96 Mr. Duropus and Family. [Feb., 



"I don't suppose you do, but other folks do; I reckon you 

 would like to have the girls wear the same dresses, sabbath after 

 sabbath, for a year." 



" I should stand a better chance to know them when I meet 

 them, than I do now. The other day as I was going to neighbor 

 Hardy's, I passed a smart looking young woman with a good 

 many ribbons flying. I thought she noticed me as I passed, 

 though I didn't know her. 



" Where has Phebe-Maria been ?" said one of the girls. 



" She hasn't been any where to-day, as far as I know," said I. 



" You must have met her, for she just went by here." 



" I remember I passed a young woman, but I didn't mind who 

 it was," said I. 



" I think it is pretty well," said Mrs. Hardy, " if a father don't 

 know his own daughter." They had quite a laugh about it. 



" I suppose you joined in with them," said Mrs. Duropus. 



" I rather think I did laugh some." 



" I do wish you wouldn't run down your own children, or what 

 is just as bad, let other folks do it. The Hardys need not say 

 anything. I don't think that one of them has had a new thing 

 tor six months past." 



" I don't believe they have," said Mr. Duropus with a quiet 

 smile, "you would certainly have known it, if they had; but do 

 you think they are less respected on that account ?" 



" If parents wish to have their children be any body, they must 

 have them do as other folks do." 



" I 1 ather guess, mother, that neighbor Hardy's girls will make 

 out as well as any of the girls in the place after all." 



" They may, according to your ideas of making out well. 

 They may marry men like their father, whose hearts are set on 

 improving their farms, instead of making their families comfort- 

 able." 



Mr. D. made no reply to this remark. A cloud passed over 

 his good-humored countenance. What were his thoughts as he 

 sat gazing at the place, where, in winter, the fire was wont to 

 glow 1 Was it strange that the phrase, ' they may marry men 

 like their father' struck him unpleasantly ? Would it be a cala- 

 mity to them if his own daughters should marry men like their 

 father ? Did their mother regret that she was wedded to one 

 whose notions differed so much from the new ones she had adopt- 

 ed ? He had toiled under the scorching summer sun, and amid 

 the storms of winter to gain the means of rendering his family 

 comfortable. Was this unappreciated ? True, Hardy was the 

 man spoken of, but his own views and practice had not differed 

 materially from those of his neighbor. But thoughts like these 

 were soon dismissed. ' She has been,' thought he, ' a faithful and 



