The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1874-04-23
aIUIANs UTW ann

1as al lhe outskirts Of a pretty New
Eagsnd riEaac stand q hgmble, weather
worm caGaec. bat Hs Wc'hkep, yard, and
t.e Iaxuglaut bu esrcfully trained vines,
wb0ea la summer almost completely hide
lae b.aaseaej boards, proclaim to the
gaaer.af tha, although poverty may cast
.ts shadaas over the lowly dwellings yet
il ls tae abode of industry and a degree
Of .eanemem
lItre. year. ago, Robert Stanley bro't
bis souug bride, aud here have seen their
children grow up around them. Here
thaf erected a family altar which through
tae changes OF score of years has still
remained sacred, and still the good man
daily beads the knee, and white implor-
ing The future guidance of Kind and
watohful Father be does not forget to
praise Him for liis past mercy aud good
ugss 90 himself and his loved ones.
Aud yet be has known the trials OF
poverty; be has seen the time when, I'M
der Providence. his daily labor was the
only dependence of his little flock, but
bis uuwayng faith has always been tri.
umpAaul lie Is what we have some.
umc seen, (would there were more,J an
honest laborcr who provides for hIs lami-
iy by The legitimate fruits OF his labOrs,
and though he can neither provide them
with luXaries, nor adorn them with ele-
CANT and fashionable clothing, is content
10 bo able to supply their necessary wants
and thankful that his little band is vet
uubroken by death.
But our story has saught to do partic-
ularly with Robert Stanley or his prudent
cueul wife who has inculcatcd by ex-
ample those lessons Of industry aud con-
,eulmcnt with which her husband has
ever sought to Undue the minds Of his
children.
This prelude i, to give the reader some
idea OF the moral atmosphere in which
Miriam Stanley was reared. At seven
tecu She was her mothers almost indis-
peusabIe companion and assistant, natu-
rally easy aud graceful in manner, her
mind wei cultivated by study and stored
with useful knowledge, the result Of dill
gent Improvement Of her limited time at
school. Though she knew nothing OF the
so.caIIed accomplishments, drawing, in
.trumcutal music and the like, she sang
many a pretty ballad and her clear, sweet
voice might always have been heard in
the choir al the village church, while her
expressive countenancc gave evidence
that she praised God with the spirit aud
wits the understanding also.
Added to these she possessed also at
fractions Of person. A slender, graceful
figure, a shapely hand and foot, wealth
OF sunny hair, and regular, well-deaned
features, to which her clear blue eyes
added q charm-these combined to rem
der Miriam Stanley beauty.
So thought a relative of her mother, a
resident OF distant city, and thinking it
also a misfortune that
20 sweet a mower tHDQiu ulQum unseen,
And waste Its sweetneas on the desert air"
Or in other and more practical words,
thinking that if opportunity were given
so pretty girl might make better
match than could be expected among
The humble villagers who comprised her
circle of acquainlances, she invited Mi
rlam to spend the summer with her her
at her country house. There she enter
taiuod each summer many friends, and
surely among her visitors the coming
season might be found au eligible match
tor her pretty niece.
With this object in view she carefully
worded her iuvitlion. avoiding any al
fusion to the idea uppermost in her mind
, but expaiating upon the pleasures of the
visit, aud the advantages Of daily associ-
alton with people of refinement asd cnl,
ture.
Bat Mrs. Stauley's heallh was poor,
/, aud she had 10 daughter but Miriam old
. enough to assist in the domestic labors.
moreover ''e s'ale o. 'he'F hnahce'
womb NOT ADMIT oi 'helr employing
servant so''''uS" Miriam a'ueh'iy long
cd FOR 'ha"se IN her moho'ohous NE
a"" iH''! aPp'c''"'eo 'ne Deheu's ol
ia'ns""s win t"e society she shoulo
thee' al hoF anH's she never lor mo
meHl IosI s'sh' Of d"'y' even "hen mel
mother ''ieu 10 reason heFseh INTO 'h'
oeHei '"ai s"e could get along IN some
way
' She resoluteIy shat her eyes to the en-.