The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-05-06

The most honest of all Quakers, Toby
Simpton, lived in London, in pleas
ant little dwelling graced by the pres
ence of his daughter Mary. She was
not quite seventeen years of age; was
charmingly fair; had blue eyes, and
possessed as much mOdesty as beauty.
All the young men of her fathers ac.
quaintance were her suitors all those
of the neighborhood sought to gain her
notice. Vain efforts! Mary was no CO.
quette, and instead of enjoying the
effect produced by her charms, she was
veXed on account of the manners of all
her admirers, except one Edward
Weresford, young artist, admitted to
the intimacy of the family.
A very simple event had caused this
friendship. A premature death had
carried off the Quaker's wife. She was
young and beautiful; and desiring to
perpetuate the image of her who was
dear to him, he had caused the artist
to come to the bed of death. 1t was
there that Edward saw the desolate
damsel; it was there serious first love
took place, amid the tears of one and
the pious work of the other. The year
which elapsed after this epoch had but
strengthened the bond formed under
these auspices, and the young man had
showed to the father both his desire
and hope.
The excellent Toby had no reason
whatever for opposing the mutual in
clinations of the two young persons.
Without being rich, Edward earned,
by means of his pencil, what suffered
to support family honorably. His
father, Mr.. WereSford, an old merchant
of the city, had retired from business
with IA fortune increased more than ten
fold. This was rare example of rapid
success in speculation-so rapid indeed
| that few were able to follow its progress.
Yet Weresford, of so blunt and stern
disposition, lived alone in suburb OF
London, and without caring what his
son was doing, left him entirely at lib
| erty. He was one Of those accommO-
dating egotists who trouble no one,
provided they trouble not them-per.
sons of perfect complaisance if you ask
nothing of them.
Edward, therefore, could without in
terruption, court his pretty Quakeress,
well assured that his father would new.
er think of opposing his marriage. The
situation of the loving couple was, tc
all appearance, very prosperous; and
honest Toby did not put off the day Of
their marriage longer than to collect
the arrearages of his rents: he destined
the money for the extraordinary eX
penses of the ceremony. For this pur
pose he went to his country seat, some
miles from London, in order to regulate
his affairs. He had passed but one dag
from home and as he was about tC
put up his horse for the night, he per
ceived at some distance a horseman
who had barred the road. He stopped
uncertain whether to go on or turn back
Meanwhile the horseman advanced
towards him. The Quaker could NO
even think of escaping; he therefor'
put on a good face, and brought bi'
horse to walk. In approaching the
man who caused his uneasiness, he per
ceived that he was masked, grievou!
augury, which was soon confirmed
The unknown showed pistol and di
rected the muzzle to the traveller, de
manding his purse The Quaker die
not want courage, but calm by charac
ter, inotfensive by religion, and eve
unable, without arms, to resist an arm
ed man, he pulled from his pocket very
coolly, purse containing twelve guin
cas-. The robber took it, counted tn
pieces, and left the poor man whom h
had stopped, to pass on, while he pu
his horse to the trot. But the robber