Year: 1871

The ancestors of the good people Of the
United States came 10 this country osten-
sibly to escape the prosecutions Of aristo-
cratic England. but, alasl for the Ineon-
sistencyJ of human nature, they were very
far from abandoning aristocraey when they
left the mother country. They brought 1t
with them, together with all its accom-
panying notions aud absurdities, and have
left it to their children as an inalienable
legacy, which they seem to be trying to
increase every day. ---.-. Sd


In the days of the good colony Of VIZ
ginia, the distinctions between rich and
poor were based upon laws, which, like
those of the Medes and Peraans, altered,
not. One of the most deYout followers Of
this code was wealthy planter, living In
what is known as the Northern Neck. He
was IN all other respects, q frank, OPEN
hearted, manly gentleman; but his estimate
of his fellow men was founded upon the
principles that governed his selection of
his horses-bloods Wealth, too, was by
no means an upimportant feature with
him. He had our human weakness, and,
like all of us, was influenced more than he
even believed by pounds, shiIlings, and
pence. r


This Mr.. G-had quite large family,
among them daughter whose beauty was
the standing toast of the country. She
was lust eighteen, and budding into lovely
womanhood Not only was she beautiful
in person, but her amlable disposition and
many accomplishments made her more
than ordinarily attractive, and half the
gentlemen Of the Northern Neck were al
ready signing for her love-


There was In the country at this time
young man who was already rising high
in the esteem of his Eaighbors. He came
of good family, but was, as yet, 3 poor
young surveyor, who had taught himself
his profession, and who had spent much
of his time in traversing unknown 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 ofmanly 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 dignIfed sweetness of demean-
or that accorded well with his frank in
dependence of character. He was a great
favorite with all who knew him, and there
was no gathering to which he was not
asked. D q. "a


Nh. C. seemed especially to like the
Young man, and it was not long before he
insisted that the latter 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 plan
ter, and he found the society of the beanti-
full Mary C. very strong attraction.
The result was that he was frequently at
the planters residence; so frequently, IN
deed, that Mrs. c. felt called upon to
ask her husband if he did not think it
wrong to permit him to enjoy such unre-
served intercourse with their daughter.
The father only laughed at the idea, and
said he hoped his daughter knew her posi-.
ton too well to allow anything like love
for a poor surveyor to blind her to her
duty TO her family. ..-
Nevertheless, Mary G. was not as
fully impressed with this conviction of
duty as Was her father She found more
to admire in the poor surveyor than in all
her wealthy aristoeratio suffers; and al
most before she knew it, her heart passed
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 it ahappiness to go oHt with
him into the back woods 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 upon perfect
equality with Mary G, and he loved
her honestly and manfully, and no sooner
had he satisfied himself upon the state of
his own feelings than he confessed his de-
| votion, simply and truthfully, and received
from the lady's lips the assurance that she
loved HIM very dearly.


Scorning to occupy doubtful position,
or to cause the lady to conceal aught from
her parents, the young man frankly and
manfully asked MIR. for his daugh-
ter's hand. Very angry grew the planter
as he listened to the aadacious proposal.
He stormed and swore furiously, and de-
nounced the young man as an angrateful
and insolent upstart.


"My daughter had always been accus-
toned to ride in her carriage" he said.
"Who are you, sir 2'


"a gentleman, sir" replied the young
man, quietly, and he left the house.


The lovers were parted. The lady mar
ried soon after wealthy planter. and the
young man went out again into the world
\ to battle with his heart and conquer his
unhappy passion He subdued it, but
although he afterwards married a woman
whom he loved honestly and truthfully,