Connecticut western news., 1878-09-05
A Child Shall Lead Them.


 "For what are you watching, Clara P azked . young man, sitting down on the step at the feet of young lady, whc had been sanding there in silence.
 Only to see my ship come in," she said, "lAden with treasure from my cas. Hes in Spain It is overdue, you see, having been expected for some years, and I am naturally anxious"
 He bent forward and took her pretty hands. "Dear Clara," he said. "be. heve that it has come, with me for pilot and master, and my hearts great love for cargo. It shall make you richer than your dreams. Say that you will have ii. :"
 The girl sat quite still for some min- utes, still looking out over the wide bay. Then she laid her hand on the young mAnis head in maternally caressing sort of way. Dear Dick" she said, you are twenty-five, and am nineteen. You have two thousand dollars a year as clerk, and have a very few clothes and some dozens of books that have been given to me. Besides that dowry, I should bring you three persons incapable yet of helping themselves, whom I am pledged to help from this night on. Do you believe there ever was love which could stand the fret and jar and worry of such future as you ask at my hands ? It would mean drudgery, mean slaving for bread and clothes, premature age and hstlessness, and the wearing out of af- lection. And if you fancy that you care 30 much for me as to be unterrified by such prospect, do you suppose that I am selfish enough to let you incur the burden? You have good mind, dear Dick, and this magnificent world begs you to know something of it. If you remain counting house clerk all your days, at least it shall not be my fault. lam going away the moment situation opens. And until the other girls have finished school, shall have no future apart from them and mother"
 But, Glars, I shall be advanced soon; and should despise myself if I could tske their strong support from your mother and sisters, and not offer them one in return. Of course I desired to have them with us. Five persons can be very comfortable in small house on two thousand dollars"
 "Oh, Dick, don't you know that ]  hate small ways, and that have never been comfortable, as you call it, since papa died? Tonight I wanted you to see me in my graduation dress, and ] had to change it because I could moi afford to expose trumpery shilling muslin to the damp. It must remain my best gown for half a dozen summers, perhaps. Oh, how I detest these stiff prints, and shapeless shoes, and himsy ribbons. and all other subterfuges of genteel poverty If you marry family, Dick, your wife will wear black alpaca O Sundays to the end of the chapter, and I'm so tired of black alpaca. I'll go forth into the world and conquer black silk instead. s..- .- ...
 "But will you wait for me, Clara { You ought to have diamonds and vel. vets and all possible splendors, my queen. And you shall. Only say that you will take them at my haDds, and l shall not count 1t hard to wait and work. Promise, dear" e+s E.. ..r.. a,
 No, D1ck dear. I am awfully worldly  wise for girl of nineteen There is Becky Sharp in me, do believe, to be developed under fostering circumstance. I want the diamonds and the velvets but I don't want you to shut your young life in to their attainment. You can dc better. No, I will not even promise not to marry some rich man. can bring him what is an even exchange-gentle breeding and culture and good looks don't like hard work, I don't like pinching even as fi1ial duty, and ] can't tell how long I shall hold out
 'Oh, Clara, if you loved me you could not talk so You would wait, as Rache waited for Jacob" .... ....... .....-
 "Yes, to have you take some tender eyed Leah meantime I suppose. Anc there is no hint that Rachel could have done better. Jacob was thrifty, and tn, other young men, if there were any didn't have larger hocks and herds. Be sides, what were fourteen years in tha uneventful, vegetating age? Fourtee1 days are longer now, with their oppor tunities of growth and action. I wan to see the worlds fine society. I wan to look on every sod, or pavement, o, building of'this globe, which genius o. heroism has made memorable. I wan to study art. I want to be felt as , power tim the world-I, an ignorant p,ovincial without a sixpence. Hit vii be any comfort to you, I am willing t1 tell you, Richard, that fancy myself il love with you to-day, and here. Blu what do we, boy and girl who have grow1 up together, know about that matter even In one little year of absence yor