Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-02-24
= WHY | MARRIED YOUR MOTHER"
4 Fathers Confidential Chat With His
Daughter.
BY EsTELLE MENDELL.

"Come here, Mollie, said the Rev.
Mr.. Barrows, in his most persuasive
voice, but with a merry twinkle IN his
dark ewes. 81 want to tell you why
married your mother"
why, papa Barrowsl what do you
mean?" asked the girl in undlsgulsed
wonder, at a proposition so irrelevant
to the matter in hand-she was simply
asking her mother which dress she had
best wear to the concert that evening.
"What has your marriage to do with
this. prayP | guess your bout with
Deacon Muffler this morning must have
slightly unbalanced your mind. l."
Nevertheless a half CONSCIOUS blush suf-
fused her face.
"Your fathers head is fairly level
yet," srsiEd the pastor, drawing his
daughter into the chair beside him.
''Is it a long story, papa?' trying to
calm her feelings; "Mr. Austen will be
ere soon.
mot very" stroking the soft, plump
hand.
1t was nothing unusual for the Rev.
Mr.. Barrows to indulge in cozy, con-
fdential chat with his daughter. From
the time his chIldren-there were
three, MOllie being the eldest could
talk, he had considered it as one OF his
most sacred duties to have a contiden-
Gal chat of few moments with each one,
before retiring. In these talks he adapt
ed his thoughts aud words to their
plane-there was nothing stilted or
preachy-snd, indeed, the dear little
things never suspected the wonderful
lessons they we're thus receiving.
lnn inf hat
Barrows was remiss in these matters;
bat her husband possessed power for
entering a child's heart, which though
as loving and faithful as he, she did
not have.
Mollie Barrows was a womanly and
accomplished girl of seventeen-the
pride and Joy of her fathers heart.
She had for some time been receiving
the attentions of Robert Austen, poor
but unusually promising young student
at the university. He was now in his
second year and his plans were laid foI
long and most thorough course oi
stu dy.
The Rev. Mr.. Barrows was not G
little interested in the young man, as
he was in all trying to row against ad
verse winds. He watched him closely
especially of late; and from certain
things in him, reminding him OF the
shoals on which he had nearly ground
ed his own bark when Young man, be
felt he must utter warning. HIS owl
experience likewise suggested that he
could best do this through his daughter
hence this story - her-and US.
81 have told YOU" Mr.. BarTaSs al
once began, THAT l was poor boy
=. thrOnDh
leoe; and you know the romance tha
grew out of my wicked haziDg, by the
timely rescue of a strange Miss, for
baye often repeated the story to you
so we may open at chapter two OF
three"
az see," cried Mollie teasingly
"mamma saved your life and so yol
married her-that is an old, OLE
storyP
"Not exactly" laughed her father
81 hope to show you a deeper and bet
Tor motive. Well, as [ have intimated
our friendship began at this time, anC
It continued to grow in spite OF tn
fact that Miss Phelps was the daughtel
Of wealthy merchant, and L, only
Door, awkward, country boy, boarding
myself and doing all the odd Jobs
could find to help pay my way: 10 o'
sure l did not have as much time Il
study as some of the boys with NOR
substantial backing: but just the same
I stood at the head of my class anc
could feel that my tutors admired an(
respected me.
'But some way, every time L saw
Miss Phelps, my coat suddenly looke'
rustier and more lll-fitting than usua
my pants crept several inches neare
the tops of my coarse cow-hlde boots
while my toil-stained hands seemed a
big as palm leaf fans"
SOh, what a p1cturei' laughed Mol
lie; 'sit is worthy of Mast"
sBut I have not exaggerated; ant
had these most uncomfortable feeling
too. in spite of the fact that Mis-
Phelps always gave me the same friend
ly smile, whatever she found me do
ing.
will ever be a red-letter day to me. !
dainty, perfumed note, asking tn
pleasure of my company for a ride
put my heart in q terrible tutter @
ecstasy; but glancipg down at M
threadbare, and now, alasl patches
suit-the only one [ had-no money
no credit TO get new one, l was nile
with unutterable dismay and chagrln
Recovering little, 1 felt it woul
be burning insult to her to accep
this delightful invitation in my condi
tion, and 1 at once sat down to cen
refusal spent some sixty ninth!
-ud nearly quire of paper trying +
fame one that suited me; and after al
In my weakness or strength, whic
was It, dashed off short note OF &C
oeptance."
ssGood for you, father, alway
knew you were brave" exclaimed Mo-
lie clapping her hands
"Of course I had to go just as wal
only blushed and sponged my clothe
tin they we're several degrees thinner
and made my old, coarse, mende
boots fairly glisten. And mini you'