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wishes, my unfailing affection, the fond ca
resses of our children, will, hy the permission
op a good and just God, be the means of once
more bringing him to a sense of hisduty. Har
ry is not so deeply steeped in vice, so utterly
devoid of feeling, as always to remain insen
sible to my fond devotion; as to my children,
from them it is impossible for me to separate,
this world would then become a desert indeed ;
their sweet smiles and fond endearments will
strengthen me in the path of duty, and arouse
my failing energies. When fainting under
toil and the disappointment of my dearest ex
pectations, one smile of love from their beam
ing eyes will impart a thrill of gladness to my
weary soul, and renewed strength to my ex
hausted frame.”
“Well Marian, am I to understand this as
your final decision
“ Dear mother forgive me, but I can form
no other.”
“ Self-willed and foolish girl, thou hast seal
ed thy fate; forever art thou an alien from
thy mother’s roof; a mother’s presence shall
no more bless thy sight, nor shall my death
be beneficial to you; the inheritance of your
ancestors, shall descend to those, who have a
better knowledge of filial duty; let the neg
lect of this sunken inebriate, repay you for a
mother’s repulsed affection.”
Such were the last cruel words of the proud
and haughty Mrs. Clare to her almost heart
broken child.
Marian Clare was the only child of one of
the most aristocratic families in the Old Do
minion. Her father dying in her early youth,
she was left under the sole guidance oi a proud,
imperious mother, whose untiring energy was
devoted to the accomplishment of her ambi
tion; already, did she imagine it within her
grasp, by the marriage of her gentle Marian,
with one of America’s most gifted sons, when
Fate who likes to disappoint our fondest ex
pectations, shuffled the cards of destiny, and
forever ended her visions of future glory.
In the year 18 Mrs. Clare and her
daughter, while on a tour of pleasure through
our northern cities, became acquainted, through
the introduction of a mutual friend, with Mr.
Grey, a young merchant from the south;
whose proud and noble bearing, brilliant im
agination, and exuberant flow of spirits, com
bined with his noble fortune, made the sub
jugation of his heart, the ardent desire of most
of the young holies of his acquaintance. Up
on his first introduction to the fair and gentle
Marian, his imagination was captured by her
beauty, and the depth of tenderness, beaming
from her deep blue eyes; and he inwardly re
solved to use every exertion, for the obtain
ment of her heart and hand.
Marian, accustomed to being treated in her
childhood’s home, as a simple child, by her
haughty mother and anticipated husband, soon
viewed with delight, the devoted attention,
the constant anticipation of every wish, the
fond words of endearment, poured forth at
every opportunity, the deep and servant ad
miration, beaming from the dark and brilliant
eyes of the gallant and manly Harry Grey.
His affection, was soon revealed to the object
of his devotion, and, need I assert, most faith
fully returned; her mother’s ambitious hopes,
and imperious temper, were alike forgotten,
in the extatic knowledge of Harry’s devoted
love.
It is impossible, to portray the scene which
ensued, when Mrs. Clare became acquainted
with their engagement. Disappointed, almost
at the moment of success, in the most ambi
tious project of her life—the expectation of
seeing her daughter, elevated nearly to the
highest pinnacle of power—for a moment, her
senses became stunned with the revelation;
but rallying in an instant her almost dormant
faculties, she, like a skilful general, com
menced skirmishing around the outworks of
her daughter's heart, confidently, expecting
to carry its citadel by storm. No words can
depict the anger ol the almost maddened wo
man, when after tears, supplications, and re-
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monstrances, her gentle girl, firmly expressed
her determination, never, to give her hand to
one, however exalted his station, who did not
possess her heart. Earnestly did she implore
her mother, to reconcile her mind to that which
was inevitable, and to receive as her future
husband, one in every respect worthy of the
name.
The exasperated mother, replied to her en
treaties, by calling upon her Creator, to fulfill
her hitter maledictions, if she still persisted in
her determination of becoming the wfffe of
Mr. Grey —never more would she call her by
the endearing name of daughter; forever
should she be a stranger to her roof, and the
cause of an offended mother, should follow
her even to the grave.
With an almost broken heart Marian re
tired to her room, and in the silence ol her
chamber, wept over the tyranny of her moth
er. Should she yield, and sacrifice her dear
est wishes, to ihe ambition of that parent, and
bear a life of misery, and deceit, until the
dark portals of the tomb should open to re
ceive her 1 Every feeling of her soul shud
dered at the prospect. Her parent was un
just, in wishing to sacrifice her earthly hap
piness, for the mere attainment of worldly
rank —Heaven could not be so unjust, as to
fulfill the imprecations of an angered mother;
even, that mother herself, when time had sof
tened her disappointment, would in earnest
supplications, to the throne of grace, plead
for a revocal, of the tearful denunciation now
poured on the guiltless head, of her only child.
Sinking upon her knees in humble adoration,
her soul poured forth its fervent aspirations,
to ttie great Creator, beseeching strength of
mind to endure, with firm, but mild forbear
ance, the harsh reproaches of her mother.
She then arose with renewed determination,
to pursue as she thought, the path best cal
culated to afford her future happiness. At
the residence of a mutual friend, that even
ing, she again met Grey;and to his fond and
ardent pleadings, that she would at once give
him the right, to protect and minister to her
future happiness, she gave her free, and full
consent. They were married, kind friends
were around them, but no parent’s hand, was
laid in blessing upon their youthful heads.
The heart of Marian, was deeply saddened
by her mother’s refusal to attend the marriage,
but the fond endearments, the kind and sooth
ing attentions of her beloved husband, calm
ed the poignancy of her grief, and Hope cheer
ed her with the promise of a future reconcil
iation.
Immediately after the ceremony, she ac
companied her husband to his home, in our
beautiful and sunny South, where every pre
paration had been made for their arrival. —
Friends, numerous and wealthy, thronged for
ward, to welcome the new made bride; at
tentions, the most flattering, were unceasing
ly poured upon them. Party, succeeded par
ty, given in honour of the new married pair;
their days weie spent in continual dissipation :
lor Harry Grey was the life of every assem
bly. and no excuse would be taken for non
attendance. Marian’s tender frame, soon
experienced the ill effects of such unceasing
rounds of pleasure. Her delicate state of
health, with the prospect of soon becoming a
mother, sobered the exuberance of her spirits,
and exhibited to her view, the necessity of a
more rational mode of existance. With un
mixed delight she pictured to herself visions
of future domestic happiness; her lovely in
fant reclining on her lap, its fond father hang
ing in extacy over them, tracing in its deli
cate and lovely features, a miniature resem
blance of each of them.—But, poor Marian
was doomed to feel the bitter pang of disap
pointment. The domestic joys and cares of
home, were unsuited to the gay and volatile
disposition of Mr. Grey. His wild, exuberant
spirits panted for the crowded saloons, and
one evening’s domestic quiet, added fresh ar
dour to his restless mind, as when a captive
bird, freed from its bondage, expands its wings,
wild with delight to feel its freedom, and soars
aloft in the enjoyment of the moment, regard
less of a care for the morrow.
With tealful forebodings, Marian beheld
the growing indifference of her beloved hus
band, and eagerly exerted her powers of fas
cination to make his home more pleasant and
attractive. With mild remonstrance, she laid
before him the loneliness of her situation, and
tearfully besought him that he would take it
into consideration, and yield her more of his
society. With protestations of the deepest
affection, he strove to soothe the excitement
of her feelings, and calm her awakened fears,
promises of amendment were abundantly pour
ed into her willing ears, and all fear of future
sorrow, momentarily vanished from her mind.
The short interval preceding the birth of
her child, was passed by the happy Marian,
in bliss, the most supreme. Her beloved Har
ry when freed from the cares of business, was
ever at her side, fulfilling with the prompt
ness of affection, her most simple wish.—
When her hour of trial approached, his ex
pressions of endearment calmed her excite
ment, his beloved hand smoothed the ruffled
pillow, wiped the dews of pain from her fe
vered brow, and held the refreshing cup to
her parched lips. Thus, also passed the in
terval of her restoration to health—but then,
the wish for change and excitement, returned
with additional strength to Harry’s mind. The
still delicate state of Marian’s health, added
to the cares of maternity, bound her to the
house, but free from the merest particle of
selfishness, she opposed not his desire to seek
the charms of society —an opportunity soon
offered for the gratification of his wish. Mr.
Melville an old and valued friend of his boy
hood, was about to follow his example, and
lead to the hymenial altar, a lovely and bloom
ing bride; and earnestly entreated Harry to
be present on the occasion. With gratified
pride, Marian beheld him. in all his beauty,
depart for the scene of festivity; better had
it been for them both, that the grave had o
pened and enclosed them within its yawning
chasm.
A bright and gay assembly had met to hon
our the fair bride. Tables groaned under the
most rare, and cosily refreshments; wine,
that fell destroyer of millions, circulated free
ly ; while the sparkling wit, and merry jest,
flew from lip to lip. Dazzled by the excite
ment of the moment, and the congratulations
of friends on the birth of his heir, Air. Grey
freely quaffed the flowing bovvl, and sealed
with sorrow, his future destiny. Oh, was
there not in that gay assemblage, even one
kind friend to extend the hand of warning,
and guide his faltering steps, far from the
treacherous precipice upon which he hover
ed l In the early hours of morning, the no
ble, manly, and intelligent Mr. Grey, was
conveyed to his home totally insensible. Oh,
who can portray the anguish of the stricken
Marian at the sight ? Her beloved Harry de
graded almost to the brute ; his brilliant eyes
changed by the deadening effects of wine, in
to the dull glassy hue of the confirmed idiot;
his deep and heavy breathings, the livid ex
pression of his countenance ; while the cold
sweat trickled from his lofty brow. End
less, seemed that night of agony to the heart
of the tortured Marian. The past, with the
vividness of reality in all its terrors, rose to
her imagination; the form of her mother ap
peared to her view, and the fearful maledic
tions of that parent sounded in her ears, till
with a cry of agony, she sank to the floor,
wildly beseeching her Maker, to avert this
fearful doom, and punish not so severely her
youthful fault. For hours she watched be
side the insensible man bathing his cold clam
my brow, with her fast flowing and scalding
tears. When reason gained its empire, no
words of reproach fell from her gentle lips,
but she kindly attended to his wants, and
with fond caresses soothed his irritable nerves.
But the fatal barrier had been passed, the poi
soned bowl had been tasted; the excitement
of the last evening must be renewed, to
strengthen his irembling nerves. His even
ings, were no longei spent in the calm enjoy
ment of domestic bliss. The Theatre, club,
and bar room, received his nightly homage •
the terrible suffering depicted in the sunken
cheek and tearful eyes of his once gay and
happy wife, smote with remorse his guilty
soul, and made him fear to meet reproof, from
those dark and gentle orbs.
A total neglect of business soon succeeded •
losses, heavy and unexpected, followed in
quick succession. His credit became impair
ed, and his friends painfully anticipated the
the hour of his ruin. On the wings of the
whirlwind was it borne ; his counting house
was closed, his property levied upon, and his
tenderly nurtured Marian, and helpless child,
cast penniless upon an unfeeling world, while
he, the cause of all this woe, sunk to the low
est state of degredation, deserted by his whi
lom friends, remained still, an object of most
intense affection to his heart-broken wife.
Marian, determined to fulfill to its utmost,
limit her sacred pledge of love. Her days
were spent in continual toil, to acquire the
necessities of life, for those far dearer to her
than her own existance. No murmur escap
ed her lips; not one word of reproach to
wards the author of all her sufferings. She
ministered to his necessities and banished from
her countenance every appearance of grief,
during his short presence in their once happy
home.
In the course of time, another care was
added to the already overburdened heart of
poor Marian, by the birth of a daughter. The
bitter cup of poverty, had been sipped to the
dregs. Hope had nearly faded from her view,
and Despair with giant strides, was making
deep inroads into her overcharged heart.
On the morning of the day when cur nar
rative opens, in an humble dwelling near the
borders of the city, Marian Grey, with an in
fant reposing in her arms, was alternately
plying the busy needle, and caressing a love
ly boy of four years, who, seated at her feet,
possessed himself of the sweet little hand of
the lovely babe. She was aroused from her
occupation, by a strange step and hurried
breathing at the door; when, hastily casting
her eyes in its direction, joy and amazement
took momentary possession of her soul. The
exclamation “mother !” burst almost convul
sively from her lips; a moment more, she lay
at her feet, bathing them with her tears.
Ihe accidental meeting of an old friend,
made Mrs. C. acquainted with the complete
destitution of her only child, and the moral
degradation ol her husband. Her resolution,
was instantly formed and executed. She
started for their home fully persuaded, that
her child would now thankfully return to her.
and cheerfully agree to a perpetual separation
from her unworthy partner. We have wit
nessed the anger and departure of the disap
pointed woman ; we have heard her renewed
maledictions ringing in the ears of her almost
frantic child who was lying prostrate on the
earth, wildly entreating the Bounteous Giver
oi all good, to let this cup of anguish pass
from her. “Oh, God, have mercy upon thy
despairing servant; meekly, and unrepining,
have I borne my sorrows, heavy and hard,
has been my affliction; oh, let my unceasing
duty as a wife, my tears and sufferings, be
•offered in atonement of a daughter’s disobe
dience.” Her feelings, calmed in a measure
by the outpouring of her creaking heart be
fore the throne of grace, she arose from her
desolate posture, seated herself in her chair,
took both of her little ones in her arm ••; and,
giving free vent to her feelings, wept long and
bitterly—thus passed the remaining hours oi
that eventful day.
When night spread his mantle over the
earth, Marian, still a prey to the excitement
of her feelings, remained seated in her chair,
her arms reclining upon the table, white her
head was buried wuthin them. Feelings most
agitating to her frame, had taken entire pos-