Year: 1872

About twenty miles from New
York lives q rich man who has a
fine estate and an interesting family,
Of which the eldest is a beautiful
young lad her fathers pride and
hope. Last year while his elegant
mansion was building, a young car
penter who had just finished his
trade, and whose sole property con
sisted in a pair of large hands,
stout, good heart, and habits of in
dustry and sohriety, came to work
on the premises. Very naturally the
young knight of the broad axe soon
fell in love with the young lady,
and, not strange to say, the young
lady was equally pleased with him.
She spent considerable time every
day watching the progress of the
work, particularly that performed
bY the young mechanic, and he
found his greatest incentive and jov
in working under the watch Of her
loving eyes.


Tie secret, however, become an
open one, and finally was broken to
the lady's father. He heard the
sad news without apparent concern,
but in a short time set of for The
village, where he made his dilieent
Inquiries, respecting The young car
penterS who, he learned was tie only
son and support Of 4 poor widow,
but was an intelligent, capable and
honest young man. The father re-
turned home, and calling his daugh
ter to his room, asked her how the
matter stood between herself and the
carpenter. 1t was q critical mo
ment to her. and FOR q brief period
her fears triumphed over her feel
ings, and she burst into tears. The
tears were followed by q confession
of attachment which had grown
stronger every day, with the fear
that it was doomed to disappoint
ment, for the object of it was moth
ing but q poor mechanic. "But I
love him with all my might, and
would give my life for him.,
said the honest girl.


docs he reciprocate your affcc
tion?' asked the father.


That he does, replied the daugh-
ter; ''but he knows that you never
would consent to his paying his ad
dresses to me, and he has been very
reserved about it. He talks about
going away, because he cannot live
here without seeing me, and thinks
you would be unwilling to have him
visit the house"


The father sent for the young car
peHter, who came to the room With
the greatest trepidatiOn. He sus-
pected what was in the wind, and
anticipating an instant dismissal,
his heart was in his throat when the
father said to him.


young man, how dare vou carry
On a Irritation with my daughter
withOutmy eonsentY


'''Fhat is false. sir, utterly false,
sir the young man replied ); "yOur
daughter came to the house where
we are at work, and l saw her and
loved her. I could not keep my
eyes from looking at her. She re-
turned my look and interest and
asked me questions. Almost every
day she has been at the house, and
her coming makes it seem a heaven
to me, sir. But l knew l was only a
poor mechanic, with a mother on
my hands, and that YOU would not
consent to my Offering her particu
lar attention. Sol have kept away.
I'm going off, sir, as soon as the job
is done, for 1 cannot live here with
out seeing her, and l would not do
anything dishonorable, or that her
father would disapprove."


The young man turned his face
towards the window to hide a few
stray tears that came into his eyes.
The father looked steadily into his
secretary as if it contained unusual
interest. After a not uRwelcome
silence he turned to the young man,
and said;


You have acted honorably in
this mater. You shall see nv
daughter all you please, Ihear that
YOU are worthy, industrious young
man; I prefer such a son to any dis
selute snob, ] am sorry that your
education has been so much neg
lected. But il is not too late to
remedy it. ] win pay wages rega- |
lmly to your mother, and send you
to school for a year or two. After
you get a good fouodation laid,
will take you into my business; and
if you bear yourself in 4 worthy
manner. one of these days my daugh
ter shall be yours. You may quit
at once"


Our readers can imagine the scene /
and the Joy that followed this speech
OF a wise and kind father far better
than we can describe them. The
young man has just finished a years |
course at school, where he has made |
a wonderful progress. The father
seems proud of him, as he has found |
that life in his new mansion on the |
Hudson with an accomplished /
daughter, who cannot sufficiently /
express her gratitude Cor his kind
ness, and the occasional visit OF a 4
noble-minded young man, who is
working his way up in the world, is
only a foretaste of elysium. Ifother
rich fathers would follow his exam
pie, there would be fewer elopements /
and far less misery than at present, |
and a great many happy hearts and |
happier homes.


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