The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-11-21
dTr,se american Sforu.

ostonsibly to escape the prosecutions of
aristocratic England, but alas for the
Inconsistency of human nature, they
were far from abandoning arstojracy
when they left their mother country
They took it with them, together WITH
all its accompanying notions and absur'
dities, and have lett it to their children,
an inalienable legacy, which they seem
to be trying to increase every day.
La the days of the good colony OF
Virginia the distinctions between the
rich and the poor were based upon laws
which. like those of the Medes and Per.
slams, altered not. One of the most de.
yout followers of this code was veal
thy planter, living in what is known as
the Northern Neck. He was in all 9th |
or respects frank, open hearted, manly |
gentleman but his estimate of his fellow
men was founded upon the principles
which governed his selection Of his
1orse-blood. Wealth, too, was by no
means an unimportant feature with him.
He had our human weakness, and like
all of US, was influenced more than he
ever believed, by pounds, shillings and
pence. This Mr. c. had quite large
family, and among them was a daughter
who beauty was the standing toast of
the country. She was just eighteen and
budding into lovely woinanhood. Not
only was she beautiful in person, out an
amiable disposition and many accom-
plshments made her still more attract
iye, and half the gentlemen Of the North.
ern Neck were already slghing for her
love.
There was in the country at this time
q young man who was already rising in
the esteem of his neighl ors. He came
of poor family, and was, as yet, a poor
young surveyor, who had taught himself
his profession, and who spent much Of
his time in travelling unknown forests,
with nothing but his compass for his
guide, and his chain for his companion,
locating lands and settling disputed IT,
ties. He was a model of manly beauty,
and excelled in all the various feats of
strength in which the olden time Amer
leans took such pride. He was calm
and reserved and there was about him
digniGed sweetness OF demeanor that ae
corded we'll with his frank independence
of character. He was a great favortte
with all who knew him, and there was
no gathering to which he was not asked.
Mr. G. seemed especially to like the
young man, and it was not long before
he insisted that the lsttor should aban-
don all ceremony in his visits to him,
and come aud 60 when he pie sd. The
invitation was hastily given, and as
promptly accepted. The young man
liked the planter, and he 70 und the soci-
ETY. of the beautiful Mary 6. very
strong ATTRACTION. The result was that
he was frequently at the planters resi-.
dence, so frequently, indeed, that Mrs.
g. tel: called upon to ask her husband
ii he did not think it wrong to permit
him to enjoy such unreserved intercourse
with their daughter. He laughed at
the idea, and said he hoped his daugh
ter knew her position to we'll to allow
anything like love for poor surveyor
to blind her duty to her family.
Nevertheless, Mary G. was not so full
ly oppressed with conviction of duty a'
was her father. She found more to ad
mire in the poor surveyor than all her
wealthy, aristocratic suitors; and, also
before she knew it, her heart passed ou
of her keeping and was given to him
She loved him with all the honesty an(
devotion of her pure heart, and shc
would have thought it happiness to g
out with him into the back woods anC
share his fatisues and troubles, no mat
ter how much sorrow they might bring
her.
Nor did she love in vain. The young
man, whose knowledge of the world was
afterwards so great, had not then learned
to consider as binding the distinction
which society drew between his position
and that of lady. He knew that al
that makes a man, in integrity and hon
esty of purpose, he was the equal of an,
one He thought that except in wealtl
he stood upon a perfect equality will
Mary G., and he loved her honestly ant
manfully, and no sooner had he satisfied
himself upon the state of his own feel
ings than he confessed his deyotio
simply and truthfully, and received fror
the lady's lips the assurance that sh
loved him dearly.
Scornful to occupy doubtful posi-
ton or to cause the lady to concea
aught from her parents, the young ma
frankly and manfully asked Mr.. G
for his daughters hand. Very angr
grew the planter as he listened to tn
audacious proposal. He stormed anC
swore furiolsly, and denounced tn
young man as an ungrateful and impu
dent upstart.
"My daughter has always been accus
toned to ride in a carriage" he said
"Who are you, sir Z"
ga gentleman, sir" replied the youn
man quickly, aud left the house.
The lovers were parted. The lad
l. Al.