Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-01-23
MRS. DEWSFORD'S DAUGHTER.

MRS. DEWSFORD'S DAUGHTER.
Mrs. Dewsford sat in her own room,
assiduously employed in fastening dried
butterflies on a sheet of pasteboard, with
an " Encyclopedia of Etymology" lying
on the table before her, and magnify
ing glass affixed i'll some mysterious man.
ner to her nose. She was spare, prim,
hard-featured matron, was Mrs. Dews-
ford-one who believed in women's
rights, and thought woman generally
much abused parsonage, deposed from
her proper sphere and trampled on by
the tyrant man
Mrs. Dewsford had come very near
being man herself-what with O deep
voice and bearded chin, and figure
quite innocent of all superfuous curves
or graces Really, if one had changed
her skirt and body to trousers and
coat, she would have passed for one of
the condemned sex without much diff
Guilty
But Lizzy Dewsford was quite diff
ferent-Lizzy Dewsford who stood be-
side her mother with cheeks round and
ripe as q peach deep blue eyes made
mystic and shady by their long lashes,
and brown hair wound round and round
her pretty head in shining coils. You
wondered, as you gazed at her, how
they could both be women, and yet so
unlike
Nonsense, child ' said Mrs. Dews-
ford, critically examining butterfly
with pale yellow wings, sprinkled with
carmine. .+.
"But, mamma" pleaded Lizzy, 1T
isn't nonsense. He really does want to
marry me-"
" Marriage is all a mistake, Elizabeth, !"
said Mrs. Dewsford, laying down her
magnifying glass. 81 don't mean you
shall marry at ALL
Mamma p
CA woman who marries," went on the
strong-minded matron, lis woman en-
shaved. If l. had known as much about
life when was eighteen as l do now, [
would never have married. From the
standpoint of q grand mistake commit
ted in my own life, L can rectify yours,
Elizabeth"
but, mammal" cried Lizzy, "what
hall do"
"Do, child !! dol" CALCULATED the
mother. "That is pretty question for
my daughter to ask Why, read-study
improve your mind. Devote all the
energies of your nature to the solving
of the great social problems that sur
round you"
Il don't care pin for the social prob
lens, mamma" demonstrated Lizzy.
81 like Charley Everett, and I'm going
to marry him '' ,...
Never, with my consent"
"Oh, mamma" cried Lizzy, aghast,
"surely you would not
Elizabeth" said Mrs. Dewsford, in
a tone of judicial calmness, "don't you
see what confusion you are creating
among these insects which [ have so
carefully classified I beg you will in
terrupt my studies no longer. Go and
finish reading that Report of the Eng
lish Convention for the Amelioration OF
Womankind. What are you crying for
A well-regulated woman never cries. "
g [ wish I wasn't woman I" sobbed
poor Lizzy. "I wish [ wasn't some
thing that had to be elevated, and i'm
proved, and cultivated Oh, mamma,
darling, you weren't in earnest when YOU
SAID you wouldn't consent to my marry
ing Charley We shall be SO happy to-
gether; and he says he will be miserable
without me and"-
Elizabeth, / am astonished at YOU
OF course l was in earnest [ hav,
neither gold nor jewels to lay ON th,
shrine of the cause; but have daugh
ter, and intend to show the world wha
q woman, unshackled and unfettered
can be capable of You, Elizabeth
should glory in thus becoming an offer
ing /"
But Lizzy, apparently unappreciativ,
of the great lot in store for her, crieC
more piteously than ever.
"Tears will not melt me-" said Mrs
Dewsford, calmly resuming the En-
cyclopedia. 81 only regret to be tn
mother of SO degenerate q daughter !"
Mamma" ventured poor Lizzy
after few minutes of silent grieving
CT promised Charley to ride out wit
him this afternoon !"
" You must give him up, Elizabeth
Upon such subject can accept II
compromise I"
But promised, mamma !''
Mrs. Dewsford gravely rubbed the on
of her nose
" A promise is promise, Elizabeth
nor shall ] require Of you to break it,