-received
me with great deal of flutter, and at the same
time of assumed dignity, which rendered heI
reception rather ludicrous one. Evidently she
was an old lady, who had been drawn from the
| seclusion of her village home, where she had
reigned paramount in her responsibility; and
am not sure that she thought my rank in life
equal to her own, for on my taking leave, she
did not very cordially respond to my invitation
to visit me.
Soon after this / called upon Mr. and Mrs
Elwood, who had retired from business, bu
who had two sons in London. l found the
father and mother well educated, we'll bred, anC
= most hospitable; but as | had never VISITED
them before, / had to invent an excuse TO
doing so now. The 7TlSs ultimately succeeded.
: would just mention here, that these worth.
people became afterwards our dearest and bes
l respected friends.
week or two after this, went to a highly
t difficulty. / could only go as purchaser, anC
] was. of course, served with great respect. wa
t unable to say, 81 am sorry | have neglected
r hitherto calling upon you, but 1t was from NJ
sense of pride, only have not before needed
T your acquaintance" l asked to be permitted
e were arranged to look at the titles. Here
d hidden by screen, sat young girl abou
Janet's age working at a canvas frame som
h really beautiful needle-work, which | could moi
some of Alice's work. If she would call and Sc
a it. She thanked me very sweety, and after
q had make q show of inspecting the books | left
When got home, said to Japet;-
a II saw Miss Marshall working some yer
pretty embroidery, and asked her to come an
I see Alice's; so when you pass that way, CALL an
- beg her to come with you."
b. Janet promised compliance. did not kno
how old Mr.. Marshal's sons we're, though ha
y, heard that he had two who were not at hom