Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-12-12
TALES AND SKETCHES.
LOoEErxG BEFORE EEAPING.

VI know her, and sweet glr is Nellie
West Why, George, she's the very one for
you. And you have found favorin her eyes.
| congratulate you"
"You needn't, then" was the sombre-
faced reply of Lane, "for am not witless
enough to bare my neck to the halter OF
matrimony, if the act is TO bind me 10 per
petual seridom."
"What do you mean e.
"Simply, that the manner in which Mr..
West has raised his daughters unfit them
for the position of wives Of young men in
my condition. They have the education,
the tastes and the accomplishments we de-
sire and must have, but their habits and ex-
pectations are fatal doweries for any poor
Young man to accept. They have 10 for.
tune to bring to their husbands, and yet
must be supported in comparative elegance.
The idea of useful employment does not
seem to have entered their minds. Work,
in their view, seems to involve something Of
degradation. All, well l must dismiss a
fond illusion, that was sweet while it lasted.
! shall go no farther in this direction. some
other man, bolder, or less inclined to count
| the cost, must win consent from Il heart 1t
would be n life long happiness to call my
own"
"Nonsense, George" replied his friend.
'If the young lady really loves you, she
will adapt herself to your circumstances
Nellie is charming girl. Press your suit,
aud after gaining her confidence, talk over
lifcs sober realities with her. She has sense
and right feeling, and will readily compre-
hcud how much of happiness is Involved in
YOU prudential ideas. woman who loves
man well enough to marry him, will cheer
| fully accommodate herself to his circum-
stances"
Accommodate =" exclaimed the young
man, curling his lips. II don't like the
word. 1t hurts my pride"
pride is never good counsellor, friend
George"
"My manhood, then. It hurts my man
hood. A young woman without dollar in
the world, accommodate herself to the cir
cumstances of a young man whose income
is twelve hundred Il year? You can't recon-
cle me to the case on that plea. My pride,
manliness, self.love, or self esteem as you
will-revolts against the humiliation. No,
no-George Lane has independence as well
as prudence, and thinks their counsels worth
heedirg"
"While ! think" answered the friend,
''that George Lane is little too high strung
! for the case under consideration, / know
| Nellie very well, and think her sensible
! girl. True the way her parents have con.
Quoted her home education is not favorable
TO Just views in life But love is clear-sight-
I ed and strong hearted. Take her out of her
! present false relation to society, and she will
make you, am sure, good wife in every
respect"
mo, sir" was firmly answered. "Even
as talk with you, and listen to what you
say,I grow more resolute in purposeto recede
from a dangerous position. II Nellie was
alone in the world, might act differently.
But look at the case as it stands and sec
what risks are involved. There are two Older
sisters, both married +; and their husbands
noses, to use homely phrase, are well down
on the grindstonc and ore likely to remain
there. Already both have gone through
the ordeal of fall in business and nc
wonder.
"Not being able as clerks to maintain
their domestic establishments, they were
foolish enough to set up in imitation o.
other people as silly as themselves, they
must have stores of their own, from the in
come of which they spent with such unscru
pulous hands, that more than all the profits
were consumed in costly living.
"Somehow or other, in their breakdown
they managed to keep their fine furniture
aud houses, and still live before the world
in what to me is shameless extravaganza
Both are clerks again but how they man
age to keep up appearances as they do
passes my comprehension. i have met their
wives for few times at Mr. Vests, ard
they hold their heads as high as queens.
am nobody in their estimation Why, the
ljewelry, lace and other snowy things they
faunt in peoples eyes so shamelessly-see
ing that somebody besides their husbands
have paid for them-cost more than thir(
of my years salary
"But you have nothing to do with thes,
ladies'" interposed his friend.
"Truc, and don't mean to have anythin,
to do with them. But tie case would have
another bearing were ! brotherin-law.
would have their bad influences operating
on my wife. She must have as costly out
fitting as they. She must have as fine
house to live in, and as fine furniture to dis
play to her friends; and my nose must com
to grindstone, like the noses of their un
fortunate husbands. I've gone over til,
matter twenty times or more, and could SCI
it no different 1t won't do, and there il
! no use in trying to harmonic things tha
are utterly incongruous.
"Take another view. Suppose Nellie cam
into my views of these things, aud turned
herself from these allurements. Suppos
/ we, like sensible people, live below our 10
.onns and cot au re aluaa N nnaLa 10,