The Morning herald., 1876-09-12
81
THE

......1....ll ! y. - II
THE
Bellows Mender ofLyons
now LOVE CONQUERED PRIDE.
o.r,N,1rp FROM YESTERDAYS HD1TIoN.
~rhe ten persons with whom you have
,,rned are all citizens Of Lyons. We are
supr suprsvers: our joint-profits, with what we
sbs, sbts;n from our families, afford US an easy
S;~dependence; Sv and ve also acquire by our
.. ..'snts a considerable share Of reputation.
The 1H happiness we enjoyed has been lately
disturbed by love on the one side, and
u.;; u.;de m the other. In the street of st.
Rom;nic lives picture merchant, who is
HIMSELF HIMSELF an ordinary man, but who has q
daughter eminently beautiful. The city Of
Is Trana extensive as it is, contains not an
otber a masterpiece worthy Of being placed
m a level with this charming creature:
H% Possessed of every accomplishment and
endowed with every grace, all her alniable
qualities are shaded by one single defect;
and that defect is an insupportable pride.
Vain Val ofbeing the object Of general admir-
alton. she fondly imagines that none ought
tn a,pire to her hand under the rank Of a
~,nce % Her father. who is tolsrably
ppood pd "connoisseur" in painting, but whe
Ia, very limited understanding with re.
suect m to everything else, has entirely spoiled
her by adulation, amounting almost to
idolatry. Novels, her looking glass, and
habitual compliments from all around her,
have raised self.love into vanity into ar
rorauce and the most lofty disdain towards
ali who are not decorated with the marks
Of epulence or the distinctions of rank. /
had the honor of engaging her notice, from
nv connections in business with her father.
Sometimes she accorded me the singular
privilege of giving me her hand at ball,
Or of attending her to the theatre. These
slight favors turned my brain; l thought
myself beloved, because I was preferred to
others, and ventured to unfold my preten-
tons to her father, who lent favorable ear
10 nv offers. Indeed, my family, profess
.on fortune, and situation, gave me q
right to presume that my alliance would
be agreeable to the young lady. Judge
Of my surprise when, on the first overture
respecting marriage, the insolent girl, in
my presence, answered her father in tone
Of the most naughty arrogance-'Do you
think, sir, that a young woman like ME was
born for nothing better than an engraver?
II confess that this insolent and impru-
dent remark extinguished every sentiment
Of love in my bosom, and love, when fled,
is easily followed by desire of revenge.
Ny friends exclaimed to those who now
surround me, This disdainful girl has, in
my person, committed a general outrage
against us all. Espouse my cause, and let
us form such plan as shall serve to show
her that she has not indeed been born to the
honor of becoming the wife Of an engraver.'
"Such is my history; do you feel sufi-
cient confidence, and think yourself en-
dowed with sufficient discretion to merit
being raised above your present condition ?
Beneath the abject covering which now
DISCUSSES you, it is easy to discern that you
have some soul, and no common share Of
understanding. Will you venture to be-
come the husband Of charming woman,
who to attain perfection, wants only to
have her pride mortified and her vanity
punished?
"Yes," answered I, with frmness, T
perfectly comprehend the part which you
would have me to act, and / will fulfil it
In such manner that you shall have no
reason to blush for your pupil"
line following day we conferred to-
gether, as we did ever after, with extreme
Precaution. During a whole week, Il
oathed two hours every morning and even
ing to get rid Of my tinkering skin and
complexion. In the interval of bathing,
the most elegant hair.dresser of Lyons
gave my long tresses the form most in
fashion. My ten friends furnished mt
with assortnents Of the finest linen, and the |
most elegant dresses for the various sea,
sens, and were soon so fond of their work |
mat we became inseparable. Almost their
xhole time was employed in giving me
instructions. One taught me to read, and
aaolher !, to write; another gave me some
,aeas I've OF drawings, few Lessons in music,
MVlle .I In short Of everything; 40 that during
.nfee WI months, my time. thoughts, and at
1nIl9n y. were wholly absorbed in my studies;
sna soon perceived that this kind of life
salIed s perfectly Iny taste. I felt the ut
taOs' s ardor to carry to perfection these
hls' ha rudlments Of my new education, which
G,s 'au become my chiefdelight. Nature had
.sa.l.shed ss me not only with q disposition
.Ii ~. AQdy but with memory 30 retentive
a,al :'H my friends observed with some aston
,;unent s;ni the rapid progress of their dis
49,. Az length they thought me sufficiently
s:c.Eompllshed TO carry their projects into