The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-16
CHAPTER VIII
MRS. TEMPLE DELIVERS A SERMON

MRS. TEMPLE DELIVERS A SERMON.
Mrs Barbara Temple was sitting in her
fayorite armchair, and the sunshine of a
bright October morning was shining in the
room. But that pleasant light revealed clearly
the signs of time, which had for long enough
been more or less manifest in the old womans
| face She either did not or could not any
longer dress herself with the same deceptive
skill as in days gone by, and now in every
feature of her face any eye could see that she
was an old woman-a very old woman, in
deed. She sat wrapped up carefully in a
spendid Indian shawl, and a fire blazed on
the hearth; and she looked cold and some
what hfeless, although her eyes were still
bright and her voice strong. Sophia, who
stayed always with her, was reading The
Morning Post to her, but the old woman did
not listen with her accustomed attention
aSophy :" she said at last, ~ had visit from
Mrs. Done Yesterday"
@1ndeed, mamma" Sophia replied. She bit
| her lip. and so hid a smile. spirited and con-
| temptuous, with a dash of amusement in it,
"And what does Mrs. Done want, mammal" :"
@She says her son is in love with you
Delightful, mammal Sophia replied now
with open amusement on her face. So he
has thrown his handkerchief at last. He may
| pick it up again, mamma, and put it in his
| pocket"
'Now, Sophia, don't talk in that hasty, In
| eonsiderate way" the old woman said @In
| all those cases we should consider dear, there
| is nothing like"
Leather, mamma ~ Sophia cried, merrily,
catching up her mothers old mocking phrase.
| The bright October sunshine and some whim
of her own feelings had put her in good spirits
| that morning.
aVery pleasant. dear the little mother re-
marked, shaking her head soberly. Somehow
| her whole style of speech was relaxing in
energy; her words were pitched low; she did
not speak with her former decision Presently
| she said:
@You must remember young Nh. Doan was
never in trade; and beside, Sophia, he viii
/ settle twenty thousand pounds on you~
@Can't be had under forty, mamma p Sophia
seemed resolved to treat the matter in this
/ jocular way. 1t was plain that she realized
| that she and her mother had changed posi-
| tions; she was virtually mistress now. there
might be argument, but no struggle of will
@Sha'n't cry cherry ripe under forty thou
sand pounds, mammal And Sophia tossed
her head and looked saucy and engaging, and
| cheap at double the money.
Now listen to me, Sophia her mother
said. You viii never have such another
offer-from a money point of view
/ " ell. Iuafu11H, Il VIII De Sef1OuS-" CODD1a
answered suiting her face TO her words Il
would not marry that man for anything he
| could give me. To begin with, l know what
| his life has BEEN
~Now, my dear Sophia her mother said,
| with deprecating gesture, Il viii not hear
anything about his manner of life The men
are all in fault in that way
| f-One I know Is mott. Sophia tenderly
thought. clasping her darling's memory to
| her hearty
@All are in fault that way continued Mrs.
| Temple Some let US know it, others man
| age to hide it. In fact, all are alike. And,
indeed, Sophia, better marry man who, be
/ fore marriage, has-has-see1 the World,
than one who viii make you unhappy after.
| The wilder the bachelor. the steadier the hus-
band, so I often have found it.
@Now you don't mean it, mamma; you
know you don't
Il do mean it, indeed, dear: and, besides,
| whose fault is it if men are wilde Ours, my
dear; ours alone We are so fond Of con-
quest and impression that we never leave
| them alone We get them into the habit of
mind, dear Have not watched women!
More especially if . man is at all celebrated,
We long to make an impression All women
do. Ny dear Sophia, the greatest prude thar
| ever lived is pleased II she hears that Q eeie-
brated man ad1nires her. Be he married or
1 single. she will not care; she had rather nave
| the tribute OF admiration than NOS nave ~
o. Sophia. we are quite IS much 20 p'a1ae -
tfa man We ali like to have tlie5n - e'''