10 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



but too certain that the carrying out of such 

 lessons as those we have condemned, too fre- 

 quently produce the results they are osten- 

 sibly intended to avoid. 



Instances best illustrate this miserable 

 error; and two that have occurred within 

 my own experience may be fairly taken as 

 samples of hundreds of others. 



Dignity. 



On a fine evening in the month of June, 

 a gentleman of rather prepossessing appear- 

 ance (accompanied by a lady aged twenty- 

 five, and of elegant though rather stately 

 manners), sauntered up and down the well- 

 rolled gravel walk of one of the numerous 

 suburban villas in the environs of London. 

 There were, however, an uneasiness and 

 anxiety discernible in the features of Charles 

 Morrison (for that was our hero's name), 

 which contrasted rather painfully with the 

 easy, self-satisfied deportment of his com- 

 panion. His manners were gentlemanly and 

 natural; his language mild and respectful, 

 without being servile or cringing. She, how- 

 ever, evinced an irritability when opposed, 

 and a restlessness of disposition when any 

 matter that required thought or consideration 

 crossed her path. This proved her to have 

 been educated in a school where caprice and 

 self-will were uppermost. At times, however, 

 the better part of her nature would (like a 

 bright gleam of sunshine) penetrate the cloud 

 of ills that enveloped it, and induce to the 

 belief that her style was an assumed one, 

 although habit had almost made it a part of 

 herself. 



The couple presently stopped at the garden 

 gate ; and their looks and words at parting 

 left no doubt upon an observer's mind of their 

 relative position towards each other. 



" What can I think? " mused Morrison, 

 as he bent his steps homewards ; "can it really 

 be her natural disposition to indulge in the 

 pomp and extravagance she expects me to 

 provide for her in our future home ? Or is 

 it only that she has been listening to the 

 erroneous notions of some silly adviser ? I 

 could not dare to encounter the first ; and 

 the other is little less dangerous to our future 

 happiness. Could I but be sure that she 

 would rest content with my lot, until my 

 practice enabled me to indulge her expec- 

 tations, I should then marry without having 

 any cloud to damp my hopes of happiness ; 

 but if — pshaw ! I am only traducing her love 

 to doubt it ; so I will try to think no more 

 about it." 



This train of thought had been forced 

 upon Morrison more than once, by requests 

 made by Ellen Mantle for some household 

 arrangement or another, connected with 

 their intended marriage, which he felt his 

 means did not warrant. He had often told 

 her so ; but failed to convince her of the 



goodness of his reasoning. Morrison had 

 not been called to the bar many years ; and 

 as something more than an amiable disposi- 

 tion was necessary to qualify him for follow- 

 ing his profession with success, he had not 

 made that progress which his friends had 

 expected.^ Still, as his talents became better 

 known, his practice increased; and his indus- 

 try being untiring, he not unwisely turned his 

 thoughts to matrimony as the one tiling 

 needful to his future happiness. His affec- 

 tion for Ellen Mantle was sincere and honor- 

 able ; and in spite of the drawbacks to which 

 I have alluded, the day for their marriage was 

 fixed. 



The arrangement for the grand event was 

 quite in accordance with the character of the 

 lady's mother, who too frequently lost sight 

 of every other considei ation save "effect." 

 But as Morrison felt that this part of the 

 affair was beyond his control, although he 

 disliked the questionable taste that could 

 make such an event an excuse for idle dis- 

 play, instead of rendering it a serious and 

 sacred ceremony; — yet as any interference 

 of his would unquestionably be offensive, 

 he bore the infliction as best he could ; being 

 unwilling to disturb the kindly feeling which 

 lie thought it wise to cultivate on that par- 

 ticular occasion. Everthing was said to have 

 "passed off delightfully;" although there 

 was more than one present who smiled with 

 a slight tinge of contempt at the overstrained 

 attempt at ostentation and display. 



And now the time for u going off" ap- 

 proached. Ellen had retired to change her 

 dress ; and after the usual " fashionable'' 

 accompaniment of tears, mamma bade her 

 child adieu, — not without sundry injunctions 

 as to a married woman's " rights," and con- 

 juring her " never to forget her dignity. '' This 

 lesson Ellen had before got by heart ; and 

 in promising her mother to observe it 

 strictly, she sacrificed the happiness of her 

 future life. 



Neither the reasonings prompted by a 

 husband's love, nor the regard and advice 

 of those who were really her friends, availed 

 aught. Her " dignity " must be kept up ; 

 and thus was she of course led deeper and 

 deeper into a gulf of misery. Her husband, 

 after repeated attempts, gave up in despair 

 all hope of opening her eyes to her folly. 

 Dinner and evening parties, dress, visiting, 

 balls, concerts, and routs, (from many 

 of which Morrison purposely absented 

 himself,) followed each other in rapid suc- 

 cession, — all being needful for the support of 

 my lady's " dignity." She was now about 

 to become a mother; her husband fondly 

 hoped that the coming stranger would effect 

 a change in her pursuits. But, alas ! she 

 found a mother's, care for her offspring to be 

 incompatible with habits essential to the 



