Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-03-08

NOT MOTHERS CHOICE.


ELLA, | can never consent to such
marriage for my only daughter, who is
dearer to me than my own life."
But, mother, what possible harm
can you say of Chester Atwater? He
has no bad habits that know of and is
very gentlemanly in his appearance
Yes, my dear, so far, so good but
that is not all. l have no more respect
for lazy man than | have for drunk
ard, and Chester is u gentlemanly idler,
who is all the more dangerous with his
handsome face and fine manners, because
a highly polished article will attract at
tention whore the same cheap material
without the gldcd surface would imme-
diately proclaim its value and would con-
sequontly be perfectly worthless in the
eyes of any sensible person. You are
deceived by fine venecring."
81 know, mother, he has seemed to
have great deal of leisure timo, and
you ought to know best, but he loves
mo very dearly, and ! think | might in
fluence him in the right direction. He
is we'll educated and could earn living
easily by his learning. He reads grent
deal and has such nice way Of quoting
gems from the best poems, that he per-
suados you to think as he does, or rather
smooth oil tho rough places with his nice
phrases. and is excellent company, and
oh. mother, | do think SO much Of him.
am sure lie would do almost anything
for my sake. ="
Then tell him, for your sake, to love
some other girl Think you can force
the river to flow up the mountain +?
Why, Ella, you are entirely too young
to think of marriage, and he is thirty.
Do you suppose after a man wasted
thirty years Of his life in idleness, and
the best years too, that any earthly
power will change him ? Thea such men
are always selfish. He has and is fool
ing away all the days of his young man
hood, when if there was any good metal
in the man, he would have laid solid
foundation for his life and now be strik-
ing the most eifectual blows for future
usefulness, saying nothing about the
little store every young man should put
aside for the peeds Of family and as
far as bis education goes of what use is
it if there is no will power to put it in
force? You might have talent for great
artist or musician, but of what use if
you buried the talent? You might know
how to do great many beautiful and
useful things, but if you never did them
what possible good is the knowledge to
you or any one else =? And he quotes
poetry nicely--does he :? [ have often
heard tho remark that the Lord never
made anything in vain, and perhaps
that's his calling, but it seems pity
that such great Hercules of man
should waste bis life in entertaining the
landlord and quoting. | own it is quite
an accomplishment for any person to
know just when and where to apply the
products of another's brain, but, Ella, if
you do not heed my warning you will
find to your sorrow when too late, that
bread and butter will go farther toward
sustaining life than all the poems ever
written. | always thought would per-
init my daughter to marry whom she
pleased if could possibly do so, and so
would, darling. if he were an honor
able man, capable of taking care Of you,
but be is not and no one will ever love
you as your mother does. IL is my very
love for you that keeps me from letting
you sacrifice your whole life. | knew
case similar to this many years ago."
EVA Murray was school-mate of
mine. She was very pretty and at
tractive girl, also | am sorry to Say,
quite coquette Among her admirers
was Edwin Barnes, quiet man With
strong afections--bonorable to nice.
ty--but with none Of that dainty grace
which adorns some men Of society, and
Eva, like most women, felt this want
very much Still she knew his nature
was noble, and was so secure in his
honest love, that to all appearances she
was happy and reciprocated his love !;
at any rate she manifested a decided
preference for his society. When the
civil war broke as thunderbolt over
the land, Edwin Barnes was one Of the
first TO enlist to fight for his principles.
He loved Eva with devotion that al
most reached idolatry When he came
TO bid her goodbye, placing the ring on
her finger, he begged her % be true to
him as he was striving to be true TO his
country his whole frame shook with
emotion, and his eyes filled with I'M
shed tears. Eva placed her hand in his
and solemnly promised to be true until
death parted them. and when be was
free 10 claim her she would be his wife,
and size meant to keep her promise.