The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-10-23
Brother Toms Wife.

'If you do marry that girl, Brother
Tom, I'll have nothing to do with her.
l won't visit her, nor call her sister, nor
speak to herp'
And Lizzie Lawton put on as outraged
and indignant an air as it was possible
for her to assume.
whats the objection?" asked Brother
Tom in his cool way, fixing his large,
calm eyes upon the pretty face of his
sister, as she sat uneasily swayiup half
around and back again on the piano.
stool.
'Objectionw The young lady's cherry
lip curled. "Who is she? What is
she?U
"a sweet-tempered, right-thoughted,
true-hearted young woman, who will
make me a good little wife. Are YOU
answered, sister mine2"
"a sewing-girl!" said Lizzie con-
temptuously.
"What our mother was, as have been
told, before her marriage" answered
Brother Tom. "And, If my eyes have
not deceived me, she has been a sewing
woman ever since, or, at least, ever
since my recollection of her"
That's another thing" said the sis
ter; Mother was superior TO her class,
and has risen above it,"
"SuppOse l answer your objection to
Harriet, and say that she is superior to
her class, and will rise above it? What
then? My father made a good matri-
monial venture, and 1 may do the
same.r
But why, Brother Tom" urged the
sister, don't you choose a wife from
among those on your own level?"
What do you mean by those on our
own level? Let us understand each
other"
''From among those who move in our
own circles. From the educated, refined
and accomplished"
"Such as the Misses Walton. for in
stance?"
Eyes; or the Misses Eden"
"Whose father supports them in idle
ness, and expects the young men who
marry them to do the same. Now.
Lizzie, the fact of the business Is, like
Mary Eden very well, and once came so
near falling in love with her that was
really frightened. | did not go near her
pretty face for six months after l felt
the first movement of the tender pas
sion"
"Dear Mary! o, Tom! Why not
marry her? l could love her as my
own sister,
Cant afford 1t, petty. Pm but a
poor young man, and have only my tai
ents and industry to help me forward in
the world. Mary can't do anything her.
Sell, and would expect me TO put her in
an establishment but little less costly
than the one her father owns.U
''Oh but, Tom, there'll be no neces-
sity for going TO housekeeping at first
And then, you know, her father is well
of In the world, aud he'll give her a
house and furnish it, no doubt, when
she is married"
But Tom shook his head.
"Mary Eden's father" he replied,
"msy or may not be rich. My own
private opinion Is that be is living up
TO, if not a little beyond his income
And as 10 the house and furniture which
hary's husband is going TO get, that Is
something very fine to feed a fancy
upon. The real bricks and mortar is
another AFFAIR."
"Oh! but Mr.. Eden is rich, Tom"
Inc rich men of to-day are our poor
men tomorrow, Lizzie. l wouldn't
give the snap of a finger for a rich faith
er-ln-law as a dependence. / mean TO
oiust IN myself, an honest purpose, and
eclear conscience. And as for a wife I
tr1, ie n,, woman with life, purpose, indus
anu independence in her. not n great
OuhuIe OF silks, laces, bonnets and cnri
ppopt5IS,a pop5eTS, WIN pretty little helpless do
% notbins doH Ina, l mad almost said know
three or four feet from the crinoiina aSlie' nie'
eumVallation. And then, again + Ti.si CIT
am something Of an independent l,,r1Ie, vo-I,',
man, wonderfully given to the woT[ -
taking care of myself I happen to ba
ct the bottom of the ladder, and n T ~ evoe oe
get to the top of it, my own STRENGTH
will carry me there. Now, a wife on
my back, instead of on the rounds of the
ladder, keeping step with me upward,
would be a dead weight, and keep me
at or near the foot forever. No, no.
petty, cannot afford one Of your fin.
ished boarding school misses for a wife