, 1877-02-16

There lies the poor folly of the
whole thing. answered the other apeak-
er. 80 far from being q rich man.
their father l. over bead and ears in
debt, and worried half ont of his life 10
make his payments and keep above
water. Nv brother knows al sbout his
business afairs. and says it's q disgrace
for hrs daughters 10 add the heavy bur
den they must ~ adding 10 the bent
shoulders of 20 kiBd-hearted a man.
Proud. idle. good-for. nothings he calls
them. lie took a fancy 10 one Of them,
but soon comprehending her quality,
turned away in disgust. They are in
debt everywhere. Our dressmaker told
me last week that they owe her nearly
fifty pounds, and that she has sent for
the money over and over again-and /
know they have a large unpaid bill at
the jewelers.. The grocer and butcher
.in our neighborhood both say it is al
most impossible to get an account set
tied; and yet these idle girls sweep
about in rich attire, as though they
were the daughters of prince"
II don't wonder they are the talk of
the neighborhood, was replied to this.
"And they keep three servants p
went on the other. The neighbors
think it would be more creditable for
them to keep one-and honester into
the bargain"
"How many sisters are there ?"
"Three."
'All alike ~
"No. The youngest is wholly differ
ent from the two you saw Just now. She
is a sensible girl, and worth a score Of
her good-for-nothing sisters"
And the conversation ceased.
The talk of the whole neighborhoodl
Even SO. Full two weeks passed be-
fore Kate and her sister were again seen
abroad, and then so great was the
change in their attire that many people
who knew them questioned each other
as to the meaning. During these two
weeks other scales dropped from their
eyes. So stern was the pressure of en-
barassment upon their father that he
had been forced to yield, and all men
knew him as O broken merchant.
Necessity cannot stand to parley with
circumstances. 1t does not give place
to pride. Mr.. Hamilton was compelled
to demand of his family different style
of living. Three servants gave place to
one; and the idle daughters had, under
constraint, to assume their places, and
become the talk of the neighborhood.
To them the fact involved deep humilia-
ton. But how did the neighbors talk :?
In many ways; yet chiefly in tenor like
this:
81 didn't think it was them" So q
lady opposite remarked to friend who
lived next door.
"Nor l." was answered "Kate, in
particular, had such proud, dashing
air, and was so vain and idle. that I
never could believe it possible for her
to make q sensible woman. But she
has promptly accommodated herself to
her fathers change of circumstances.
They've sent away all their servants, I
am told.
ssYes."
"a fact more creditable to them than
idle dependence on their father"
"a thousand times more creditable.
Do you know I've felt an utter con-
tempt for these girls? But now re-
spect comes involnntarily."
"Just what Mrs. Lee told me this
morning"
Misfortune is the only means of sal
vation for some people
''It is the only thing" replied the
neighbor, "that would have saved the
daughters Of Mr.. Hamilton. I've never
called upon them, but shall do so now"
So the neighbors talked as neighbors
who are very apt to look past the out
ward seeming to the real character, will
talk. Pride and pretense HRnnot hang
up veil thick enough toeonceal the
truth; and mock gentility is sure to be
detected and despised.