Year: 1871

'N-H0 escape the prosecutions of ar


istocratic England, but, alas! for


the Inconsistency Of human nature,


they were very far from abandon


ing aristocraey when they left the


mother country. They brought it


with them, tog, thor with ali its ac-


eompanying notions and absurdi-


ties, and have left it their children


as an inalienable legacy, which they


seem TO be, trying to increase every


day,


In the days Of the good colony of


Virginia the distinctions between


rich and poor were based upon
laws which, like those of the Medes


and Persians, altered not. One Of
the most sdevout followers of this
code was wealthy planter, living


in what is known as the Northern
Neck. & He was in all other respects
a frank, open-hearted, manly gen
tleman; but his estimate of his fell
low-men was founded upon the
/ principles that governed his selec-
ton Of his horses-bIood. Wealth,
too, was by no means an unimpor-
tant feature with him. He had
our human weakness, and, like all
of US, was Influenced more than he
even believed by pounds, shillings
and pence.


This Mr.. c. had quite alarge
family, among them a daughter
whose beauty was the standing
toast of the country. She was just
eighteen, and budding into lovely
womanhood. Not only was she
beautiful in person, but her amia-
BILE disposition and many accom-
plishments made her more than or
dinarily attractive, and half the
gentlemen of the Northern Neck
were already signing for her love.


There was in the country at this
time young man who was already
rising high in the esteem of his
neighbors. He came ofa good fam
lily, but was as yet a poor young
surveyor, who had taught himself
his profession and who had spent
much of his time in traversing un-
known forests, with nothing but
his compass for his guide and his
chain for his companion, locating
lands and settling disputed titles.
He was a model of manly beauty,
and excelled in all the various feats
of strength in which the olden time
Americans took such pride. He
was calm and reserved, and there
was about him a dignified sweet
ness that accorded well with his
frank independence of character
He was a great favorite with all who
knew him, and there was no gath
ering to which he was not asked.


Mr.. C seemed especially to
like the young man, and it was not
long before he insisted that the lat
ter should abandon all ceremony in
his visits to him, and come and 90
whenever he pleased. The invita-
ton was heartily given and as
promptly accepted. The young
man liked the planter and he found
the society of the beautiful Mary
Ga very strong attraction.-
The result was that he was frequent
ly at the planters residence; SO
frequently, indeed, that Mrs. c.
felt called upon to ask her husband
if he did not think it wrong to per-
NIT him to enjoy such unreserved
intercourse with their daughter
The father only laughed at the idea
and said he hoped his daughter
knew her position too well to allow
anything like love for 8 poor sur
veyor to blind her to her duty to
her family.


Nevertheless. Miss G-was not J
as fully impressed with this convic-
ton Of duty as was her father. She
found more to admire in the poor /
surveyor than in all her wealthy
aristocratic suitors; and almost be-
fore she knew it her heart passed I
out of her keeping and was given /
to him. She loved him with all the
honesty and devotion of her pure
heart; and she would have thought I
it a happiness to go out with him /
into the backwoods and share his /
fatigues and troubles, no matter
how much sorrow they might bring
to her.


Nor did she love in vain. The
Young man, whose knowledge of |
the world was afterwards so great, !
had not then learned to consider |
as binding the distinctions which
society drew between his position /
and that of the lady. He believed |
that, except in wealth, he stood up /
on a perfect equality with Mary |
C., and loved her honestly and /
manfully, and no sooner had he sat |
isfed himself upon the state OF his |
own feelings than he confessed his |
devotion, simply and truthfully, /
and received from the lady's lips |
the assurance that she loved him |
very dearly