Rising in the World CHAPTER 14.
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In two years from the time Doctor Hudson was appointed to the instructor's chair, his income from practice and the school had risen to twenty-five hundred dollars per annum. This was amply sufficient to make the step of marriage a prudent one. Already had his family received Mary Lee as his future bride, and already was she loved by his mother with a tenderness nearly equal to that felt for her own daughters. All were happy in anticipation of the joyous event, which was celebrated at the house of Mary's aunt, in the presence of a small company whose warm hearts were full of the sincerest wishes for the future happiness of Doctor Hudson and his lovely bride.
A few medical friends, for whom he entertained a high respect, were invited by Hudson to be present. Among these was Doctor Baldwin, who made it the occasion of getting better acquainted with Ella, to whom, a short time before, he had gained an introduction. He was charmed with her intelligence, good taste, good sense, and right modes of thinking and expression.
"With your permission, doctor," he said to Hudson a few days afterward, "I must follow up my acquaintance with your sister. I was really charmed with her. Pardon me for making so free as to say so."
"Ella is a very good girl," replied Hudson; "but whether you would find her society as attractive as you suppose, is more than I can tell. You are aware, I presume, or perhaps you are not, that she is engaged in teaching music, and has been for some years?"
"No, I was not aware of that," said Dr. Baldwin, evincing a slight degree of surprise.
"Yes," said Hudson, calmly. "She considers it right to support herself, and does so."
"Then it is more a matter of principle than necessity?"
"It is now, though it was hardly so at first. But as I have spoken of it, I might as well tell the whole story. You have asked to become better acquainted with Ella, and I will afford you the opportunity. My father, who is, as you are already aware, a watchmaker, understood well enough the advantages of education to give me every opportunity in his power. He sent me to college until I was twenty years of age, and then supported me while I studied medicine, which was for two years longer. As soon as I got my diploma I proposed going South, knowing but too well, that if I remained here, in the effort to get a practice, I would have still to burden my father, who could ill bear it. But to this, not a single member of the family would listen. My father said no — my mother said no — my sisters said no. But I was firm. I could not believe it just any longer to depend upon my father, who was getting old.
"Seeing that I was unmoved by all that could be urged, my good sisters proposed teaching music as a means of adding to the income of the family, and thus enabling me to remain without its bearing so heavily upon my father."
"Noble girls!" ejaculated Dr. Baldwin.
"But I rejected the proposal instantly. Pride, or something else in me, took fire at the idea of my sisters teaching music to support me. I would not hear of it. They said that it would make no difference whether I remained in Philadelphia or went away — that their minds were made up to take music students and support themselves; and affirmed that music teaching, so far from being disgraceful, was quite as honorable as practicing medicine. Upon this, my father, who had only reasoned with me before, approached me on the subject with such a moving appeal, and such exhibition of feeling, that I could no longer resist. I remained. The girls commenced giving lessons, and, no matter how much they affirmed to the contrary to save my feelings, supported me for a year, when I received my present appointment. Since then, my oldest sister has married, and Ella continues her professional duties, and has students in some families where I have patients. I have long urged her to give them up; but she says that she is usefully employed, and is happier than if she were idle."
"You're proud of her, doctor, aren't you?" said Baldwin with enthusiasm.
"I love her," was Hudson's feeling reply.
"And well you may. The earth bears but few like her upon its surface. I must know her better, doctor, with your permission, as I said before."
"We shall all be happy to receive your visits, doctor," replied Hudson. "You will find us plain people, but with hearts, I trust in the right place."
"I believe you. The fact is, doctor, you have taught me a good many lessons, from which I have profited; and you teach me still. That expression of yours, 'hearts in the right place,' is full of meaning. We are too apt to look at the exterior, and to judge mainly from that. But our first effort should be to find out whether the heart is in the right place or not."
Doctor Baldwin did not make it long before he formally visited Ella at her father's house. The more intimately he knew her, the more was he charmed with her loveliness of character, and captivated by the natural grace of her manners. There was a time, and that not very long before, when he would have smiled at the idea of visiting the daughter of a mechanic. His father had been a merchant, and, in dying, had left his family with a moderate income, that was found, with the exercise of some prudence, to be fully sufficient for their support. Baldwin had two sisters — one married, and the other, about the age of Ella, unmarried. They had been well educated, and used to the elegancies of refined society. Nearly all who are thus raised, have certain false views of social life, something more or less artificial and conventional about them: and this was the case with the sisters of Dr. Baldwin, as well as with most of the young ladies he had happened to meet. Ella Hudson, with equal refinement of feeling, intelligence, and true accomplishments, was so independent in matters of right, so free from everything false, affected, or merely conventional — that he almost wondered at, while he admired her.
"The best specimen of a woman I have yet seen," he said to himself, after a few familiar visits, "and if she and I don't know each other better, it shall not be my fault."
And they did know each other better, and were better pleased with the acquaintance, the more intimate it became. The result was an offer of marriage, which the maiden, well pleased, accepted.
Doctor Baldwin was by no means sure that his family would approve his choice. In fact, he expected objections when he announced the fact of his engagement to the daughter of a watchmaker, unless he could manage, by some means, to get them acquainted with her before they understood the relationship existing between them. This, however, was a matter not likely to occur, as their spheres of association were altogether different. As the sister of Doctor Hudson, she would stand a little higher; but then Doctor Hudson himself had not yet emerged far enough from obscurity, to reflect much respectability upon his sister, especially while she, pursuing her own independent course, continued the exercise of her profession as a music teacher. One day Dr. Baldwin called with his sister to see a young lady acquaintance, who moved in fashionable circles, and who had rather more false pride, false notions, and contempt for what she was pleased to call vulgar — than usually falls to the lot of even fashionable people. While they sat chatting with her in the parlor, the street door bell rang, and the young lady said —
"My music teacher, I presume."
Baldwin and his sister arose.
"Oh, sit still — sit still. She can wait," said the young lady. "It doesn't matter at all."
"Who is your teacher?" asked Miss Baldwin.
"Miss Hudson. Do you know her?"
"No, I never heard of her."
"She's the daughter of old Hudson, the watchmaker."
"Is she a good teacher?"
"Yes, one of the best lady-teachers in the city."
Just then the door opened, and the subject of remark entered the parlor. Doctor Baldwin bowed to her familiarly as their eyes met; and she, smiling brightly, bowed also, and then passed quickly into the back parlor, where she seated herself near the window, and taking up a book, bent her head over it with her face so turned away from the company in the other room, that they could not see it. For a moment or two Baldwin, who was taken all by surprise, debated the question whether he should introduce his sister to Ella or not; but he wisely decided that it was not a fitting opportunity, and could be only attended with unpleasant consequences.
The familiar way in which Baldwin and her music teacher had greeted each other, rather surprised the young lady, and caused her to look wonderingly at the doctor for an instant. The sister, too, thought it strange.
"Do you know that Miss Hudson?" she asked, as they walked homewards.
"Yes, very well," he said.
"Indeed! How do you know her?"
"She is the sister of Dr. Hudson, whom you have seen once or twice at our house."
"And he's a son of the old watchmaker, is he?" There was a slight expression of contempt in the young girl's voice.
"He's the son of as honest and honorable a man as ever lived, and is himself an honor to the profession, and will one day be among its brightest lights."
The brother spoke warmly.
"And through him, I suppose, you got acquainted with the sister."
"Rather say, in spite of him, for he was in no haste to introduce me."
"Why did you wish to be introduced?"
"Because I thought her a charming girl."
"A music teacher, and the daughter of an old watchmaker! Why, brother! What has come over you?" There was marked contempt in the sister's voice. "What would Miss Elbert think of this?"
"What difference to me would her thoughts make? None, I assure you. Ella Hudson is far superior to Miss Elbert in everything. There is no comparison between them!"
"Edward, are you crazed?" exclaimed the sister.
"Far from it, Clara. I was never more in my right mind than I am now; and never more in earnest. I have for some time wanted to talk to you on this very subject, but no fitting opportunity before occurred."
"About what subject, brother? I am all amazement!"
"About my preference for Miss Hudson."
"Preference! Edward!"
"No, not preference — regard."
"Regard?"
"No. — Love."
Astonishment kept the sister mute for some moments. Then she said, appealingly —
"Surely, Edward, you do not think of subjecting your family to such a deep humiliation."
"No, sister, certainly not. The old watchmaker's daughter will reflect honor upon any family whose name she bears; for she is one among a thousand."
"Oh, Edward! what will our mother say? How will our mother feel?"
"Clara," said the brother, speaking seriously, "is there anything wrong, abstractly, in being a watchmaker?"
"I did not say there was."
"Or in teaching music?"
"No; not wrong."
"May not a watchmaker be as much a gentleman as a physician?"
"I suppose so."
"Then, in the fact of being a watchmaker, there is nothing that should make one man less esteemed than another man, no better than he is, who follows a profession. Both are useful employments, and so far as they are concerned, he who most faithfully and honestly discharges the duties of his calling, and his social and domestic obligations — is the best man, let the world think and say what it pleases. And not only the best man, but the best friend a man who wants one can choose. So much for the watchmaker. And the same may be said of the music teacher. I don't know that there is any greater honor in receiving musical instruction than there is in imparting it. The general impression is, that thepreceptor is superior to the scholar, just in the degree that knowledge is considered superior to ignorance."
"But that doesn't show that you ought to go below your own sphere in society and marry a music teacher, Edward."
"In marrying, sister," replied Baldwin, "a man takes a companion for life, and, therefore he should select one whose qualities and character are of a substantial kind, and promise to last through life. Don't you think so?"
"Certainly. Everybody admits that."
"Very well. Suppose I, for instance, see two ladies, for each of whom I feel a preference above others, and wish to select one of them for my wife. One, I find, has been raised in what is called the best society; the other in what is called an inferior grade. Both are equally well educated; or, if there is any difference, it is in favor of the latter. The former has many conventional ideas of right and wrong, and is governed more by them than she is by her own clear sense of propriety: she is very apt to hesitate before doing a thing, and ask the question, What will people say? or, What will be thought of this? The other is free from mere conventional trammels, and is governed in all her acts, by her own clear intuitions. She does not hesitate before she acts, except to ask, Is this right? Will this injure another? Now, admitting each to possess equal personal attractions, which of the two ought I to choose? Which would make me the most faithful and sustaining companion in the journey of life?"
"The latter, of course," replied the sister without hesitation.
"Undoubtedly."
"But, Edward, you draw a case that has no counterpart," urged Clara.
"There you are in error. It has its counterpart. Ella Hudson is as far superior to any young lady that I ever met in fashionable circles. As for Miss Elbert, she is far less refined, lady-like, and accomplished than Ella Hudson, and far less worthy the love of any man."
"You speak strongly, Edward."
"I do; and I mean all I say. Come, sister! lay aside a weak prejudice which is unworthy of you, and consent to go with me and be introduced to this excellent young lady. You must know each other, and the sooner it takes place, the better. I shall need your aid in breaking down our mother's prejudices, which have no better foundation than yours."
Clara was silent. The last appeal of her brother had bewildered her mind. If what he said of Miss Hudson were really true, her natural good sense told her that Edward was right. But the prejudices of society were strong in her mind, and caused it to turn with unconquerable repugnance from the idea of intimate companionship with a music teacher, who was the daughter of a poor watchmaker.
"Will you go with me to see her, Clara?" asked Baldwin.
"Why should I do so?" she replied.
"Have I not said?"
"Surely, brother, you do not mean what you say."
"I surely do, Clara. Already there exists a marriage contract between this charming woman and myself. Before long she will hold to you, the relationship of sister. Know her, then, that you may love her as a sister. Know her for yourself, that you may rightly appreciate her worth, and aid me in introducing her to our mother's regard."
Clara was too much surprised, and, in fact, confounded, to know what to do or think. As to calling upon Ella, she was not prepared for that. She wanted time for reflection. Hernatural repugnance to doing so, was very strong.
As soon as Doctor Baldwin and his sister had retired, the young lady upon whom they had called to make a morning visit, went into the back parlor and said to Ella, who was still bending over the book —
"I'm ready for my lesson now, Miss Hudson."
Ella laid aside her bonnet, and went to the piano with her pupil.
"You are acquainted with Dr. Baldwin," said the latter.
Ella replied by a simple affirmative.
"Where did you meet him?"
"At my brother's wedding." Ella's manner expressed her wish that no further questions on that subject might be asked. But her superior and better bred pupil, paid no regard to that.
"Your brother, Dr. Hudson? Ah! yes. Whom did he marry?"
"A Miss Lee."
"Lee! To what family did she belong? One of any note in the city?"
"I never felt interest enough in the subject to ask," replied Ella, rather coldly. "She was an orphan."
"Then you don't like her very much."
"Don't like her!" Ella's bright eyes were instantly in the face of her questioner. "I could not love my own sister better!"
The young lady felt the rebuke. She would have been as passive to all impressions as marble, had she not.
"I suppose you have never met Miss Baldwin?" she said, after a pause.
"No."
"She was with him this morning."
Ella made no answer; but there was a warmer place upon her cheek. No more was said upon the subject.
When Ella Hudson went home that afternoon, after having given the various lessons required of her for the day, she had some different thoughts in regard to what she ought to do, than had before obtained a place in her mind. It occurred to her, that the position in which she now stood to Dr. Baldwin, made it incumbent upon her to have some regard to his feelings, as well as to the prejudices of his family, with whom she was soon to come into intimate relationship, and with whom she could not but desire to be united in affection. The prejudice existing in certain grades of society against all females who are engaged in useful employments, she well knew; and as this was a prejudice arising from a false education, and as she was to be introduced by marriage among those with whom this prejudice existed, she rightly concluded, after looking at the subject in this light, that it was best for her, as no real necessity existed for her continuing her duties as a music teacher, to give them up at once. For Doctor Baldwin to meet her, as he had done that morning, could not, she felt, but be unpleasant to him. And for his sister to meet her in the same way, could not fail to strengthen, rather than remove, prejudices in regard to her.
Perhaps, for the first time in her life, Ella saw that the prejudices of others are, under certain circumstances, to be regarded, and that expediency is not always a departure from right.
When her lover called upon her that evening, he said —
"I mentioned you to my sister today. She was with me at Miss Elbert's."
Ella looked at him without replying.
"As I expected, she was greatly astonished. The idea of my marrying a music teacher, seemed at first dreadful to her. But I made some little impression on her false ideas, though not as much as I could wish. If she could only once meet you and know you, all would be right. But the force of prejudice is very strong at present. Do you not think that it would be right for you to make some effort, even some sacrifice, to remove this prejudice?"
"I do, certainly."
"Your present calling is one that you must soon lay aside; and, besides, there exists no necessity for your following it. Occurrences like that of today, are likely to happen frequently, and will hinder what I so much desire — the affectionate reception of you by my family. My mother and sister have true hearts, and when they know you, they will love you tenderly. But they have prejudices, the result of false education, which stand in the way of their knowing you. Now, ought you not, who see so clearly, to respect their prejudices, and do what you can to remove them?"
"Without doubt. I have already been reflecting on the subject, and have come to the determination to give up all my scholars immediately."
"You have?"
"Yes. In justice to you and to your family, I think this ought to be done."
"Glad indeed, am I, Ella, that you have come to this conclusion! What you have been doing, enobles rather than depresses you in my eyes, and will in theirs when they come to know you as I do."
In a few weeks the prejudices of Miss Baldwin, under the constant assaults of her brother, were so far broken down, that she consented to call with him and see Ella. As the doctor had expected, she was more than pleased with her, although the meeting was necessarily attended with a good deal of formality and reserve. A second visit enabled the young ladies to approach nearer, and understand each other better.
Clara Baldwin, from being pleased, soon became charmed with the lovely girl — and no longer wondered that her beauty, grace, intelligence, and worth, had captivated her brother. She could not but acknowledge in her own heart that, for her sister, she would far prefer Ella to any one of the mirthful, fashionable girls with whom she was acquainted. There was so much goodness about her — so much regard for others and giving up of self. The old watchmaker likewise rose in her estimation, after a few meetings with him; and the mother of Ella proved to be something more than the vulgar woman she had set her down in her imagination. She could not help observing and being charmed with the natural love which distinguished the interactions of one member of the family with another. It was not ostentatious — not assumed — but came as the just expression of the good will each bore to the other. Of the wife of Doctor Hudson, she could never get done talking to her brother.
"She will grace any circle," she said.
"She will be called to grace the most intelligent and accomplished circle in the city, or I am mistaken," returned her brother.
"Why so?"
"Because her husband will undoubtedly rise as high as any man of talents ever rose in this city. He is as sure to go up as the sun is to rise in the morning."
"Do you think so?"
"I know so. I would not be surprised to see him in the chair of professor of anatomy and surgery before five years. It may take place in less than that time. If the present incumbent in the school where he now is, were to be removed from any cause tomorrow, I believe he would be chosen to succeed him."
"Is he so highly appreciated as that?"
"Yes, and by the very men who will have the power to elevate him when the right time comes."
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