Woman's Trials; Or, Tales and Sketches from the Life around Us

f the steamboat just as the plank was drawn in at the gangway. He then passed along the boat until he came to the ladies' cabin, which he entered. Almost the first

walking up to where Miriam sat, stooped to

re you mar

did not

ild. Are y

n a half aud

fell in low accents fr

, whom surprise had till now kept silen

well," was answered, in a stern voice. "Knows you

oks of anger glance for glance. Miriam was in terror at this unexpected sce

ble in the manner of all three, although they heard nothing that was said

for a scene. A hundred e

, promptly, "will recognise in you a noted gambl

Burton started to his feet

of this man be true?" asked M

one of the worst of men. Thank God that

od!" came trembling from

d of the boat. To his inquiry into the reasons for so rash an act, Miriam gave her uncle an undisguised account of her mother's di

fice was on your mother's

two thousand dollars a year, if I would become his

become the wife of that man. But for the providential circumstance of my seeing you in the carriag

gh. Affection! It was, instead, an intense repugnance. But, for my moth

full of evil consequences that cannot be enumerated, and scarcely imagined. You had no affection for this man,

me of Miriam, which being per

that of a pure-minded, true-hearted woman united to a man whom she not only cannot love, but from whom every instinct of her better nature turns with disgust. And this would have been your condition. Ah me! in what a fearful

egan is spent; and what she now receives from bo

to keep a boarding-house than a child ten years old. It takes a woman who has been

we do, uncle

you will

any thing that is

st profitable. Hundreds of women resort to keeping boarders as a means of supporting their families when they might do it more easily, with less exposure and greater certainty, in teaching, if qualified, fine needle-work, or even in the keeping of a store for the sale of fancy a

o this in silence

aid my mother?" th

not give mu

t. Too little skilled in the pri

would you obj

en a small return. How happy would it make me if I could lighten, b

does she feel

hing; ready for any change

ake courage," said the uncle, in a ch

ghed Miriam, after a brief silence, in which her thoughts reverted

st go on as far as Bristol, and then re

ed bosom of Miriam, as she uttered,

r! Her heart w