The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-04

that money is king, and we are compelled,
however, much against our will, to render
homage to the golden monarch
Mary, young as she was, had experienced
enough in the brief space she had spent up
on this earth to teach her this, and she
knew too that the man who worked with his
brains had all the chances, while be who
/, worked with bis hands had none, and al
though she might be unwilling to acknowl-
edge this to others, she knew in her most
secret thoughts that she rejoced exceeding
= ly because her father had left the ranks of
wOrkingmen, and joined a class whose
labor, although it passed under another
name, was far more eXhausting and ener-
vatlng than his former employment. True
he had not to labor so many hours; he was
not Obliged to rise SO early in the morning,
}, and he could take more rest and leisure if
be wished lr, and he could take a higher
position ~ society, and this, to Mary s am-
bilious nature, was the greatest delight
She revelled in the delightful anticipations
Of the future of her father. He had work
cd hs way up so far, why should be not
some day be governor Of the State il which
he lived? This position in her estimation
was high enough for any PERSONS aspira.
tionS 1t was, therefore, with thrill Of de-
light, as they sat in the pleasant little par
lor that evening, that May informed her
friends that her father was in a lawyers
office
Mrs. Maynard, who was on astute Judge
Of human nature, was not at all surprised
to hear it; she had noticed the ambitious
struggle of Mr.. Bonner and she knew he
would work himself up she congratulated
Mary by telling her, that it took man of
no ordinary kind to work his way from the
position Of a day laborer up to lawyer,
and she would not be at all surprised to
read some day in the papers that the honor |
able George Bonner had delivered a long |
speech to listening and admiring senate.
1T seems, said Mary, "iust like dream.
Only few years since we we're very poor,
having hardly enough to eat and wear, and
you were still poorer, and here you are now
! living in comfort in this large city, your
son a clerk in a mercantile house with hopes
Of preferment, and my father in a lawyers
office able to furnish me the means to make
you visit Is it the work Of Providence
or i it altogether owing to human fore
sight J"
81 think, replied Mrs Maynard, cit is
both, we make an effort and God in his
goodness blesses that effort. believe |
have heard your father say, it was some
wo1 Is you left all when you were but a child
that melted him to make the trial to better
his condition, and | think you cannot but
feel there was providence in that"
II do not know, said Mary, sometimes
am lost in the labyrinths of my own
thoughts I cannot come to any conclusion
upon the subject There is so much in
Justice, so much suffering 10 this world that
sometimes think there is no kind Father
watching over Us at all, but that men carry
op the government of this world according
to their own caprices."
II hope, my dear Mary" replied Mrs
Maynard, you VIII never doubt the good
ness Of God. Many things are dark to US,
entirely out Of the reach Of our understand
ings, but some day these things will all be
made clear to US and we shall rejoice over
the way we have been led. You especially
Mary have much to be thankful for. am
sure your father will yet be a lawyer and
an eminent oneitoo Had he been surround
ed from childhood, by wealth and friends in
hi igh position, and all the the influence which
these things bring, there would have been
no merit in the case 1t would instead have
been shame and disgrace if he bad not
attained to something beyond the common
line, but for him to work his way up from
a poor uneducated day laborer shows him
to be possessed of more than ordinary en- !
ergY and talent l tell you Mary your !
father is man to be proud Of"
Mother does love to inquire into
persons history said John, and tell you !
Mary she has very grand opinion Of +
those who have come up through great tri- ;
bulation, so you may depend upon it SIZE
thinks good deal Of you and me" ,
Mary enjoyed the life and hustle Of city
lise as young people usually enjoy novel
ties, and she parted with her friends carry
ing with her pleasant remembrance Of the
days she had passed in their society, and
many long evenings were spent pleasantly
in her own home, recounting the scenes Of
New York to her parents aud brothers and
sisters, wao were as much delighted at the
recital as she was in being able to afford
them such agreeable entertainment
She had been home but few weeks
when Henry Leonard, a young gentleman
of large expectations, made her an offer Of
his heart and hand. Mary had never un-
/ til this moment had any idea Of the state Of
her affections. She bad looked upon John
as a dear brother, and loved him, 50 she
thought with d sistery affection, but when
the idea was proposed to her that she should
take some one else for a husband the truth
revealed itself to her that she could admit
no one but John Maynard to that sacred
relation. As gently as she could she led
Mr. Leonard to see that she could not en-
tertan his suit She was a true woman,
She would never glory in her conquests over
human hearts, but was grieved and panied /
10 be obliged to reject love she believed
to be sincere.
Mrs Bonner was grievously disappoint-
ed She bewailed her daughters short
s..htedncss in refusing such an eligible \
offer. she desired, as indeed most mothers
do, to see her daughter established and her
future secured, and she sought relief to her
feelings by imparting the knowledge Of
Mary's stupidity to Mrs. Maynard When
that lady had read the letter, she handed
it to John, who discovered the state Of his
mind By saying:
4 ] am glad she refused him"
''Why, John why should you be glad p
enquired Bis mother.
q Because" answered John, "I have
,I-,,,, I,.-oJ EI,r,- anl potbnr I intended