Ellsworth American., 1877-11-01
Miserll
Ny Mothers Objections.

There j. no use Ia talking; nothing on
earth will ever induce me TO give my con-
sent"
Ii was my mother who spoke. and sat
silent, vainly endeayoring to ind some ar
gument which should induce her 10 change
her mind. Unless she did SO. the case
knew. was hopeless; for Helen, proud,
beautiful darling that she was. would new
er marry a man whose family refused 10
sanction the match. Ny mother was the
best woman In the world, too good for the
world, sometimes thought-to good, at
least. for the world Ia which | lived, and
10 which had recently transpianted her
from the quiet New England village in
which she bad lived all her married life
II you know anything OF the rigid spirit
which prevails in those quiet spots of New
England where stern Puritanism rides
rough-shod over all natural tastes and in-
siincts. you can. perhaps, appreciate the
force of my mothers objections TO my
betrothed. Helen Leighton; overwise. you
must take my word fer their cogency.
''Sbe dances; she gambles; she laughs
in church."
These were the grounds on which my
mofber's objections were based. | had
argued them with her. point, by point.
many a time. driving her from them one by
one forcing her TO aeknowlede their unten-
ability. So far SO good; but as a bit OF
whalebone springs back when the pres
sure upon IL Is relaxed, just so surely did
her mind spring back to the original point !:
"She CANDLES; she dances; she laughs
in church,
Dance? OF course she danced, like a
wave Of the sea or a bubble OF the air.
Thanks TO my PuritaDical training, had
had no opportunity Of learning the art un-
ill my muscles had lost their youthful
fexibility. Nevertheless. 1t was my de-
light to watch her graceful figure and to
catch the bright glsnces which from time
to time she sent me as she fioated past
Gambler She played cards. a. every
body does. which hardly constitutes gam
bling; but this was Ia distinction which
my mother would by 10 means allow.
Cards are cards, was her line of argu-
ment. 1T msy be shade worse to play
for money, but In either case the principle
Is the same"
As for her laughing in church, who
would not have laughed. under the cir
cumstances, | should like to know? You
see, her brother, Harry Leighton, was
gifted with a naturalist's tastes and ID
stincts. Bugs aud beetles, worms and
larve, and all hideous flying and creeping
things. were TO him types Of beauty 10 its
divinest essence. Now, on that soft Au-
gust afternoon, as Helen and Harry were
crossing one of our city parks on their
way TO church his eye fell upon a specimen
of the rare DOrcds breris, which. by some
miraculous means had strayed thither.
How was it possible for him 70 resist capt
uring such prize? As he had come out
unprovided with the collectors supply OF
boxes. murderous drugs. chronological
pins, and such like, an empty envelope
served to confine it, and he had thrust 1t
into his pocket Unluckily the envelope
was not sealed; the beetle. by no means
pleased with its incarceration. made Its es
cape, and being Of an investigating turn OF
mind. proceeded 10 burrow uhdef HarTy's
garments. 1t is 10 vain TO endeavor to
preserve a calm and decOrous demeanor.
with mysterious claws burying themselves
In YOUR skin in inaccessible places. When
to this is added the fear Of injuring . rare
and valuable specimen In your frantic At
tempts At recspture, and aiso the dread Of
attracting the attention Of clergyman and
congregation. Harry Leighton's state OF
mind may be imagined. As for Helen. at
first she had gazed upon her brothers.
wild contortions and grimaces with mild
wonder and alarm. The alarm was relieved
by his whispered explanation to the true
state Of the case. profusely illustrated oy
frantic but cautious grabs At the cause of
his woes. Now, ask, could any mortal
maiden resist this. especially In = place
where TO laugh was to feel herself forever
disgracedf fhe very sense Of horror
which she felt st the Idea OF her own un-