Enough, further to say, that within two months there was a wedding at the house of Mr. Page, and Edith was the bride.

It has been noticed since, that the old gentleman does not stand so much on his dignity when there is a chance of doing good by volunteering a word of advice in season.  “Had I been consulted,” is a form of speech which he is now rarely, if ever known to use.

THE MISTAKES OF A “RISING FAMILY.”

MR. MINTURN was a rising man; that is, he was gaining money and reputation in his profession.  That he felt himself rising, was clearly apparent to all who observed him attentively.  His good lady, Mrs. Minturn, was also conscious of the upward movement, and experienced a consequent sense of elevation.  From the height they had gained in a few years, it was but natural for them to cast their eyes below, and to note how far beneath them were certain individuals with whom they had once been on a level.  The observation of this fact as naturally created an emotion of contempt for these individuals as inferiors.

Among those ranging below the Minturns,—­in their estimation,—­was a family named Allender.  Mr. Allender was, or had been, a merchant, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him, as a gentleman and a man of fine intelligence.  He and Minturn started together in life; the one as a lawyer, and the other as a merchant.  Possessing some capital, Mr. Allender was able, in commencing business, to assume a comfortable style of living in his family, while Minturn, who had nothing but his profession to depend upon, and that at the time of his marriage a very small dependence, was compelled to adopt, in his domestic relations, a very humble scale.

Having been well acquainted, for some years, with Mr. Minturn, Mr. Allender, soon after the marriage of the former, called upon him with his wife.  The visit was promptly returned, and from that time the two families kept up intimate relations.  The Minturns lived in a small house, in a retired street, for which they paid the annual rent of one hundred and seventy-five dollars.  Their house was furnished with exceeding plainness, and their only domestic was a stout girl of fourteen.  The Allenders, on the other hand, lived in a fashionable neighbourhood, so called.  For their house, which was handsomely furnished, they paid a rent of four hundred dollars; and lived in what the Minturns thought to be great elegance.  And so it was, in contrast with their style of living.  Mrs. Minturn felt quite proud of having such acquaintances, and of being able to visit familiarly in such good society as was to be found at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Allender.  You could not be in her company for ten minutes, at any time, without hearing some allusion to the Allenders.  What they said, was repeated as oracular; and to those who had never been in their house, Mrs. Minturn described the elegance of every thing pertaining thereto, in the most graphic manner.